Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
On this episode of Italics, our guest is Professor Giovanni Braico, and then we go to the NIAF annual gala at Cipriani in New York.
Giovanni Braico teaches Global Arts and Cultures in the Liberal Studies Program at New York University.
He spoke at the Calandra Institute on Arbëreshë — Italian Albanian — migration to the United States and later joined us to visit the Arbëreshë community on Long Island to celebrate the annual V’lami luncheon.
The National Italian American Foundation’s annual New York gala this year paid tribute to distinguished Italian and Italian American leaders, showcasing the very best of Italian cuisine while celebrating Lombardy as NIAF’s 2026 Region of Honor.
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Guest List:
Anthony Julian Tamburri - Host, Italics
Giovanni Braico - Adj. Asst. Prof., Global Arts & Cultures, New York University
Frank Parise - Member, V’llami community
Louis Trotta - Member, V’llami community
Raymond Mantovani - Member, V’llami community
Arnold Palleshi - Member, V’llami community
Eddie Trotta - Member, V’llami community
Pietro Sarro - Member, V’llami community
Gerard S. LaRocca - Vice Chair, Finance, NIAF
John F. Calvelli - Chairman, NIAF
Hon. Robert V. Allegrini - President & CEO, NIAF
Carlo Alberto Giusti - Magnificent Rector, Link Campus University
Frank Ruocco - Executive VicePresident of Operations, Ocean Casino Resort
James Pitaro - Chairman, ESPN
Alfonse M. D’Amato - Former U.S. Senator, New York State
Linda Stasi - Novelist, Independent
Tom Cox - CEO, OnPoint Group
Recording Date
04/13/2026
First Air Date
05/25/2026
Italics, Television for the Italian American Experience is a monthly presentation in the CUNY Presents timeslot that features prominent Italian Americans in the arts, business, government, sports, academia, and more. Each episode explores various aspects of the Italian diaspora, Italian-American history and traditions, contemporary Italian-American life, and takes a projected look at the future of the Italian-American community.
Italics is hosted by Anthony Julian Tamburri, Dean of the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute of Queens College/CUNY and Distinguished Professor of European Languages and Literatures.
Italics is now in its third decade serving the Italian-American community and those interested in Italian-American history and culture. Italics is co-produced in collaboration with the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute.
Watch more at http://tv.cuny.edu/show/italics
Subscribe to the Series Playlist: bit.ly/2VfN4uF
Subscribe to the CUNY TV channel: bit.ly/2GmGb13
ITAL00394
On this episode of Italics, our guest is Professor Giovanni Braico, and then we go to the NIAF annual gala at Cipriani in New York.
Giovanni Braico teaches Global Arts and Cultures in the Liberal Studies Program at New York University.
He spoke at the Calandra Institute on Arbëreshë — Italian Albanian — migration to the United States and later joined us to visit the Arbëreshë community on Long Island to celebrate the annual V’lami luncheon.
The National Italian American Foundation’s annual New York gala this year paid tribute to distinguished Italian and Italian American leaders, showcasing the very best of Italian cuisine while celebrating Lombardy as NIAF’s 2026 Region of Honor.
Follow CUNY TV:
Facebook: facebook.com/CUNYTV
Twitter: twitter.com/cunytv
Instagram:instagram.com/cuny.tv
YouTube: youtube.com/user/cunytv75
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/cunytv
Find more from CUNY TV at https://tv.cuny.edu
Guest List:
Anthony Julian Tamburri - Host, Italics
Giovanni Braico - Adj. Asst. Prof., Global Arts & Cultures, New York University
Frank Parise - Member, V’llami community
Louis Trotta - Member, V’llami community
Raymond Mantovani - Member, V’llami community
Arnold Palleshi - Member, V’llami community
Eddie Trotta - Member, V’llami community
Pietro Sarro - Member, V’llami community
Gerard S. LaRocca - Vice Chair, Finance, NIAF
John F. Calvelli - Chairman, NIAF
Hon. Robert V. Allegrini - President & CEO, NIAF
Carlo Alberto Giusti - Magnificent Rector, Link Campus University
Frank Ruocco - Executive VicePresident of Operations, Ocean Casino Resort
James Pitaro - Chairman, ESPN
Alfonse M. D’Amato - Former U.S. Senator, New York State
Linda Stasi - Novelist, Independent
Tom Cox - CEO, OnPoint Group
Recording Date
04/13/2026
First Air Date
05/25/2026
Italics, Television for the Italian American Experience is a monthly presentation in the CUNY Presents timeslot that features prominent Italian Americans in the arts, business, government, sports, academia, and more. Each episode explores various aspects of the Italian diaspora, Italian-American history and traditions, contemporary Italian-American life, and takes a projected look at the future of the Italian-American community.
Italics is hosted by Anthony Julian Tamburri, Dean of the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute of Queens College/CUNY and Distinguished Professor of European Languages and Literatures.
Italics is now in its third decade serving the Italian-American community and those interested in Italian-American history and culture. Italics is co-produced in collaboration with the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute.
Watch more at http://tv.cuny.edu/show/italics
Subscribe to the Series Playlist: bit.ly/2VfN4uF
Subscribe to the CUNY TV channel: bit.ly/2GmGb13
ITAL00394
