Sicilian Confederation of North America
Founding members
In front of the headquarters of the Cultural Association of Ribera in New Jersey, this photo shows the founding members of the CSNA and supporters present with the Sicilian flag
In this photo you can recognize almost all the founding members and some guests:
From right : Paolo Ribaudo, friend of Ribaudo, Maryanna Re, Jack of the square, Augusto smile, Vincenzo Arcobelli, Marco Cangialosi, Gaetano Guccione, Pietro Agliata, Dr Mignone, friends of Menesello.
Behind from left : JoeRollo, (Friend of Rollo), son-in-law of Guccione, Tony Messina, Melo Cicala, Elio Calafiore, friend of Cicala, Claudio Menesello.
Our history
In 2006 the idea of Vincenzo Arcobelli was born who left Texas to be able to bring together the various leaders and representatives of the Sicilian Federations and Associations in North America to strengthen with a common line the various initiatives and activities in favor of the community, increase networking with more effective collaborations between the various associates, have a certain Representativeness in the coordination action to strengthen relations and the link with the Sicilian Institutions which up to that moment left much to be desired and above all to have a point of Official reference abroad, Base abroad and for Sicilians abroad. Mission certainly not easy given the large size of the North American Continent and the variety among the Associations. The CSNA is not born to replace the Associations and Federations that have worked very well in all these years, but of support and reference and coordination to have a single voice.
Executive Board of Directors 2020-2022
From the collaboration of the Founding Members and their will and enthusiasm, the idea became reality on January 5, 2007 CSNA was registered as a not for profit corporation in the State of Texas, with the first Official Meeting of April 15, 2007 with the approval of the Statute, the members of the executive and the guidelines for the first major convention which took place in October 2007 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, following the motto "To unite the Sicilians of North America".
The CSNA is officially recognized and registered with the Sicily Region-Department of Emigration.
Members of the associative world, of the representation of Italians abroad such as Comites and Cgie, of school and culture, of entrepreneurship and commerce that thanks to their experience gained over the years in their own Associations have been part of the organization since the beginning. of reference could give their own contribution in carrying forward the ideas and initiatives of the CSNA.
By registering with the individual Associations and Federations that have joined the CSNA project, there are approximately 200 with about 15,000 members.
The working commissions were: Women, Young People, Industrial-Entrepreneurs, Researchers, Information and Communication, Institutional Affairs, Relations with Comites and Associations, Language and Culture, Artistic Shows and Events, Conference and Gala.
Subsequently, the area managers and coordinators for the United States and Canada were appointed to then explore Mexico.
Various activities have been organized: Atlantic City (27 October 2007) with the cultural event the photographic exhibition of Sicilian landscapes, Boston (1 November 2008) with the cultural event, the Papyrus exhibition, Always in the with 2 conferences the Industrialists in cities of New York and Boston following up on relationships of collaboration and interest on the part of Italian-American Entrepreneurs and not only, with Sicilian institutions for investment opportunities in the industrial field. 2009 idealizes and promotes the first Conference of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Siciliani nel Mondo in Syracuse with the presence of hundreds of successful fellow countrymen from 5 continents.
the conference referring to young people and music concerts with artistic groups from Sicily in New Jesey, Toronto in Canada and the Targa Florio in Florida.
Protest initiatives were taken together with other Regional Associations and some representatives of the Italian-American communities and the Comites, organizing a petition to improve the programs of the Rai International television station, and sending some letters to the Ministers Amato and Bossi of the Governments. Previous Italians for having exaggerated in their statements denigrating the name of Sicily and the Sicilians, to counter the opinion through programs broadcast by some American broadcasters and entertainment organizations for the Sicilian-Italian antistereotype.
The initiative was taken to unite the Sicilians in the world with the twinning carried out during the second convention in Boston in the presence of the representatives of the Fesisur of Argentina and Sicily in Europe, the Consul General of Italy in Boston and the Councilor To Emigration and Work of the Sicily Region Hon. Incardona.
In December (and as requested and proposed during the Boston convention to the Assessor of Emigration) through a Decree Law, the CSNA is part of the Observatory of Emigration of the Sicily Region, together with the Sicilian Historical Associations.
CSNA has been involved in collaborations with other entities and groups in charitable activities, purchasing and sending medicines to be distributed to the poor Italians of Zimbabwe, in collaboration with the representatives of the CGIE of South Africa, or by sending a minibus in favor of fellow countrymen hit by the flood in the Messina area, or to fellow Abruzzesi hit by the earthquake sending funds for the repair of school structures. In the socio-cultural field with support for Italian language and culture courses at the 'University of Toronto in Canada, with the promotion of scholarships thanks to the official collaboration agreement between CSNA and L'ERSU (Regional University Studies Authority), every year 3 prizes are made available to Sicilians residing in North America that allow students to go and study Italian in Sicily and then return to the roots, discover the places of origin of their ancestors. An agreement was also signed for cultural initiatives with the Federico Secondo Foundation. Years 2010-2011 he worked constantly to carry on the idea of implementing 2 memoranda of understanding that exchanges of university students, teachers and researchers, in order to encourage the internationalization of Sicilian and American students of Italian origins and at the same time, bringing Sicilian structures to the attention of American academic institutes.
Summer educational and socio-cultural exchanges have also developed between Sicilian and North American university students.
As a first operational step of the agreement with Ersu of Palermo, the call for 3 scholarships addressed to Sicilian students and their resident resident in North America.
In 2011, with the operation of the memorandum of understanding, an agreement relating to the Italian language and culture between Rice University in Houston and the University of Palermo, with a competition notice on short films addressed to students of the Rice.
Another agreement concerning Medicine and Research between the University of Palermo and the University of Texas at Galveston, for the exchange of medical researchers, the possibility of internships, cooperation in research studies.
After the signed agreements there were two visits between the delegation of the University of Palermo and Ersu in Texas and of the American University in Sicily with scientific days at the historic Streri monumental complex with the title Galveston-Palermo and Montreal - Palermo where another memorandum of understanding is being prepared for collaborations between the Canadian and Sicilian universities.
The annual conference is traditional and is organized with the usual patronage of the Sicily Region in North America followed by the Gala where illustrious personalities from the world of Entertainment and Sports and Social, Institutional are awarded.
CSNA continues its work by exploring the interest of others in other agreements both in the United States and Canada, to carry out the mission of Uniting Sicilians in North America and to express the best and at all levels on the part of our brothers. Sicilians and to bring up the name of our beautiful Sicily.