If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light.
Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness,
selfishness, and fears.
KEEPING MEMORY ALIVE
Heritage is more than history—it is a living legacy passed from one generation to the next. Through preservation, research, and storytelling, Convivio honors the people, immigrant journeys, traditions, and experiences that continue to shape our community. Beginning in Little Italy and extending throughout San Diego County, we preserve and share the stories of our Italian American community through education, archival initiatives, heritage projects, exhibitions, events, and original research, ensuring this legacy endures for generations.
LITTLE ITALY HERITAGE COMMISSION
The Little Italy Heritage Commission serves as Convivio’s advisory body on matters relating to the heritage of San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood. Through research, recommendations, public presentations, exhibits, and community dialogue, the Commission helps inform and strengthen Convivio’s heritage initiatives while preserving the neighborhood’s unique historical identity. Read more â–¸
Commission Members
- Danny Moceri, Chair
- Lou Palestini, Vice Chair
- Sal Giametta, Secretary
- Roberto Assenti
- Jerry Balistreri
- Benny Brunetto
- Domenic Brunetto
- Nick Bruno
- Sara Bruno
- Anthony Contasti
- John Contasti
- Joe Cordileone
- Frank Giarratano
- Joanne Kipling
- Lucy Laudate
- Ann Navarra
- Jack Pecoraro
- John Rippo
- Elidie Strouse
- Bernadette Tarantino
- Sal Tarantino
- Mark Ventimiglia
- Tommy Ventimiglia
Visit our auxiliary site to view local Italian community historical photographs.
To participate in our digital history initiative and have your archival materials included, please contact us.
ITALIAN DIGITAL HISTORY INITIATIVE
The Italian Digital History Initiative, established in 2006, serves as the cornerstone of Convivio’s heritage preservation efforts. Through the digitization of photographs, documents, oral histories, and other historical materials, the Initiative preserves not only artifacts, but also the stories, memories, and experiences they represent. Building upon this work, The Italians of San Diego docuseries explores the community’s remarkable journey—from the earliest Italian colony to the ongoing revitalization of Little Italy and beyond.
SHOEBOX SUNDAYS
Preserve Your Family’s Story
Every family has a story worth preserving. Hidden in albums, shoeboxes, drawers, and attics are photographs, letters, documents, and keepsakes that tell the story of San Diego’s Italian community—one family at a time. By preserving these materials today, together we ensure that future generations can better understand the people, places, and experiences that shaped our shared heritage.
People often ask, “What are you looking for?”
The better question is: What tells your family’s story?
We welcome materials such as:
- Photographs and documents
- Personal letters and correspondence
- Certificates, awards, and family records
- Licenses and permits (such as those related to fishing, agriculture, or local businesses)
- Diaries, manuscripts, and memoirs
- Home movies, videos, and film footage
- Images and documents that capture homes, businesses, neighborhood streetscapes, churches, clubs, and other places that have shaped our community
Whether your materials exist in print or are already in digital form, we’d be honored to help preserve them. Schedule an appointment to have your collection professionally digitized, or bring your files on a USB drive for inclusion in the Italian Digital History Initiative.
Does your organization have a story to preserve? Whether you’re part of a community association, parish, club, or other local organization, Convivio’s preservation team would be delighted to visit your group. We’ll share practical guidance on caring for historical materials and facilitate a community digitization session, helping preserve your organization’s photographs, documents, and memories for inclusion in the Italian Digital History Initiative. Together, we can ensure your shared history is preserved for future generations.
LITTLE ITALY AND THE ITALIANS OF SAN DIEGO
Produced by Convivio | Directed by John B. Mangiapane, Jr.
View the trailer for our docuseries on Little Italy and the Italian community in San Diego. You can help to fund our project. With your contribution, your name will appear on our credits.
THE TALK ON THE STREET
Explore the history of our community with the people who know it best.
Lucy DeMaria Laudate and
Sal DeMaria
Tony and Dominick DiBona
Andy Asaro
Lou Palestini and Danny Moceri
NOW AND AGAIN
Our Now and Again series explores the life stories of individuals in our community.
OUR PUBLICATIONS
THE ZEVELY ZONE
View the Zevely Zone episode highlighting four long-time friends in Little Italy and their antics at AmiciBar.
SOHO: PENNING THE PAST
The Save Our History Organization Penning the Past series episode on the history of the Italian community in San Diego.
ROOTS FROM THE BOOT
View the episode with our executive director on Bob Sorrentino’s Italian Roots and Genealogy page — From Sicily to San Diego: Preserving Italian Heritage.
MONA LISA 50TH ANNIVERSARY
View our documentary on the Little Italy restaurant and deli celebrating 50 years of dedication and service to the neighborhood.
AMICI MAGAZINE
Created, edited, distributed by Giovanna De Santi-Medina. Archived in 2026.