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SMC Grads Deepen Connection with Italian Community

Three recent Saint Mary’s graduates have spent the pandemic taking what they learned as students in the Italian program at SMC and using that to make connections with the Italian Community Services (ICS) organization in the North Beach neighborhood in San Francisco. Bailey Davidson says she loved languages and knew she wanted to study Italian when she came to Saint Mary’s, despite having no Italian heritage personally. While she was still a student, she became an intern with ICS with the help of a reference from Professor Maria Grazia De Angelis. “I fell in love with the organization and its mission,” she says, “because they do so much for the community.” After she graduated, she started her own business and was able to continue her relationship with the organization, assisting with digital marketing, fundraising campaigns, and even its strategic vision.” She says of her experience with ICS, “It has been amazing to be part of such a caring and impactful organization.” Eileen Favretto is an Italian minor who loves the Italian language and culture. She knew Italian even before coming to SMC. While she was a student she became an Italian tutor and started volunteering at ICS. She describes them as “a group of beautiful souls with huge hearts who are always doing something to help the Italian-American community.” For example, during the pandemic, she helped the organization deliver weekly care packages to Italian American senior citizens. She says about her experience in the Italian Program at Saint Mary’s, “I grew and learned so much through the Italian program. Learning Italian at SMC never gets boring!” and says the volunteering was an important part of that experience. Through ICS she made a connection with the owner of a local wine company for whom she works now. Noah Moretti not only took Italian language and culture classes at Saint Mary’s but also studied in Rome for a semester. While at Saint Mary’s, he was President of the Dante Club, a club that focuses on Italian culture and is one of the largest clubs on campus. In his role, he made connections with Italian organizations across the Bay Area and the U.S, including ICS. He also organized many events, such as the Italian Heritage Day Parade, different Italian-focused events, and an Italian Cars and Culture show that gathered more than 300 people on campus. When he is not enjoying his newfound career in Finance, Noah actively volunteers with ICS, creating relationships with other colleges and high schools. 

Professor Maria Grazia De Angelis in the Italian program at SMC has an ongoing relationship with the Italian Community Services and can help students get internships that can lead to other opportunities, including possible jobs, Italian Language and Culture program at SMC.