COMPETITIVE GRANTS

DISTRICT DIRECTOR

Dr. Lombardo conceptualized ideas for programs, wrote proposals,acquired funding, conducted the programs and had outside evaluators examine the programs' strengths and weaknesses. Often these programs became models for other Italian organizations to emulate.

Starting in 1981, Lombardo submitted many grants on behalf of NIAF to the Federal Government, Private Organizations, Italian Government, the University of Massachusetts at Burlington, Private Companies and Individuals:

Union Ridge School District Consortium August , 2001
Foreign Language Proposal

Funded by:

  • U.S. Department of Education
  • Italian Consulate
  • Chicago Area Schools

In a unified effort, the Italian consulate of Chicago through Anna Fiore; the Union Ridge School District 86 through Dr. Raymond Kuper; and Dr. Maria Lombardo prepared a foreign language proposal that rendered successful results from the U.S. Department of Education. The Foreign Language Assistance Grant titled "Language and Learning for the Future: Global Education for the Global World" constituted a total matching fund of 4.3 million dollars for continuing and establishing the Italian language in Chicago area schools for the next three years. The U.S. Department of Education, the Italian consulate and the Union Ridge School District 86 made the matching funds available.

As a result of this grant, nine suburban schools from six school districts in the Chicago area, the Italian government and community groups established, developed and implemented an innovative model of foreign language "FLES program content enriched." This program provided Italian language instruction to 2,274 students from Kindergarten through eighth grade as part of the regular school day. Through this grant the nine schools developed a sequential integrated curriculum in Grades K-8 by delivering Italian language instruction three times a week, from forty to sixty minutes each time, including immersion units in art, music and social studies.


Washington, D.C. 1995
Preserving, Promoting The Italian Language & Culture in the U.S.A.

Funded by:

  • Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Italian Ministry of Public Education
  • Georgetown University

In 1995 Dr. Lombardo wrote a proposal to the Italian Ministry of Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct a conference in Washington, D.C., as way of preserving and promoting Italian language in the United States. Her entire proposal was based on the research and implementation of a grant she had funded by the U.S. Department of Education in 1982. Competing with various Italian American organizations and universities nationally, the NIAF, together with the Italian Cultural Institute of Washington, D.C., was awarded funding from the Italian Ministry of Education and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct a major international conference to discuss the status of Italian language study in the United States, and to develop strategies for establishing, maintaining and reinstating Italian language and culture programs throughout the country.

The intent of the conference "Preserving and Promoting the Italian Language and Culture in Washington D.C." was to bring educators together from Italy, Canada and the U.S. to discuss the most effective strategies for starting Italian programs and, maintaining Italian programs where they existed. A critical focus was to help teachers learn about exemplary programs. Another central concern was to discuss how to educate the general public about the positive aspects of the Italian and Italian American history and culture, thus eradicating the negative stereotypes of the Mafia etc. This International conference was held to present models for maintaining and promoting the Italian language and culture in the United States and abroad.

The Advisory Committee, which set the agenda for the language conference, was comprised of U.S. Senators and Members of Congress, including: Senators Patrick Leahy and Richard Santorum; Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro, Susan Molinari, Constance Morella, Nancy Pelosi and Marge Roukema; and Congressmen John Baldacci, Sonny Bono, Mike Doyle, Thomas Foglietta, Dan Frisa, John LaFalce, Rick Lazio, Frank LoBiondo, Donald Manzullo, Bill Martini, Frank Mascara, John Mica, George Miller, Joe Moakley, Frank Pallone, James Oberstar, James Traficant, and Robert Torricelli.

This stimulating international conference established the NIAF as a leader and pioneer in providing a forum for the promotion of Italian culture and, in particular, the Italian language, the study of which is threatened with extinction in the United States.

Boston, Massachusetts 1982
New York City, New York 1983

The Italian American Parent Training Institutes of Parents and Teachers
Parent Training- $184,000 from U.S. Department of Education and $275,000 from School Districts

Funded by:

  • U.S. Department of Education
  • The National Italian American Foundation

To help Italian parents, who were from Southern Italy and had historically not taken part in the American schools. The scope of the project was to examine the impact of training upon: a) parents' active participation in the schools and political structure of the bilingual programs; b) the behaviors of parents as to the activities that they conduct with their children and c) the reading achievement of bilingual, elementary age children. Presentations in the program introduced parents to the structure of the American school, bilingual education, and reading skills and activities that they can do with their children on a day-to-day basis, and parents to work as aides in the various school programs. Based on research and practical experience, in 1982, Lombardo wrote a proposal for a Parent Training Program. When the program was funded it financed Lombardo's position as Education Director for NIAF. This was a dream come true. Lombardo had the opportunity to do some serious pioneer work using her education skills for the Italian American community. She developed programs, always from the immigrant, creative prospective of figuring out how to finance her ideas. In 1983, the NIAF conducted extensive training programs for Italian immigrant parents with bilingual children enrolled in American schools. The programs were held in New York City and Boston. Dr. Maria Lombardo, who headed the Parent Training Program, provided on site technical assistance for the Italian American organizations seeking to expand bilingual education programs. She noted that psychology findings indicate that fifty percent of a child's intelligence is developed by age four. "Therefore," she said, "it becomes important for educators to assist in the education that children receive in the home." In the case of Italian Americans, although parents were interested in having their children educated, most of them were unaware of reading and math activities that they could do at home to help improve their children's academic achievement. Many of the Italian American parents were not active participants in their children's schools, even in those that had bilingual (English Italian) programs. The reason for this may be that in Italy there is a centralized education system, whereas in the U.S. decisions about the educational system occur with community participation. Once the program was funded, parents learned how they could help their children and further their own education. The outcomes of this program were: the development of Parent Advisory Committees, organization of parents in making their opinions known to school officials, voting of parents at School Board elections, and training of parents who are involved in their children's education see increases in the reading levels of their children.

