Italian American Future Leaders Host a FutureFocused Leadership Conference

The precedent-setting event was sponsored by The Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations (COPOMIAO).

Elder generations, in large part, control the nonprofit organizations, cultural events, fundraising and advocacy initiatives that shape the scope and narrative of the Italian American community at local and national levels.

But now, a new collaboration is under way, empowering a 35-and-under demographic who can leverage 21st-century tools and resources to modernize the Italian American culture, which will greatly benefit from inter-generational reconnection and innovation.

Italian American Future Leaders, a new not-for-profit chaired by John M. Viola, developed a precedent-setting, inaugural conference that was held last weekend in the Greater Ft. Lauderdale area at FLA Live Arena to achieve these goals. The conference was comprised of more than 100 delegates (ages 21 to 35) who included social media influencers, entrepreneurs, strategists, attorneys, academics, nonprofit specialists and more. This collection of experts, professionals and cultural ambassadors went through rounds of strategic ideation, cultural analysis and VIP networking sessions — all to drive new initiatives and spark big ideas, which are now in development

"The Italian American community appreciates the importance of connecting with our younger generations if we are to preserve our heritage," said Basil M Russo, the leader of COPOMIAO who co-organized the conference. "This conference provided us with the opportunity to engage many of our talented young adults, so we can begin the process of transitioning them into leadership positions within our community "

"This will be an annual conference, and with each passing year, we'll accrue more talent and funding so that these incredible young Italian Americans can begin to exercise their vision for community leadership today, instead of sitting in waiting at the back of the room," said Viola

About Copomiao

Formed in 1975 and based in NYC, The Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations (COPOMIAO) is a collective of 60 of the most influential, cultural, educational, fraternal and anti-defamation groups in the nation. https://copomiao org

About Iafl

Italian American Future Leaders (IAFL) is a not-for-profit that's building a network of leaders who will help promote our shared traditions, uphold our heritage and pursue a range of commercial, cultural, advocacy and event-based initiatives https://www iafuture org

DominiqueItaliano"theartist"

From Denver and now a Hobe Sound, Fl based artist; Dominique Italiano bears the same surname as our publication and we are grateful to have found her while searching for ourselves on social media.

MI: We found you searching on social media and noticed your surname "Italiano" are you Italian?

Dominique Italiano: I am third generation Italian-American. I always get so many questions about my last name, its definitely unique! It raised a few flags during my time in Rome and it's a mystery to my family as well, but I love it all the same.

MI: Have you always liked art?

DI: Yeah! I've always loved art. Even since I was a kid, I've always drawn and painted and made a mess. I love the free-flowing nature of it.

MI: You are talking about the free-flow process. Can you describe?

DI: So this isn't going to sound great on paper but I like to think as little as possible when I paint. I focus more on feeling than thinking and where I don't have to attach thoughts to those feelings. I let my hands move with that instead of trying to control things or manipulate them with what should be, right or wrong, and just kind of let it happen.

Interviewedby

MI: Did you have a teacher in art or otherwise who inspired you?

DI: My art teacher in Rome inspired me alot His name is Fabio Whil I was at L'Università degli Studi Roma Tre he taught me how to draw anywhere in Rome and how to not only look-for but, but feel if there was something to capture For example, we would go to the busy Piazza Navona; of course you can draw the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi. But he also taught me to draw the vendors selling hats and the tourists blowing bubbles. That was a new concept to me, capturing the energy of a moment using art.

MI: Where can people purchase your art? Is it in any galleries?

DI: I have a website, DominiqueItalianoStudios.com. I'm also on facebook and have an Instagram. I run my own studio which is also my gallery, available to see in person by appointment. I'm currently submitting my work to local South Florida galleries and soon people will be able to view my art that way.

MI: What is the most unique facet about you and or your art which you feel a collector might be interested to know?

DI: My whole life I thought everyone could smell or hear in color, or assign colors to feelings.

I didn't realize until much later in life that I had synesthesia and that it's not exactly a common condition So, when I hear, smell or feel something, especially things I find beautiful, my mind sort of bursts with colors, just like my paintings show. These paintings are an invitation into my purest moments of joy and self-expression.