Poughkeepsie's tie to Italy dates back generations. Since the arrival of immigrants from all across the peninsula, the city has greatly benefited from numerous Italian-American small businesses and cultural institutions. Many of them, such as Rossi's, Cosimo's, Aurora, and La Deliziosa have helped define the gastronomic identity of Poughkeepsie, alongside many other cultures.
Italiani di Poughkeepsie was created in order to celebrate, preserve and continue Italian culture in Poughkeepsie. This is a platform for YOU to share YOUR story. Please contact us and we will publish it in the form of a blog post right here on the website! Just send us a memory, story, thought, or poem, that relates to your Italian-American identity within the context of Poughkeepsie. Hopefully that this can become a long lasting home for exchange amongst the community.
Talking about one's cultural identity is a sensitive topic, so we ask that everyone be open and understanding of the expressions of others on this forum. Help make this an environment conducive to sharing, connection, and amore!
Here are some examples of prompts for some inspiration:
Describe your family's immigration story. Why did they leave Italy? What did they have to sacrifice in order to emigrate? How did they end up in Poughkeepsie?
How does your Italian heritage play a role in your life today? What makes you feel Italian?
Are there any places in Poughkeepsie that help you connect with Italian culture? Where? What about them helps you make this connection?
Do you or any of your family members speak Italian or dialect? Do you speak it at home? If you don't do you wish you knew how? If you do, how has it benefited your life?
Are there any traditions that your family has kept alive?
How would you describe your view of Italy? If you haven't been, do you wish to visit?
Has the Coronavirus outbreak in Italy affected anyone you know? How are they coping with the situation? How do you think it has unfolded differently there compared to in Poughkeepsie?
Write an open letter to Italy. Write a poem about Italy.
What is a proverb that one of your family members says/used to say? What does it mean?
Feel free to wander off from any of these prompts and go your own way! We would prefer for the submissions to be in Italian, however English is also great! Please submit a photo along with the text to help capture your story in the best way possible.
Preserving the Memory and Culture of Poughkeepsie
As two Italian majors at Marist College, we decided to undertake this project for our Italian in a Digital Age course, with the goal of learning more about the city we have called home since our freshman year, while fostering an environment of exchange. We hope that this website serves not only as a forum, but as a sort of memory bank for everyone's unique stories.
Grazie mille!
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