Dear Friends, .

As you know, 2021 has finally arrived, and I know we’re all excited for the good news this year will

bring. This past year has been very tough, no doubt. So, what’s next? Life teaches us that although we

live with many uncertainties, we need to be ready to reinvent ourselves and face new changes with a

positive and creative attitude. Easier said than done. I believe that if we try to be a little more thankful

for what we have instead of focusing on the past, we can create an even better future. Personally, I’m thankful for many

things: my family and friends, our Society, and the ways in which this past year has strengthened the bonds among us all. . Here at the Leonardo, we are ready to start the New Year with love and enthusiasm. We’ve worked hard to create new

programs and events that we are excited to share with all of you. They still will be held virtually, at least for a little while.

However, this isn’t a big issue now that we know what to do to keep everyone safe. I know it’s not the same, but we

promise to continue to build engaging and interactive programs so we can all enjoy and share our passions.

Our Society may be small, but it’s rich in history and culture. We care about each other and are proud to be part of the

Italian Community of the San Francisco Bay Area. I’d like to ask you to fill out a small survey so we can learn more about

your wishes and expectations for the upcoming year. 2021 LdVS Survey. Thank you so much for your participation. It only

takes just a few minutes to make a big difference.

Finally, I want to wish you all a year full of health, joy, and serenity: a year that will fulfill all of your wishes.

Happy New Year!

Sabrina Longega Wilson, President

2021: The Year of Dante Alighieri On March 25th of this year, Italy marked its first national Dante Day. Dante

Day was established to celebrate two anniversaries. This past year 2020

marked the 700th anniversary of the completion of the “Divine Comedy” and

March 25th, 2021 will mark the 700th anniversary of the poet's death in 1321.

Many celebrations are being held throughout Italy to commemorate Dante.

The Leonardo will celebrate Dante Day with a great event in March of 2021!

We will host a lecture by Dr. Danielle Callegari, Assistant Professor of Italian

Studies at Dartmouth University and Councilor for the Dante Society of Ameri-

ca. Be ready to meet her and learn many new and original insights regarding

The Divine Comedy.

Newsletter January - July 2021

JANUARY 14th at 5:30pm It Will Be Chaos

A film by Lorena Luciano and Filippo Piscopo

The documentary, “It Will Be Chaos,” by Lorena Luciano and Filippo Piscopo, fea-

tures two stories of refugees on their journeys to the E.U. and unfolds between

Western Europe and the Balkan region. It was the winner of the HBO 2019 Emmy

Award and includes interviews from local people left to cope with the overwhelm-

ing influx of newcomers while facing their own economic problems. The screening

will be preceded by a live interview with both of the film’s directors.

FEBRUARY 23rd at 5:30pm Pasquale Esposito

A life for music

Pasquale Esposito is a singer and songwriter originally from Naples Italy, where he

started singing at the age of six. In 1998, he moved to the U.S. after receiving a

green card through an immigration lottery. He soon graduated from San Jose Uni-

versity with a degree in vocal performance and made an opera debut with the San

Francisco Opera in the world premiere of Marco Tutino's “Two Women.”

Pasquale will be with us to talk about his life and of course, to perform some of his

most famous Italian songs. An event in collaboration with Museo Italo Americano.

MARCH 18th at 5pm A Poet in the Kitchen: Food & Wine in Dante's Divine Comedy A study by Danielle Callegari

For the celebration of the 700th anniversary of Dante Alighieri's death, we will host

a lecture by Dr. Danielle Callegari, Assistant Professor of Italian Studies at Dart-

mouth University and Councilor for the Dante Society of America. Dr. Callegari's

research focuses on premodern Italian Literature and food and wine studies. Be

ready to meet her online and learn something new and original regarding the Divine

Comedy. Dr. Danielle Callegari

.

