WHO WE ARE

The Italian Community of St Louis is an umbrella organization which functions as the primary reference for all things Italian in St Louis. Our mission is to connect Italians in St Louis and promote contemporary Italy.

Cav. Franco Giannotti, Founder and President Emeritus of Club Italiano Per Piacere

Giovanna Leopardi, Director of the St Louis Italian Language Program

Scott Hoff, President of Club Italiano Per Piacere with his wife Katie

Concetta Lo Iacono Gabriele, Vice-Director, St Louis Italian Language Progam

Giorgio Bucci, President of the St Louis Italian Chamber of Commerce

Michael Cross, President of St Louis - Bologna Sister Cities

Elizabeth Bernhardt, PhD, Vice-President of St Louis - Bologna Sister Cities and Editor of Mattoni Rossi Newsletter

Claudia Pompei Karagoz, PhD, Italian Program Coordinator at Saint Louis University

Barbara Klein, President of Italian Film Festival USA

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ORGANIZATIONS WHICH FORM THE ITALIAN COMMUNITY OF ST LOUIS AND THEIR RESPECTIVE PRESIDENTS
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​St Louis Italian Language Program - Giovanna Leopardi
CLUB Italiano Per Piacere - Scott M Hoff
St Louis - Bologna Sister Cities - Michael Cross
St Louis Italian Chamber of Commerce - Giorgio Bucci
Young Italian Alliance - St Louis - Carmelo Gabriele
Italian Film Festival of St Louis - Barbara Klein
St Louis Italian Language Meetup Group - Rick Pernikoff 
Italian Citizenship Assistance - Marco Permunian
Washington University Italian Program - Rebecca Messbarger, PhD
Saint Louis University Italian Program - Claudia Karagoz, PhD
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Italian Program - Federica Bertolini


NEWSLETTER

Elizabeth Bernhardt, PhD - Editor
Michael Cross - Contributing Editor/Graphic Design
Denis Alessio - Italian Language Editor
Franco Giannotti - Consultant/Contributor


EVENT COMMITTEE
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Federica Bertolini, Elena Bray, Elizabeth Bernhardt, Giovanna Leopardi, Roberto Lanzara,
​Michael Cross, Alessandro Valentino, Tiziana Orsini, Vito Alu, Giorgio Bucci, Federica Serra

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Club Italiano Per Piacere
 (the only exclusively Italian speaking club in the U.S. Midwest)
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Scott M. Hoff - President 
Giovanna Leopardi - Secretary
Fabio Giannotti - Treasurer 
Roberto Lanzara - Consigliere 
Michael Cross - Consigliere
Elizabeth Bernhardt, PhD - Consigliere
Cav. Franco Giannotti - Past President and Founder 


St Louis - Bologna Sister Cities Organization
(The Sister Cities falls under the jurisdiction of the World Trade Center - St Louis)
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Michael Cross - President
Elizabeth Bernhardt, PhD - Vice-President
Giovanna Leopardi - Secretary 
Members of the Board: Benedetta Orsi Aquino, Cav. Franco Giannotti, Francesca Giacomozzi
Honorary Members of the Board: Tishaura Jones, Virginio Merola, Sam Page, Joseph Colagiovanni


St Louis Italian Language Program

Giovanna Leopardi - Director
Concetta Lo Iacono Gabriele - Vice-Director
Members of the Board: Donatella Tecchio Lanzara, Federica Bertolini, Michael Cross ​

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​Representatives for Italians Living Abroad

Hon. Thomas Botzios - Consul General of Italy in Chicago
Hon. Joseph Colagiovanni - Honorary Vice-Consul of Italy in St Louis
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Please note that all visa and passport related questions and concerns must be communicated directly with the Office of the Vice Consulate of Italy in St Louis or the Office of the Consulate of Italy in Chicago.  For further information, please send an email to: italcons.chicago@esteri.it.

Hon. Thomas Botzios

Hon. Joseph Colagiovanni

Meet the Founder

Michael J Cross

Born in St Louis, Michael was raised in an Italian speaking household. With an Italian-born mother from Trieste and frequent trips to Italy to visit family and friends, he fell in love with the Italian language and culture. During his university years, Michael lived in Europe, obtaining an MA in International Relations and European Studies while spending his summers in Italy. After returning to St Louis, he was inspired to provide a home away from home for Italians living in the St Louis area. In October 2017 along with several other Italian expats, the Italian Community of St Louis was born with a mission to connect Italians in St Louis and introduce them to the Gateway to the West, while also introducing St Louisans to Italians and contemporary Italy.  

Read Michael's Interview with "We the Italians"