Two publications resulted from this program: "Italian American Parent Training Institutes," Office of Bilingual Education, 1987, and "Reading Skills and Activities for the Italian American Parent Training Institutes of New York City and Boston Public Schools," ERIC Document Reproduction Service, 1984.

COMPETITIVE GRANTS

DISTRICT DIRECTOR

Dr. Lombardo conceptualized ideas for programs, wrote proposals,acquired funding, conducted the programs and had outside evaluators examine the programs' strengths and weaknesses. Often these programs became models for other Italian organizations to emulate.

Starting in 1981, Lombardo submitted many grants on behalf of NIAF to the Federal Government, Private Organizations, Italian Government, the University of Massachusetts at Burlington, Private Companies and Individuals:

Union Ridge School District Consortium August , 2001
Foreign Language Proposal

Funded by:

  • U.S. Department of Education
  • Italian Consulate
  • Chicago Area Schools

In a unified effort, the Italian consulate of Chicago through Anna Fiore; the Union Ridge School District 86 through Dr. Raymond Kuper; and Dr. Maria Lombardo prepared a foreign language proposal that rendered successful results from the U.S. Department of Education. The Foreign Language Assistance Grant titled "Language and Learning for the Future: Global Education for the Global World" constituted a total matching fund of 4.3 million dollars for continuing and establishing the Italian language in Chicago area schools for the next three years. The U.S. Department of Education, the Italian consulate and the Union Ridge School District 86 made the matching funds available.

As a result of this grant, nine suburban schools from six school districts in the Chicago area, the Italian government and community groups established, developed and implemented an innovative model of foreign language "FLES program content enriched." This program provided Italian language instruction to 2,274 students from Kindergarten through eighth grade as part of the regular school day. Through this grant the nine schools developed a sequential integrated curriculum in Grades K-8 by delivering Italian language instruction three times a week, from forty to sixty minutes each time, including immersion units in art, music and social studies.


Washington, D.C. 1995
Preserving, Promoting The Italian Language & Culture in the U.S.A.

Funded by:

  • Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Italian Ministry of Public Education
  • Georgetown University

In 1995 Dr. Lombardo wrote a proposal to the Italian Ministry of Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct a conference in Washington, D.C., as way of preserving and promoting Italian language in the United States. Her entire proposal was based on the research and implementation of a grant she had funded by the U.S. Department of Education in 1982. Competing with various Italian American organizations and universities nationally, the NIAF, together with the Italian Cultural Institute of Washington, D.C., was awarded funding from the Italian Ministry of Education and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct a major international conference to discuss the status of Italian language study in the United States, and to develop strategies for establishing, maintaining and reinstating Italian language and culture programs throughout the country.

The intent of the conference "Preserving and Promoting the Italian Language and Culture in Washington D.C." was to bring educators together from Italy, Canada and the U.S. to discuss the most effective strategies for starting Italian programs and, maintaining Italian programs where they existed. A critical focus was to help teachers learn about exemplary programs. Another central concern was to discuss how to educate the general public about the positive aspects of the Italian and Italian American history and culture, thus eradicating the negative stereotypes of the Mafia etc. This International conference was held to present models for maintaining and promoting the Italian language and culture in the United States and abroad.

The Advisory Committee, which set the agenda for the language conference, was comprised of U.S. Senators and Members of Congress, including: Senators Patrick Leahy and Richard Santorum; Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro, Susan Molinari, Constance Morella, Nancy Pelosi and Marge Roukema; and Congressmen John Baldacci, Sonny Bono, Mike Doyle, Thomas Foglietta, Dan Frisa, John LaFalce, Rick Lazio, Frank LoBiondo, Donald Manzullo, Bill Martini, Frank Mascara, John Mica, George Miller, Joe Moakley, Frank Pallone, James Oberstar, James Traficant, and Robert Torricelli.

This stimulating international conference established the NIAF as a leader and pioneer in providing a forum for the promotion of Italian culture and, in particular, the Italian language, the study of which is threatened with extinction in the United States.

