Thousands attended events co-organized by ISDA this year, from feasts and Columbus Day parades in Buffalo, Cleveland and Pittsburgh, to local lodge gatherings, conventions and galas held across the country.
— ISDA’s Year in Review —
As 2025 draws to a close, the Italian American community finds itself not only reflecting on the past — the struggles, the triumphs, the traditions — but also looking ahead with renewed energy. From laying the groundwork for a National Museum of Italian American History to advancing coordinated advocacy, securing key legal victories and elevating women in leadership, this year has showcased resilience, pride and collective action.
Laying the Foundation for a Smithsonian Museum
One of the most ambitious initiatives of the year came from Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA) and the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations (COPOMIAO): a push to establish a national museum honoring the Italian American story. In Congress, a bipartisan bill (H.R. 1102) was introduced by Reps. Tom Suozzi (D-NY) and Michael Rulli (R-OH) to create a planning commission to study the feasibility of a Smithsonian Museum of Italian American History on the National Mall.
With 42 cosponsors and backing from 78 Italian American nonprofits nationwide, the proposal quickly gained momentum. ISDA’s National President, Basil Russo, described the effort as part of a broader campaign to preserve monuments, spotlight heritage in the arts and empower our younger generations.
For decades, stories of immigrant families formed the backbone of the Italian American narrative. A museum under the Smithsonian’s roof would mean preserving those stories for America and the world. It’s a dream that, this year, began to feel well within reach.
Citizenship, Diplomacy & Advocacy
On the diplomatic front, ISDA and COPOMIAO (also led by Russo) took action to address challenges surrounding dual citizenship. Russo met in Washington, D.C. with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani to press for changes that would ease recently imposed restrictions for those pursuing Italian citizenship.
The meeting underscored the living connection between our community and its ancestral roots. Russo plans to meet with Italy’s Ambassador to the U.S., Marco Peronaci, to discuss the issue at length, in the pursuit of compromise, in 2026.
While those conversations progress on the international level, ISDA raised funds to support the opening of a local office for Dr. Steve Mancini, the newly appointed Honorary Consul of Italy in Pittsburgh. The space allows Mancini to more effectively assist ISDA members seeking guidance on Italian citizenship and passport matters.
Victory in Heritage: Columbus Day Restored in Philadelphia
Heritage isn’t only about the past; it’s also about civic recognition in the present. In a major win this year, a unanimous 7-0 decision by the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court invalidated a 2021 executive order that had replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Philadelphia.
The court ruled that the former mayor lacked the authority under the city charter to unilaterally eliminate the holiday — a legislative power reserved for City Council.
The restoration of Columbus Day, led by Russo and attorney George Bochetto, remains a meaningful affirmation for the vast majority of Italian Americans who view the holiday as part of their Italian American heritage. As a community, we continue to navigate how to honor our ancestors, while also engaging in thoughtful discussions on history, identity and inter-cultural collaboration.
Arts, Film and Culture: A Spotlight on Legacy and New Voices
The cultural scene for Italian Americans flourished this year, with film playing a leading role. In Cleveland, ISDA co-hosted a special screening of CABRINI, a critically acclaimed film chronicling the life of Mother Cabrini, the Italian-born nun who became a champion for the poor and the first and only U.S. citizen canonized by the Catholic Church. Italian actress Cristiana Dell’Anna attended the screening, fielded questions and offered her gratitude for a community that continues to honor its roots.
Meanwhile, acclaimed actor, author and filmmaker Stanley Tucci was honored with the 2025 Renaissance Award from the Russo Brothers Italian American Filmmaker Forum (RBIAFF), presented by ISDA and AGBO Films in Los Angeles. The annual award recognizes artistic excellence and a deeper mission: “to share our culture through stories that reflect the complexities of who we are,” said Tucci. Each year, RBIAFF provides $10,000 grants to emerging filmmakers who create short films that illuminate aspects of the Italian American experience.
Through these powerful cultural moments — a movie about immigrant faith and service, and a filmmaker’s platform that celebrates authentic representation — Italian Americans continue to affirm their place in the mainstream narrative: not as caricatures, but as nuanced, proud and diverse contributors.
Rising Leaders and Cultural Renewal
At the heart of every organization is its next generation. This year, the Italian American Future Leaders (IAFL) continued to drive a cultural renewal, amplifying the voices of younger members who bring fresh energy, ambition and vision to the community. Through an annual convention, outreach and leadership programs, the IAFL has helped shape a new generation rooted in heritage that looks boldly to the future.
Inizio (ages 21 to 39) is turning heads and garnering considerable local media attention with its cultural endeavors; to start your own ISDA younger generations lodge, contact the ISDA Home Office at 412-261-3550.
Women in Leadership
This year also marked a historic step forward for women in Italian American leadership. Longtime ISDA leaders Danielle Salasavage and Sharon Cerrone were unanimously elected as national vice presidents of ISDA’s Order and Fraternal Affairs, respectively — the first time in the organization’s history that women have held both roles. Russo nominated Salasavage and Cerrone as part of his ongoing commitment to elevate women across the Italian American community.
“The Italian American nonprofit community has been too patriarchal,” said Russo. “Women, from the boardroom to the household, have preserved and guided our culture for generations. Our community simply wouldn’t exist without the strength of our mothers and daughters.”
Each year, COPOMIAO and ISDA present its prestigious Donna Distinta Award to outstanding women of Italian descent, honoring contributions across culture, industry, philanthropy and advocacy. This year, we honored Marie Palladino, Andrea Mauck and Pamela Dorazio Dean.
No other major Italian American nonprofit has placed women’s leadership so firmly at the forefront — a shift ISDA is pioneering, and one that is poised to reshape the community in the years ahead.
ISDA’s 47th National Convention: Forward, Together
This summer, on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, the 2025 ISDA National Convention assembled members from across the country — a gathering of tradition, fellowship and forward motion. The convention celebrated past achievements, honored community leaders and set the agenda for advocacy, culture and unity in the years ahead.
At the convention, Russo was unanimously reelected to his sixth term, and plans were set for ISDA 48 in 2027, a major NYC / NJ convention that will be organized by Salasavage and ISDA VPs John Viola and Patrick O’Boyle.
If 2025 has shown us anything, it’s that our community doesn’t just look backward with nostalgia, we move forward with purpose under the visionary leadership of Basil Russo and the ISDA Board of Directors.
Here’s to 2026! May it bring more milestones, more unity and more pride in who we are.
In 1930, immigrant families banded together to create the Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA), now one of the most prominent and financially successful Italian American organizations in the nation. In the last decade, we built a 725,000-strong social media community, grew our not-for-profit fraternal association, ISDA Financial Life, to nearly a half billion dollars in member assets, co-founded the Russo Brothers Italian American Filmmaker Forum (RBIAFF), and launched the fastest-growing Italian American publication (La Nostra Voce).
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