Experience Sicily presents
Ameri-Sicula: Sicilian Culture in America
A Book Reading and Discussion
When: Thursday, November 19, 7:30 to 8:45PM
Where: Online/Zoom
Access: Complimentary
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Edited by Mark Hehl, Ameri-Sicula: Sicilian Culture in America is a new book published by Legas that features essays by more than 25 different writers about their experiences as Sicilian Americans. This evening Hehl along with Louisa Calio, Joseph Cacibauda, and Allison Scola will present excerpts from their contributions to the book. A discussion and Q&A will follow, moderated by chef, teacher, and writer Giovanna Bellia La Marca.
Join us for this heartwarming evening that will connect you to Sicily and the world of Ameri-Sicula.
Our Agenda:
- Introduction
- Readings by Mark Hehl, Louisa Calio, Joseph Cacibauda, and Allison Scola
- Panel Discussion hosted by Giovanna Bellia La Marca
- Question and Answer Session
Purchase directly from the publisher and support Sicilian Culture in America!
Purchase a copy of Ameri-Sicula: Sicilian Culture in America from Amazon.
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Presenters
Giovanna Bellia La Marca is an author, teacher, and chef. Born in Ragusa, Sicily, with her family, she immigrated to the United States at age 10. Giovanna is retired from a 23-year career as an art and Italian teacher. Since 2005, she has been a chef-instructor for the Institute of Culinary Education, where she teaches Sicilian cooking classes and conducts an Arthur Avenue tour. She has published three books with Hippocrene Books: Sicilian Feasts, Language and Travel Guide to Sicily, and The Cooking of Emilia-Romagna.
Joe Cacibauda is a second generation American-born Sicilian. His fraternal grandparents were from from Sant’ Anna di Caltabellotta, Agrigento Province and his mother’s family were from Poggiorealle, Trapani Province. Joe was born and grew up around New Orleans, Louisiana, a home to many Sicilians. He is the author of After Laughing Comes Crying: about Sicilians on Louisiana Plantations and Not For Self: about Sicilian bootleggers and miners in Illinois. He lives with his wife Sue in Reno, Nevada.
Louisa Calio was born in Brooklyn, New York to a Sicilian father and southern Italian mother. She is an internationally published, award winning author and a photo artist. Her works have been translated into Sicilian, Italian, Russian, Korean, and Tigrinya. Her first book In the Eye of Balance was published by Paradiso Press. Her latest book, Journey to the Heart Waters, was published by Legas in 2014. Louisa is on the Advisory Board of Arba Sicula, and was director of “Poets Piazza,” part of Hofstra University’s Italian Experience event, for 12 years. Among her awards include:
- First Prize, Il Parnaso International, Canicatti Sicily, January 2017 for “Signifyin’ Woman”
- Words of Gold–Concorso di Poesia Il Parnaso premio Angelo LA VECCHIA, Agrigento, Sicily 2016, for “Sky Openings”
- 1st Prize in the 4th Concorso Di Poesia Internationale Messina, Citta D’Arte, Sicily 2013, for her poem “Bhari”
Mark Hehl is an engineer, consultant, and public speaker. He is the author of the books An Immigrant’s Dilemma, Amusing Confessions of an International Consultant, and is the editor of Ameri-Sicula: Sicilian Culture in America. Mark is a keynote speaker at various worldwide locations and has been a frequent guest on national public radio. He is the son of a Sicilian-American mother and spent his early years around his Sicilian relatives in Brooklyn, NY. His Sicilian ancestry is from Santa Margherita di Belice (AG).
Allison Scola is founder, owner, and curator of Experience Sicily and the Cannoli Crawl. Named one of the experts for the 2019 New York Times Travel Show, Scola writes and lectures on Sicily and leads immersive tours and designs custom itineraries that delight discerning travelers. She has been featured on Rudy Maxa’s World with the Carey’s, America’s #1 Travel Radio Show and as the cannoli expert in the documentary Cannoli, Traditions Around the Table. Allison’s grandparents immigrated to the United States from Porticello and Bagheria.