Boston, Massachusetts 1982
New York City, New York 1983

The Italian American Parent Training Institutes of Parents and Teachers
Parent Training- $184,000 from U.S. Department of Education and $275,000 from School Districts

Funded by:

  • U.S. Department of Education
  • The National Italian American Foundation

To help Italian parents, who were from Southern Italy and had historically not taken part in the American schools. The scope of the project was to examine the impact of training upon: a) parents' active participation in the schools and political structure of the bilingual programs; b) the behaviors of parents as to the activities that they conduct with their children and c) the reading achievement of bilingual, elementary age children. Presentations in the program introduced parents to the structure of the American school, bilingual education, and reading skills and activities that they can do with their children on a day-to-day basis, and parents to work as aides in the various school programs. Based on research and practical experience, in 1982, Lombardo wrote a proposal for a Parent Training Program. When the program was funded it financed Lombardo's position as Education Director for NIAF. This was a dream come true. Lombardo had the opportunity to do some serious pioneer work using her education skills for the Italian American community. She developed programs, always from the immigrant, creative prospective of figuring out how to finance her ideas. In 1983, the NIAF conducted extensive training programs for Italian immigrant parents with bilingual children enrolled in American schools. The programs were held in New York City and Boston. Dr. Maria Lombardo, who headed the Parent Training Program, provided on site technical assistance for the Italian American organizations seeking to expand bilingual education programs. She noted that psychology findings indicate that fifty percent of a child's intelligence is developed by age four. "Therefore," she said, "it becomes important for educators to assist in the education that children receive in the home." In the case of Italian Americans, although parents were interested in having their children educated, most of them were unaware of reading and math activities that they could do at home to help improve their children's academic achievement. Many of the Italian American parents were not active participants in their children's schools, even in those that had bilingual (English Italian) programs. The reason for this may be that in Italy there is a centralized education system, whereas in the U.S. decisions about the educational system occur with community participation. Once the program was funded, parents learned how they could help their children and further their own education. The outcomes of this program were: the development of Parent Advisory Committees, organization of parents in making their opinions known to school officials, voting of parents at School Board elections, and training of parents who are involved in their children's education see increases in the reading levels of their children.

Two publications resulted from this program: "Italian American Parent Training Institutes," Office of Bilingual Education, 1987, and "Reading Skills and Activities for the Italian American Parent Training Institutes of New York City and Boston Public Schools," ERIC Document Reproduction Service, 1984.

COMPETITIVE GRANTS

DISTRICT DIRECTOR

Dr. Lombardo conceptualized ideas for programs, wrote proposals,acquired funding, conducted the programs and had outside evaluators examine the programs' strengths and weaknesses. Often these programs became models for other Italian organizations to emulate.

Starting in 1981, Lombardo submitted many grants on behalf of NIAF to the Federal Government, Private Organizations, Italian Government, the University of Massachusetts at Burlington, Private Companies and Individuals:

Union Ridge School District Consortium August , 2001
Foreign Language Proposal

Funded by:

  • U.S. Department of Education
  • Italian Consulate
  • Chicago Area Schools

In a unified effort, the Italian consulate of Chicago through Anna Fiore; the Union Ridge School District 86 through Dr. Raymond Kuper; and Dr. Maria Lombardo prepared a foreign language proposal that rendered successful results from the U.S. Department of Education. The Foreign Language Assistance Grant titled "Language and Learning for the Future: Global Education for the Global World" constituted a total matching fund of 4.3 million dollars for continuing and establishing the Italian language in Chicago area schools for the next three years. The U.S. Department of Education, the Italian consulate and the Union Ridge School District 86 made the matching funds available.

As a result of this grant, nine suburban schools from six school districts in the Chicago area, the Italian government and community groups established, developed and implemented an innovative model of foreign language "FLES program content enriched." This program provided Italian language instruction to 2,274 students from Kindergarten through eighth grade as part of the regular school day. Through this grant the nine schools developed a sequential integrated curriculum in Grades K-8 by delivering Italian language instruction three times a week, from forty to sixty minutes each time, including immersion units in art, music and social studies.


Washington, D.C. 1995
Preserving, Promoting The Italian Language & Culture in the U.S.A.

Funded by:

  • Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Italian Ministry of Public Education
  • Georgetown University

In 1995 Dr. Lombardo wrote a proposal to the Italian Ministry of Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct a conference in Washington, D.C., as way of preserving and promoting Italian language in the United States. Her entire proposal was based on the research and implementation of a grant she had funded by the U.S. Department of Education in 1982. Competing with various Italian American organizations and universities nationally, the NIAF, together with the Italian Cultural Institute of Washington, D.C., was awarded funding from the Italian Ministry of Education and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct a major international conference to discuss the status of Italian language study in the United States, and to develop strategies for establishing, maintaining and reinstating Italian language and culture programs throughout the country.

The intent of the conference "Preserving and Promoting the Italian Language and Culture in Washington D.C." was to bring educators together from Italy, Canada and the U.S. to discuss the most effective strategies for starting Italian programs and, maintaining Italian programs where they existed. A critical focus was to help teachers learn about exemplary programs. Another central concern was to discuss how to educate the general public about the positive aspects of the Italian and Italian American history and culture, thus eradicating the negative stereotypes of the Mafia etc. This International conference was held to present models for maintaining and promoting the Italian language and culture in the United States and abroad.

