National Organization of Italian American Women
Encyclopedia
The National Organization of Italian American Women (NOIAW) is an American
sisterhood
group founded in 1980 to represent Italian American
women of varied professional and business backgrounds.
Through the invitation of Dr Aileen Riotto Sirey a small group of Italian American women met at her home on July 14, 1980 to start the group. The founding members included Aileen Riotto Sirey, then-U.S. Representative from New York Geraldine Ferraro
, Matilda Cuomo (wife of Mario Cuomo
, then Lieutenant Governor of New York
), Donna deMatteo, Bonnie Mandina and Roseanne Colletti. The group sought to create a national network to support the educational and professional aspirations of its members, and to combat ethnic stereotypes by promoting positive role models.
NOIAW-sponsored events are educational, cultural and social in nature and focus on issues of interest to Italian American women. The programs recognize and promote the accomplishments and contributions of women of Italian ancestry as well as acknowledge women as keepers of the culture.
Through its mentor program, NOIAW matches graduate and undergraduate students and women returning to the work force, with NOIAW members in the same field who provide guidance and ongoing support. The organization awards scholarships each year to Italian American women for pursuit of higher education. NOIAW is committed to preserving Italian heritage, language
, and culture while simultaneously promoting and supporting the advancement of women of Italian ancestry. More recently, the NOIAW joined with the Italian Foreign Ministry, to establish an Exchange Program. Italian students spend two weeks with an Italian American Family and on alternate years Italian American College students go to Italy.
NOIAW has evolved into an international organization bringing together women of Italian ancestry throughout the United States with women in Italy
, Argentina
and Australia
through international events and conferences.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sisterhood
Sisterhood
Sisterhood may refer to:* Sibling, sisters and brothers* Sorority, a social organization for undergraduate students* Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, a novel by Rebecca Wells* The Sisterhood, a short-lived English goth band...
group founded in 1980 to represent Italian American
Italian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
women of varied professional and business backgrounds.
Through the invitation of Dr Aileen Riotto Sirey a small group of Italian American women met at her home on July 14, 1980 to start the group. The founding members included Aileen Riotto Sirey, then-U.S. Representative from New York Geraldine Ferraro
Geraldine Ferraro
Geraldine Anne Ferraro was an American attorney, a Democratic Party politician, and a member of the United States House of Representatives. She was the first female Vice Presidential candidate representing a major American political party....
, Matilda Cuomo (wife of Mario Cuomo
Mario Cuomo
Mario Matthew Cuomo served as the 52nd Governor of New York from 1983 to 1994, and is the father of Andrew Cuomo, the current governor of New York.-Early life:...
, then Lieutenant Governor of New York
Lieutenant Governor of New York
The Lieutenant Governor of New York is a constitutional office in the executive branch of the government of New York State. It is the second highest ranking official in state government. The lieutenant governor is elected on a ticket with the governor for a four year term...
), Donna deMatteo, Bonnie Mandina and Roseanne Colletti. The group sought to create a national network to support the educational and professional aspirations of its members, and to combat ethnic stereotypes by promoting positive role models.
NOIAW-sponsored events are educational, cultural and social in nature and focus on issues of interest to Italian American women. The programs recognize and promote the accomplishments and contributions of women of Italian ancestry as well as acknowledge women as keepers of the culture.
Through its mentor program, NOIAW matches graduate and undergraduate students and women returning to the work force, with NOIAW members in the same field who provide guidance and ongoing support. The organization awards scholarships each year to Italian American women for pursuit of higher education. NOIAW is committed to preserving Italian heritage, language
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
, and culture while simultaneously promoting and supporting the advancement of women of Italian ancestry. More recently, the NOIAW joined with the Italian Foreign Ministry, to establish an Exchange Program. Italian students spend two weeks with an Italian American Family and on alternate years Italian American College students go to Italy.
NOIAW has evolved into an international organization bringing together women of Italian ancestry throughout the United States with women in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
through international events and conferences.
Current Board of Directors
- Lidia Matticchio Bastianich
- Matilda Raffa Cuomo
- Hon. Rosa L. DeLauro
- Toni J. Elliott
- Hon. Patricia deStacy Harrison
- Hon. Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiNancy Patricia D'Alesandro Pelosi is the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives and served as the 60th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011...
- Baroness Mariuccia Zerilli-Marimò