FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact:   Elissa Ruffino (NIAF) 202/939-3106 or elissa@niaf.org

(WASHINGTON, DC — April 16, 2003) Roy L. De Barbieri, Esq., managing partner at De Barbieri & Associates, Attorneys and Counsellors at Law in New Haven, Conn. and National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) area coordinator in Connecticut, recently addressed a meeting of the leadership of UNICO District II at the invitation of Governor Leonard Del Gallo. De Barbieri spoke to the chapter officers and directors to stimulate statewide cooperation in Connecticut between the two organizations.

During the meeting, De Barbieri asked the Italian-American leaders to return to their clubs and organizations and find ways to participate with NIAF in statewide activities including the creation of joint scholarships through NIAF’s scholarship matching program.

The mutual support and activities, by both organizations, includes participation in the NIAF Council 2000 by UNICO members, support of the National Italian Language Initiatives now being undertaken by NIAF, and participation in national events. De Barbieri and Del Gallo, recently took part in an in-service training seminar for the Renbrook School at West Hartford, Conn. to address issues of ethnic stereotyping and concerns recently raised there.