APRIL 15th at 12:30pm All Machiavelli’s Men: Friends, Enemies (and a mistress) A story by Marcello Simonetta . Who was Niccolò Machiavelli, the Florentine Secretary and author of “The Prince and the Mandrake”? There are many conflicting accounts on this enigmatic man, and much is left unknown. Was he a genius, a friend of tyrants, or a brave man who denounced the vices of the powerful? Marcello Simonetta addresses all of these questions in his book while touching on an era of inequality and corruption, and will answer even more as he discusses his book with all of us in this upcoming event!

MAY 20th at 6pm Il Barbiere di Siviglia

With Dr. Alessandra Amati

For our second Appuntamento con l’Opera event, we will watch the opera, “Il Barb-

iere di Siviglia,” together and have a chance to talk with Dr. Alessandra Ama-

ti, Professor of Music at the University of San Francisco. Through this discussion,

we will learn history and fun facts about Rossini’s masterpiece. Dr. Amati is a pro-

fessional program annotator and pre-concert lecturer for many Bay Area organiza-

tions. “Il Barbiere di Siviglia” will be streamed directly from the San Francisco

Opera.

JUNE 10th at 12:30pm

Il Segreto del Tuffatore - Life and death in the ancient Paestum

By Gigi Spina

An amazing discovery: in 1969 in Paestum, the Tomb of the Diver, which contains

the mystery of images destined to remain inside a tomb, is discovered. Luigi Spina

tell us a simple story of daily life in a seemingly peaceful community, but crossed by

commercial conflicts and more. The young diver, Poseidonio, well known in the

Polis of Padua as a young poet, had an angular character. A short life, interrupted

by that mysterious dive ...

JULY 8th at Noon

Annual Luncheon

The end of our spring programs will be marked by our annual luncheon. It’s an

fun and important, annual event where you will have an opportunity to

Celebrate what we have done this year or simply catch up on what you may have

missed; share your thoughts, ideas and hopes for the upcoming year; and attend

the annual election of the Board of Directors.

The 2021 Leonardo Gala

The Leonardo Gala is our annual fundraising event. It’s

a fun opportunity to celebrate with our community

and enjoy music, dinner, auctions, and so much more!

This spring event is essential for funding our programs

for the Leonardo Awards and other events.

The 2021 Leonardo Awards

The Leonardo Award is an annual award that

recognizes Italian or Italian American early-career

researchers working in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Applications will open in April and winners will be

rewarded with a $1,000 prize.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Sabrina Longega Wilson, President

Carla Anisman, Vice President

Giovanni Iammarrone, Treasurer

Elisabetta Nelsen, Program Chair

Vincent Fausone, Membership Chair

Sarah Battaglia, Marketing Chair

FOLLOW US!

With our new online schedule, this fall was rich with programs and guests, and we are very proud about what

we’ve accomplished together. We partnered with other communities and shared what connects us all:

our love for Italian culture.

Thank you for all of your support this past fall!

A special thanks to our major donors for their continuous support and help. Grazie di cuore.

Alessandro Baccari, Rev. Lauren Allen, Carla Anisman, Bianca Caserza, Maria Giannini, Bonnie Demegrasso,

Elvia Faggin, Vincent Fausone, Antonella Goldsborough, Sandra Gulli, Dominic Massoni, Elizabeth Milano,

Ezio Valdevit and Laura Piccirillo Waste.

We are grateful for all our sponsors and community

The 2020-2021 Board of Directors

Leonardo da Vinci Society of San Francisco

P.O. Box 5775

San Francisco, CA 94147

www.davincisanfrancisco.com

Attila with Dr. Alessandra Amati

Presented by

Dr. Vincent Fausone

Barbara Angelillo, Dev. Chair

Angelina Sorensen, Social Chair

Amelia Antonucci, Director

Enrica Cavalli, Director

Ezio Valdevit, Director

Laura Piccirillo Waste, Director

"Time stays long enough for anyone who will use it." - Leonardo da Vinci