The Advisory Committee, which set the agenda for the language conference, was comprised of U.S. Senators and Members of Congress, including: Senators Patrick Leahy and Richard Santorum; Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro, Susan Molinari, Constance Morella, Nancy Pelosi and Marge Roukema; and Congressmen John Baldacci, Sonny Bono, Mike Doyle, Thomas Foglietta, Dan Frisa, John LaFalce, Rick Lazio, Frank LoBiondo, Donald Manzullo, Bill Martini, Frank Mascara, John Mica, George Miller, Joe Moakley, Frank Pallone, James Oberstar, James Traficant, and Robert Torricelli.

This stimulating international conference established the NIAF as a leader and pioneer in providing a forum for the promotion of Italian culture and, in particular, the Italian language, the study of which is threatened with extinction in the United States.

Boston, Massachusetts 1982
New York City, New York 1983

The Italian American Parent Training Institutes of Parents and Teachers
Parent Training- $184,000 from U.S. Department of Education and $275,000 from School Districts

Funded by:

  • U.S. Department of Education
  • The National Italian American Foundation

To help Italian parents, who were from Southern Italy and had historically not taken part in the American schools. The scope of the project was to examine the impact of training upon: a) parents' active participation in the schools and political structure of the bilingual programs; b) the behaviors of parents as to the activities that they conduct with their children and c) the reading achievement of bilingual, elementary age children. Presentations in the program introduced parents to the structure of the American school, bilingual education, and reading skills and activities that they can do with their children on a day-to-day basis, and parents to work as aides in the various school programs. Based on research and practical experience, in 1982, Lombardo wrote a proposal for a Parent Training Program. When the program was funded it financed Lombardo's position as Education Director for NIAF. This was a dream come true. Lombardo had the opportunity to do some serious pioneer work using her education skills for the Italian American community. She developed programs, always from the immigrant, creative prospective of figuring out how to finance her ideas. In 1983, the NIAF conducted extensive training programs for Italian immigrant parents with bilingual children enrolled in American schools. The programs were held in New York City and Boston. Dr. Maria Lombardo, who headed the Parent Training Program, provided on site technical assistance for the Italian American organizations seeking to expand bilingual education programs. She noted that psychology findings indicate that fifty percent of a child's intelligence is developed by age four. "Therefore," she said, "it becomes important for educators to assist in the education that children receive in the home." In the case of Italian Americans, although parents were interested in having their children educated, most of them were unaware of reading and math activities that they could do at home to help improve their children's academic achievement. Many of the Italian American parents were not active participants in their children's schools, even in those that had bilingual (English Italian) programs. The reason for this may be that in Italy there is a centralized education system, whereas in the U.S. decisions about the educational system occur with community participation. Once the program was funded, parents learned how they could help their children and further their own education. The outcomes of this program were: the development of Parent Advisory Committees, organization of parents in making their opinions known to school officials, voting of parents at School Board elections, and training of parents who are involved in their children's education see increases in the reading levels of their children.

Two publications resulted from this program: "Italian American Parent Training Institutes," Office of Bilingual Education, 1987, and "Reading Skills and Activities for the Italian American Parent Training Institutes of New York City and Boston Public Schools," ERIC Document Reproduction Service, 1984.

COMPETITIVE GRANTS

DISTRICT DIRECTOR

Dr. Lombardo conceptualized ideas for programs, wrote proposals,acquired funding, conducted the programs and had outside evaluators examine the programs' strengths and weaknesses. Often these programs became models for other Italian organizations to emulate.

Starting in 1981, Lombardo submitted many grants on behalf of NIAF to the Federal Government, Private Organizations, Italian Government, the University of Massachusetts at Burlington, Private Companies and Individuals:

Union Ridge School District Consortium August , 2001
Foreign Language Proposal

Funded by:

  • U.S. Department of Education
  • Italian Consulate
  • Chicago Area Schools

In a unified effort, the Italian consulate of Chicago through Anna Fiore; the Union Ridge School District 86 through Dr. Raymond Kuper; and Dr. Maria Lombardo prepared a foreign language proposal that rendered successful results from the U.S. Department of Education. The Foreign Language Assistance Grant titled "Language and Learning for the Future: Global Education for the Global World" constituted a total matching fund of 4.3 million dollars for continuing and establishing the Italian language in Chicago area schools for the next three years. The U.S. Department of Education, the Italian consulate and the Union Ridge School District 86 made the matching funds available.

As a result of this grant, nine suburban schools from six school districts in the Chicago area, the Italian government and community groups established, developed and implemented an innovative model of foreign language "FLES program content enriched." This program provided Italian language instruction to 2,274 students from Kindergarten through eighth grade as part of the regular school day. Through this grant the nine schools developed a sequential integrated curriculum in Grades K-8 by delivering Italian language instruction three times a week, from forty to sixty minutes each time, including immersion units in art, music and social studies.


Washington, D.C. 1995
Preserving, Promoting The Italian Language & Culture in the U.S.A.

