In the Italian American community of Western New York, tradition is not simply remembered—it is lived, shared, and passed lovingly from one generation to the next. Few families embody that spirit more beautifully than Danette Porto and her granddaughter Danielle Salasavage, whose commitment to heritage, community, and service has helped strengthen Italian American organizations both locally and nationally.

Danette’s journey of service began in 1962 when she joined the Order Italian Sons and Daughters of America. Known for her warmth, generosity, and pride in her roots, Danette has always believed that the strength of the Italian American community lies in family, tradition, and giving back. She raised her family with a strong appreciation for Italian traditions—from family dinners and gatherings to participation in community events and cultural celebrations.

Danette also serves as an Ambassador for We the Italians, connecting with organizations, leaders, and advocates across the country who share a passion for celebrating Italian culture.

What makes Danette’s work particularly meaningful is her commitment to ensuring that younger generations become involved in preserving Italian American culture. Those early experiences created lifelong friendships and connections that continue to shape her work today.

Through conferences, national meetings, and other Italian American leadership initiatives, Danette has helped build relationships with Italian American organizations and leaders across the country. Their story is one of legacy, mentorship, and love for community.

Together, Danette Porto and Danelle Salasavage represent more than two generations of leadership—they represent the enduring power of family and the importance of passing cultural traditions forward.

The final 2026 Donna Distinta honoree will be announced in the May edition of La Nostra Voce.

Since arriving in New Orleans on December 16, 1889, Father Giacomo Gambera, accompanied by Father Angelo Chiarigione, was acutely aware of the burgeoning, Protestant-dominated city along the Mississippi River. Both priests were sent by their superior, Bishop John Baptist Scalabrini, to minister to the Italian immigrant population, compressed in a hovel-ridden portion of the French Quarter known as “Piccolo Palermo,” or as newspapers derisively called, “The Italian Colony”—8 blocks long and 10 blocks wide.

Beginning in 1880, more than 100,000 Italians and Sicilians had immigrated to New Orleans under the false promise of steady work and livable conditions—claims largely advanced by the notorious Padrone system operating between Southern Italy and the port cities of the United States.

Of great notice was the competition on the docks for stevedores. Two companies owned by Italians, the Matrangas and the Provenzanos, were feuding over business. The newspapers played up the fight as part of the city’s Mafia wars, without any evidence to support the reckless hypothesis. The immigrants were not only viewed as the lowest class of human beings, but also members of a foreign criminal enterprise.

Editor’s note: The largest lynch mob ever to assemble on U.S. soil killed 11 innocent Italian Americans in New Orleans on March 14, 1891—a shocking event that sparked a diplomatic crisis between the U.S. and Italy. To ease tensions, President Benjamin Harrison declared the first national Columbus Day celebration in 1892, organizing a parade in NYC that drew over a million attendees. That outpouring inspired generations of Italian Americans to hold Columbus Day parades and build Columbus statues.

In 1890, the assassination of Irish-Catholic police superintendent David C. Hennessey ignited anti-Italian hysteria. A lynch mob broke into the New Orleans Parish Prison and shot and hanged 11 Italians—nine of them Italian citizens, six of whom never even went to trial. The newspapers celebrated the act of justice.

These lynchings sent Mother Cabrini marching into New Orleans in early 1892, where she launched an orphanage at 817 St. Philip Street in the “Italian Colony” and worked tirelessly to build schools and institutions for Italian immigrant children, despite fierce opposition. Her network, her faith, and her fire never dimmed.

Upon returning from the Italian American Future Leaders Conference in January, Inizio kicked off its monthly dinner series at Mario Fazio’s in Willoughby Hills. The Conference was full of hands-on cultural programming as members and friends joined Fazio’s family to learn how to make cavatelli from scratch, using Papa Vince non-enriched whole wheat flour made from ancient grains from Sicily.

On February 29th, members traveled to the Carnevale Festa di Pasta at Pittsburgh, PA—attending The Cleveland Club and Friends’ Pasta di Carnevale for the second year in a row. They reunited with friends made at IAFL, enjoyed a tour of the Calabria Club and the Siino District, ate delicious panini at DiAnoia’s Bakery, and visited the well-known Pennsylvania Macaroni Co.

On March 21, Inizio welcomed 40 guests to its Spring Kickoff at the Italian American Museum of Cleveland. ISDA President Basil Russo delivered an engaging address on the significance of our shared culture and history.

Inizio also held their March dinner at Parma Heights Home Family Club in Parma Heights, Ohio on March 13th, beginning with a performance by the Allegro Dance Company.

My husband Anthony and I recently had the opportunity to attend the Italian American Future Leaders (IAFL) Convention in South Florida this past January, welcoming participants ages 21 to 35. From the moment we arrived, the atmosphere was less like a formal convention and more like a large family reunion. Despite only knowing our local Cleveland ISDA group, every conversation felt familiar and every face felt natural, rooted in our shared values.

A highlight of the weekend was a genealogy presentation by Richard Leto of the Columbus Italian American Organization (CIAO). His passion for helping the next generation trace their lineage led to a personal discovery: Anthony learned the name of a family member who had passed away as an infant—a piece of history his family had never known. Making that connection to his roots was a very special moment.

The weekend also offered a vibrant look at our cultural traditions through the southern Italian folk dance, the Tarantella—quite different from the Tarantella we danced at our wedding! Beyond the social and cultural events, we found great beauty in the spiritual elements of the convention. Attending daily Mass with Fr. Lee and praying the Rosary together before lunch provided a peaceful grounding start to our days.

Ultimately, we walked away with a deeper knowledge of Italian culture and invaluable friendships. We are especially grateful to Basil Russo, John Viola, Pat O’Boyle, and Andrea Mauck for their dedicated work in creating this opportunity for the next generation of leaders.

∼Nina Hurst, OLMC Lodge, Cleveland