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UNICO members hear author speak about LaGuardia

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Author Jo-Ann Vega (left) discusses lecture topics with former UNICO Rehoboth Area President Rose Marie Patin. 


By Maria Teresa Morrison

LEWES – Jo-Ann Vega, born in the South Bronx of immigrant Italian grandparents and now living in southern Delaware, recently spoke to members of the Rehoboth Area Chapter of UNICO on the life of Fiorello LaGuardia and of her recent publication “Moments in Flight: A Memoir.”

In her presentation, part of a series of lectures on celebrating Italian Americans, Vega examines “how and why La Guardia overcame the odds, his rise to power and how ethnicity (Italian father/Jewish mother) shaped his values and character.”

LaGuardia was one of the most effective and beloved mayors of New York City (1933-1945), as well as the first Italian American elected to Congress (1916-1919). In those times, immigrant Americans were regarded as lazy, violent, unintelligent and treated with hostility – a familiar stereotype.

Vega is a dynamic speaker with 30 years of experience presenting to academic, business, and community groups. She has 20 years of adjunct experience on the undergraduate and graduate levels teaching business courses.

“Moments in Flight” chronicles the courage, sacrifices and endurance of immigrants, bringing their lost history full circle via published documents, registries and dockets.

In October, she will continue the lecture series with a presentation on Lee Iacocca.

UNICO is an national Italian-American service organization dedicated to helping everyone regard-less of ethnicity and to the preservation of Italian heritage and culture. For more information contact unicodelawaredistrict1@gmail.com

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