Funded by:

  • Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Italian Ministry of Public Education
  • Georgetown University

In 1995 Dr. Lombardo wrote a proposal to the Italian Ministry of Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct a conference in Washington, D.C., as way of preserving and promoting Italian language in the United States. Her entire proposal was based on the research and implementation of a grant she had funded by the U.S. Department of Education in 1982. Competing with various Italian American organizations and universities nationally, the NIAF, together with the Italian Cultural Institute of Washington, D.C., was awarded funding from the Italian Ministry of Education and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct a major international conference to discuss the status of Italian language study in the United States, and to develop strategies for establishing, maintaining and reinstating Italian language and culture programs throughout the country.

The intent of the conference "Preserving and Promoting the Italian Language and Culture in Washington D.C." was to bring educators together from Italy, Canada and the U.S. to discuss the most effective strategies for starting Italian programs and, maintaining Italian programs where they existed. A critical focus was to help teachers learn about exemplary programs. Another central concern was to discuss how to educate the general public about the positive aspects of the Italian and Italian American history and culture, thus eradicating the negative stereotypes of the Mafia etc. This International conference was held to present models for maintaining and promoting the Italian language and culture in the United States and abroad.

The Advisory Committee, which set the agenda for the language conference, was comprised of U.S. Senators and Members of Congress, including: Senators Patrick Leahy and Richard Santorum; Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro, Susan Molinari, Constance Morella, Nancy Pelosi and Marge Roukema; and Congressmen John Baldacci, Sonny Bono, Mike Doyle, Thomas Foglietta, Dan Frisa, John LaFalce, Rick Lazio, Frank LoBiondo, Donald Manzullo, Bill Martini, Frank Mascara, John Mica, George Miller, Joe Moakley, Frank Pallone, James Oberstar, James Traficant, and Robert Torricelli.

This stimulating international conference established the NIAF as a leader and pioneer in providing a forum for the promotion of Italian culture and, in particular, the Italian language, the study of which is threatened with extinction in the United States.

Boston, Massachusetts 1982
New York City, New York 1983

The Italian American Parent Training Institutes of Parents and Teachers
Parent Training- $184,000 from U.S. Department of Education and $275,000 from School Districts

Funded by:

  • U.S. Department of Education
  • The National Italian American Foundation

To help Italian parents, who were from Southern Italy and had historically not taken part in the American schools. The scope of the project was to examine the impact of training upon: a) parents' active participation in the schools and political structure of the bilingual programs; b) the behaviors of parents as to the activities that they conduct with their children and c) the reading achievement of bilingual, elementary age children. Presentations in the program introduced parents to the structure of the American school, bilingual education, and reading skills and activities that they can do with their children on a day-to-day basis, and parents to work as aides in the various school programs. Based on research and practical experience, in 1982, Lombardo wrote a proposal for a Parent Training Program. When the program was funded it financed Lombardo's position as Education Director for NIAF. This was a dream come true. Lombardo had the opportunity to do some serious pioneer work using her education skills for the Italian American community. She developed programs, always from the immigrant, creative prospective of figuring out how to finance her ideas. In 1983, the NIAF conducted extensive training programs for Italian immigrant parents with bilingual children enrolled in American schools. The programs were held in New York City and Boston. Dr. Maria Lombardo, who headed the Parent Training Program, provided on site technical assistance for the Italian American organizations seeking to expand bilingual education programs. She noted that psychology findings indicate that fifty percent of a child's intelligence is developed by age four. "Therefore," she said, "it becomes important for educators to assist in the education that children receive in the home." In the case of Italian Americans, although parents were interested in having their children educated, most of them were unaware of reading and math activities that they could do at home to help improve their children's academic achievement. Many of the Italian American parents were not active participants in their children's schools, even in those that had bilingual (English Italian) programs. The reason for this may be that in Italy there is a centralized education system, whereas in the U.S. decisions about the educational system occur with community participation. Once the program was funded, parents learned how they could help their children and further their own education. The outcomes of this program were: the development of Parent Advisory Committees, organization of parents in making their opinions known to school officials, voting of parents at School Board elections, and training of parents who are involved in their children's education see increases in the reading levels of their children.

Two publications resulted from this program: "Italian American Parent Training Institutes," Office of Bilingual Education, 1987, and "Reading Skills and Activities for the Italian American Parent Training Institutes of New York City and Boston Public Schools," ERIC Document Reproduction Service, 1984.

COMPETITIVE GRANTS

DISTRICT DIRECTOR

Dr. Lombardo conceptualized ideas for programs, wrote proposals,acquired funding, conducted the programs and had outside evaluators examine the programs' strengths and weaknesses. Often these programs became models for other Italian organizations to emulate.

Starting in 1981, Lombardo submitted many grants on behalf of NIAF to the Federal Government, Private Organizations, Italian Government, the University of Massachusetts at Burlington, Private Companies and Individuals:

Union Ridge School District Consortium August , 2001
Foreign Language Proposal

Funded by:

  • U.S. Department of Education
  • Italian Consulate
  • Chicago Area Schools

In a unified effort, the Italian consulate of Chicago through Anna Fiore; the Union Ridge School District 86 through Dr. Raymond Kuper; and Dr. Maria Lombardo prepared a foreign language proposal that rendered successful results from the U.S. Department of Education. The Foreign Language Assistance Grant titled "Language and Learning for the Future: Global Education for the Global World" constituted a total matching fund of 4.3 million dollars for continuing and establishing the Italian language in Chicago area schools for the next three years. The U.S. Department of Education, the Italian consulate and the Union Ridge School District 86 made the matching funds available.

