Town and Gown Explorations of Christopher Columbus

Carla A. Simonini, Associate Professor and Director of Loyola University Chicago's Paul and Ann Rubino Italian American Studies Program and Frank  DiPiero, host of the local podcast “Keeping it Real with Frankie D.” are pleased to present:

"Town and Gown Explorations of Christopher Columbus”

A series of interviews with scholars and community leaders in the Chicagoland area to investigate the legacy of Christopher Columbus and explore the controversy surrounding the recently removed Columbus monuments in Chicago. The interviews will be recorded and made available throughout October -- Italian American Heritage Month. The links below will provide you with more detailed information on our interviewees as well as links to the podcast as soon as it is available.

"The History of Columbus Day" William Connell, Professor of History and La Motta Chair in Italian Studies at Seton Hall University; and Bénédicte Deschamps, associate professor of Italian American immigration history at the Université de Paris (France).

"Christopher Columbus -- The Historical Figure" Gabriella Airaldi, specialist on the history of the Mediterranean and international relations and professor of Medieval History at the University of Genoa.

"Christopher Columbus Today" Sergio Giangrande, President of the JCCIA (Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans), and Heather Miller, Executive Director of the American Indian Center of Chicago.

"Beyond Columbus: Christopher Columbus and Italian American Identity" Fred Gardaphe’, Distinguished Professor of English and Italian American Studies at Queens College/CUNY; and John Viola, Former President and Chief Operating Officer of NIAF (National Italian American Foundation) and co-host of the Italian American Podcast.