Created to give voice to Italians living abroad, COM.IT.ES. (Committee of Italians Abroad) is now a point of reference for communities scattered around the world, especially in territories as vast and complex as Los Angeles. We talked about it with Davide Accomazzo, president of COM.IT.ES in Los Angeles since 2021, who talks about the institution’s role, daily challenges and plans to strengthen the bond between Italy and the new generations of compatriots overseas.
President Accomazzo, let’s start with the basics: what is COM.IT.ES and what is its role within the Italian community abroad?
The institutional definition frames COM.IT.ES as elective bodies that represent the needs of Italian citizens living abroad. In collaboration with the Consular Offices, they have the task of identifying the social, cultural and civil needs of the Italian community and representing its demands to local authorities and institutions. They are composed of 12 or 18 members, depending on the number of compatriots residing in each consular district, and hold office for five years. In practice they have an institutional character of community representation with the various governmental entities such as the consulate but also a volunteer profile that depending on the specific territory can be developed in different ways.
What are the main activities of COM.IT.ES Los Angeles today? What areas do you focus on most (culture, assistance, youth, business, etc.)?
The Los Angeles Comites actually represents the entire Consulate district that incorporates Southern California, Nevada, New Mexico and Arizona. Unfortunately, due to the convergence of factors such as large territory, very small budget and a small number of councilors, much of our work focuses on dissemination of important information to the community. This is done through our website, our socials, through email communications and of course thematic webinars. We recently conducted one on citizenship and taxation and one on education. We also often collaborate with the Washington DC Comites through real-time webinars with Italy on arts and culture topics.
How can people participate or collaborate with COM.IT.ES? Is it also open to young Italians who have just arrived in California?
Collaborations with Comites are of course very welcome as we have a labor problem. Our council currently consists of only nine councilors because of the initial twelve, three have moved to Italy. In order to formally be part of the Comites, one must present oneself on a list when there are elections. Elections for the next Comites should be held in 2026.
What are the most significant projects you have done in recent years, or those planned for the coming months?
We organized roundtables on the future of Made in Italy involving Italian entrepreneurs, experts in the luxury and branding sector, Pepperdine University and in one case even the San Francisco Comites.
How does COM.IT.ES collaborate with the Consulate General of Italy in Los Angeles and other Italian or Italian-American institutions?
Collaboration with the consulate can have many facets. The nature of the collaboration also depends on the consular administration. At the moment we are very fortunate to operate with Consul General Raffaella Valentini and her staff who have always shown genuine interest in working with us. We have often helped them spread their message to the community and when necessary we inform them of any issues that the community perceives. Then there are specific instances of logistical collaboration; for the past two years during International Kitchen Week, we have put them in touch with Pepperdine University for two successful events at the Malibu campus.
One of the current issues is the integration of new generations of Italians abroad. What is COM.IT.ES doing to engage and enhance them?
We are currently working on an idea that has received interest from the ministry concerning a mentoring program. We would like to identify some successful entrepreneurs and managers who would be willing to offer mentoring to interested young students. At the moment we are just in the beginning of the project but hope to move forward positively in the coming months.
You have been president of COM.IT.ES since 2021. What was the path that led you to this position? And what does it mean to you to represent the Italian community abroad?
Prior to my candidacy for Comites, I had created a networking platform called MEET ITALY (Media, Entertainment, Economy, Technology). The project had the support of the Italian Cultural Institute of LA thanks to the great enthusiasm of then Director Valeria Rumori. When there were Comites elections in 2021, I was asked to organize a list. I saw the project as an extension of MEET ITALY.
How do you see the evolution of the Italian presence in the United States and, in particular, in California today? Has anything changed in recent years?
The Italian presence in our district has increased in recent years, but the young connotation of the newcomers I believe leads to a disengagement from traditional institutional channels. Chat and social can be more influential. This factor I believe should lead to a significant reform of the Comites.
Is there a challenge that you see as a priority for the future of COM.IT.ES and the Italian community in this area of the world?
As indicated in the previous point there needs to be a substantial reform of the Comites. I think there needs to be a redefinition of its mandate. Comites historically were established to give a voice to Italians abroad when they could not vote; the genesis of Comites + therefore political. Today, on the other hand, I think Comites should be a non-political but a civic project with a more circumscribed mandate.
Finally, what message do you feel you are sending to Italians – young and old – living in America today who want to stay in touch with their roots?
A dispersed and intriguing city like Los Angeles often leads our community to disperse. This is unfortunate as we have a lot of Italian talent in this city and we should make an effort to stay more united. I recommend referring to important and socially cohesive institutions such as the Cultural Institute, refer to the Comites website for various important news and of course I recommend staying in touch with each other even if it sometimes requires time and some sacrifice.
The article Davide Accomazzo reports on COM.IT.ES in Los Angeles comes from TheNewyorker.