As a result of this grant, nine suburban schools from six school districts in the Chicago area, the Italian government and community groups established, developed and implemented an innovative model of foreign language "FLES program content enriched." This program provided Italian language instruction to 2,274 students from Kindergarten through eighth grade as part of the regular school day. Through this grant the nine schools developed a sequential integrated curriculum in Grades K-8 by delivering Italian language instruction three times a week, from forty to sixty minutes each time, including immersion units in art, music and social studies.


Washington, D.C. 1995
Preserving, Promoting The Italian Language & Culture in the U.S.A.

Funded by:

  • Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Italian Ministry of Public Education
  • Georgetown University

In 1995 Dr. Lombardo wrote a proposal to the Italian Ministry of Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct a conference in Washington, D.C., as way of preserving and promoting Italian language in the United States. Her entire proposal was based on the research and implementation of a grant she had funded by the U.S. Department of Education in 1982. Competing with various Italian American organizations and universities nationally, the NIAF, together with the Italian Cultural Institute of Washington, D.C., was awarded funding from the Italian Ministry of Education and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct a major international conference to discuss the status of Italian language study in the United States, and to develop strategies for establishing, maintaining and reinstating Italian language and culture programs throughout the country.

The intent of the conference "Preserving and Promoting the Italian Language and Culture in Washington D.C." was to bring educators together from Italy, Canada and the U.S. to discuss the most effective strategies for starting Italian programs and, maintaining Italian programs where they existed. A critical focus was to help teachers learn about exemplary programs. Another central concern was to discuss how to educate the general public about the positive aspects of the Italian and Italian American history and culture, thus eradicating the negative stereotypes of the Mafia etc. This International conference was held to present models for maintaining and promoting the Italian language and culture in the United States and abroad.

The Advisory Committee, which set the agenda for the language conference, was comprised of U.S. Senators and Members of Congress, including: Senators Patrick Leahy and Richard Santorum; Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro, Susan Molinari, Constance Morella, Nancy Pelosi and Marge Roukema; and Congressmen John Baldacci, Sonny Bono, Mike Doyle, Thomas Foglietta, Dan Frisa, John LaFalce, Rick Lazio, Frank LoBiondo, Donald Manzullo, Bill Martini, Frank Mascara, John Mica, George Miller, Joe Moakley, Frank Pallone, James Oberstar, James Traficant, and Robert Torricelli.

This stimulating international conference established the NIAF as a leader and pioneer in providing a forum for the promotion of Italian culture and, in particular, the Italian language, the study of which is threatened with extinction in the United States.

Boston, Massachusetts 1982
New York City, New York 1983

The Italian American Parent Training Institutes of Parents and Teachers
Parent Training- $184,000 from U.S. Department of Education and $275,000 from School Districts

Funded by:

  • U.S. Department of Education
  • The National Italian American Foundation

To help Italian parents, who were from Southern Italy and had historically not taken part in the American schools. The scope of the project was to examine the impact of training upon: a) parents' active participation in the schools and political structure of the bilingual programs; b) the behaviors of parents as to the activities that they conduct with their children and c) the reading achievement of bilingual, elementary age children. Presentations in the program introduced parents to the structure of the American school, bilingual education, and reading skills and activities that they can do with their children on a day-to-day basis, and parents to work as aides in the various school programs. Based on research and practical experience, in 1982, Lombardo wrote a proposal for a Parent Training Program. When the program was funded it financed Lombardo's position as Education Director for NIAF. This was a dream come true. Lombardo had the opportunity to do some serious pioneer work using her education skills for the Italian American community. She developed programs, always from the immigrant, creative prospective of figuring out how to finance her ideas. In 1983, the NIAF conducted extensive training programs for Italian immigrant parents with bilingual children enrolled in American schools. The programs were held in New York City and Boston. Dr. Maria Lombardo, who headed the Parent Training Program, provided on site technical assistance for the Italian American organizations seeking to expand bilingual education programs. She noted that psychology findings indicate that fifty percent of a child's intelligence is developed by age four. "Therefore," she said, "it becomes important for educators to assist in the education that children receive in the home." In the case of Italian Americans, although parents were interested in having their children educated, most of them were unaware of reading and math activities that they could do at home to help improve their children's academic achievement. Many of the Italian American parents were not active participants in their children's schools, even in those that had bilingual (English Italian) programs. The reason for this may be that in Italy there is a centralized education system, whereas in the U.S. decisions about the educational system occur with community participation. Once the program was funded, parents learned how they could help their children and further their own education. The outcomes of this program were: the development of Parent Advisory Committees, organization of parents in making their opinions known to school officials, voting of parents at School Board elections, and training of parents who are involved in their children's education see increases in the reading levels of their children.

