ROME, ITALY (March 12, 2025) – On Monday, March 10th, at 11:30 a.m. at Palazzo Firenze, headquarters of the Società Dante Alighieri (Piazza di Firenze n. 27 – Rome), the President of the Società Dante Alighieri Andrea Riccardi and the President of NIAF (National Italian American Foundation) Robert Allegrini signed an agreement between the two institutions for joint actions related to Italian language and culture in the United States.
“We live in a world where people shout and lie very easily,” states President Andrea Riccardi, “and here Italian must continue to be a language that educates: to communicate, to speak, and to reason. This is particularly important today, when knowing how to reason and how to speak is indispensable. We,” he concludes, “do not want to impose a way of thinking but to remind, also with the important agreement we are signing today with the NIAF Foundation, that Italian is a language with a universal perspective and that, for the children of emigrants and ‘Italsympathizers,’ Italian is felt as a language of the future.”
“The Italian language,” continues President Robert Allegrini, “is a language of culture and everyone should know that there is a great desire from Italian American communities to reclaim their language, even if it has been somewhat lost over the years. Italian American ‘immigrants’ and their children, thanks to this agreement with the Società Dante Alighieri, will be able to reconnect with their language. This agreement,” he concludes, “is important because it creates a foundation of opportunities for Italian Americans and their ‘Italian children’ to learn our beautiful mother tongue: Italian.”
The Agreement
The agreement focuses on teaching Italian online through the digital platform www.dante.global, a cutting-edge tool for offering courses in phygital format (physical and digital) that accompanies Italian courses in hybrid classrooms, all according to the Dante.global teaching methodology. The agreement will also include actions for teacher training and professional development, the granting of joint scholarships, and the promotion of Italian culture through events and initiatives, including those of a scientific nature. All this in support of made in Italy and the promotion of Italian business culture among Italian communities, founded by emigrants, who have contributed to America’s growth. During the ceremony, the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium, a strategic partner of the project, was represented by President Nicola Bertinelli.