Two publications resulted from this program: "Italian American Parent Training Institutes," Office of Bilingual Education, 1987, and "Reading Skills and Activities for the Italian American Parent Training Institutes of New York City and Boston Public Schools," ERIC Document Reproduction Service, 1984.

COMPETITIVE GRANTS

DISTRICT DIRECTOR

Dr. Lombardo conceptualized ideas for programs, wrote proposals,acquired funding, conducted the programs and had outside evaluators examine the programs' strengths and weaknesses. Often these programs became models for other Italian organizations to emulate.

Starting in 1981, Lombardo submitted many grants on behalf of NIAF to the Federal Government, Private Organizations, Italian Government, the University of Massachusetts at Burlington, Private Companies and Individuals:

Union Ridge School District Consortium August , 2001
Foreign Language Proposal

Funded by:

  • U.S. Department of Education
  • Italian Consulate
  • Chicago Area Schools

In a unified effort, the Italian consulate of Chicago through Anna Fiore; the Union Ridge School District 86 through Dr. Raymond Kuper; and Dr. Maria Lombardo prepared a foreign language proposal that rendered successful results from the U.S. Department of Education. The Foreign Language Assistance Grant titled "Language and Learning for the Future: Global Education for the Global World" constituted a total matching fund of 4.3 million dollars for continuing and establishing the Italian language in Chicago area schools for the next three years. The U.S. Department of Education, the Italian consulate and the Union Ridge School District 86 made the matching funds available.

As a result of this grant, nine suburban schools from six school districts in the Chicago area, the Italian government and community groups established, developed and implemented an innovative model of foreign language "FLES program content enriched." This program provided Italian language instruction to 2,274 students from Kindergarten through eighth grade as part of the regular school day. Through this grant the nine schools developed a sequential integrated curriculum in Grades K-8 by delivering Italian language instruction three times a week, from forty to sixty minutes each time, including immersion units in art, music and social studies.


Washington, D.C. 1995
Preserving, Promoting The Italian Language & Culture in the U.S.A.

Funded by:

  • Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Italian Ministry of Public Education
  • Georgetown University

In 1995 Dr. Lombardo wrote a proposal to the Italian Ministry of Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct a conference in Washington, D.C., as way of preserving and promoting Italian language in the United States. Her entire proposal was based on the research and implementation of a grant she had funded by the U.S. Department of Education in 1982. Competing with various Italian American organizations and universities nationally, the NIAF, together with the Italian Cultural Institute of Washington, D.C., was awarded funding from the Italian Ministry of Education and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct a major international conference to discuss the status of Italian language study in the United States, and to develop strategies for establishing, maintaining and reinstating Italian language and culture programs throughout the country.

The intent of the conference "Preserving and Promoting the Italian Language and Culture in Washington D.C." was to bring educators together from Italy, Canada and the U.S. to discuss the most effective strategies for starting Italian programs and, maintaining Italian programs where they existed. A critical focus was to help teachers learn about exemplary programs. Another central concern was to discuss how to educate the general public about the positive aspects of the Italian and Italian American history and culture, thus eradicating the negative stereotypes of the Mafia etc. This International conference was held to present models for maintaining and promoting the Italian language and culture in the United States and abroad.

The Advisory Committee, which set the agenda for the language conference, was comprised of U.S. Senators and Members of Congress, including: Senators Patrick Leahy and Richard Santorum; Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro, Susan Molinari, Constance Morella, Nancy Pelosi and Marge Roukema; and Congressmen John Baldacci, Sonny Bono, Mike Doyle, Thomas Foglietta, Dan Frisa, John LaFalce, Rick Lazio, Frank LoBiondo, Donald Manzullo, Bill Martini, Frank Mascara, John Mica, George Miller, Joe Moakley, Frank Pallone, James Oberstar, James Traficant, and Robert Torricelli.

This stimulating international conference established the NIAF as a leader and pioneer in providing a forum for the promotion of Italian culture and, in particular, the Italian language, the study of which is threatened with extinction in the United States.

Boston, Massachusetts 1982
New York City, New York 1983

The Italian American Parent Training Institutes of Parents and Teachers
Parent Training- $184,000 from U.S. Department of Education and $275,000 from School Districts

Funded by:

  • U.S. Department of Education
  • The National Italian American Foundation

To help Italian parents, who were from Southern Italy and had historically not taken part in the American schools. The scope of the project was to examine the impact of training upon: a) parents' active participation in the schools and political structure of the bilingual programs; b) the behaviors of parents as to the activities that they conduct with their children and c) the reading achievement of bilingual, elementary age children. Presentations in the program introduced parents to the structure of the American school, bilingual education, and reading skills and activities that they can do with their children on a day-to-day basis, and parents to work as aides in the various school programs. Based on research and practical experience, in 1982, Lombardo wrote a proposal for a Parent Training Program. When the program was funded it financed Lombardo's position as Education Director for NIAF. This was a dream come true. Lombardo had the opportunity to do some serious pioneer work using her education skills for the Italian American community. She developed programs, always from the immigrant, creative prospective of figuring out how to finance her ideas. In 1983, the NIAF conducted extensive training programs for Italian immigrant parents with bilingual children enrolled in American schools. The programs were held in New York City and Boston. Dr. Maria Lombardo, who headed the Parent Training Program, provided on site technical assistance for the Italian American organizations seeking to expand bilingual education programs. She noted that psychology findings indicate that fifty percent of a child's intelligence is developed by age four. "Therefore," she said, "it becomes important for educators to assist in the education that children receive in the home." In the case of Italian Americans, although parents were interested in having their children educated, most of them were unaware of reading and math activities that they could do at home to help improve their children's academic achievement. Many of the Italian American parents were not active participants in their children's schools, even in those that had bilingual (English Italian) programs. The reason for this may be that in Italy there is a centralized education system, whereas in the U.S. decisions about the educational system occur with community participation. Once the program was funded, parents learned how they could help their children and further their own education. The outcomes of this program were: the development of Parent Advisory Committees, organization of parents in making their opinions known to school officials, voting of parents at School Board elections, and training of parents who are involved in their children's education see increases in the reading levels of their children.

Two publications resulted from this program: "Italian American Parent Training Institutes," Office of Bilingual Education, 1987, and "Reading Skills and Activities for the Italian American Parent Training Institutes of New York City and Boston Public Schools," ERIC Document Reproduction Service, 1984.

COMPETITIVE GRANTS

DISTRICT DIRECTOR

Dr. Lombardo conceptualized ideas for programs, wrote proposals,acquired funding, conducted the programs and had outside evaluators examine the programs' strengths and weaknesses. Often these programs became models for other Italian organizations to emulate.

Starting in 1981, Lombardo submitted many grants on behalf of NIAF to the Federal Government, Private Organizations, Italian Government, the University of Massachusetts at Burlington, Private Companies and Individuals:

Union Ridge School District Consortium August , 2001
Foreign Language Proposal

Funded by:

  • U.S. Department of Education
  • Italian Consulate
  • Chicago Area Schools

In a unified effort, the Italian consulate of Chicago through Anna Fiore; the Union Ridge School District 86 through Dr. Raymond Kuper; and Dr. Maria Lombardo prepared a foreign language proposal that rendered successful results from the U.S. Department of Education. The Foreign Language Assistance Grant titled "Language and Learning for the Future: Global Education for the Global World" constituted a total matching fund of 4.3 million dollars for continuing and establishing the Italian language in Chicago area schools for the next three years. The U.S. Department of Education, the Italian consulate and the Union Ridge School District 86 made the matching funds available.

As a result of this grant, nine suburban schools from six school districts in the Chicago area, the Italian government and community groups established, developed and implemented an innovative model of foreign language "FLES program content enriched." This program provided Italian language instruction to 2,274 students from Kindergarten through eighth grade as part of the regular school day. Through this grant the nine schools developed a sequential integrated curriculum in Grades K-8 by delivering Italian language instruction three times a week, from forty to sixty minutes each time, including immersion units in art, music and social studies.


Washington, D.C. 1995
Preserving, Promoting The Italian Language & Culture in the U.S.A.

Funded by:

  • Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Italian Ministry of Public Education
  • Georgetown University

In 1995 Dr. Lombardo wrote a proposal to the Italian Ministry of Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct a conference in Washington, D.C., as way of preserving and promoting Italian language in the United States. Her entire proposal was based on the research and implementation of a grant she had funded by the U.S. Department of Education in 1982. Competing with various Italian American organizations and universities nationally, the NIAF, together with the Italian Cultural Institute of Washington, D.C., was awarded funding from the Italian Ministry of Education and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct a major international conference to discuss the status of Italian language study in the United States, and to develop strategies for establishing, maintaining and reinstating Italian language and culture programs throughout the country.

The intent of the conference "Preserving and Promoting the Italian Language and Culture in Washington D.C." was to bring educators together from Italy, Canada and the U.S. to discuss the most effective strategies for starting Italian programs and, maintaining Italian programs where they existed. A critical focus was to help teachers learn about exemplary programs. Another central concern was to discuss how to educate the general public about the positive aspects of the Italian and Italian American history and culture, thus eradicating the negative stereotypes of the Mafia etc. This International conference was held to present models for maintaining and promoting the Italian language and culture in the United States and abroad.

The Advisory Committee, which set the agenda for the language conference, was comprised of U.S. Senators and Members of Congress, including: Senators Patrick Leahy and Richard Santorum; Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro, Susan Molinari, Constance Morella, Nancy Pelosi and Marge Roukema; and Congressmen John Baldacci, Sonny Bono, Mike Doyle, Thomas Foglietta, Dan Frisa, John LaFalce, Rick Lazio, Frank LoBiondo, Donald Manzullo, Bill Martini, Frank Mascara, John Mica, George Miller, Joe Moakley, Frank Pallone, James Oberstar, James Traficant, and Robert Torricelli.

This stimulating international conference established the NIAF as a leader and pioneer in providing a forum for the promotion of Italian culture and, in particular, the Italian language, the study of which is threatened with extinction in the United States.

Boston, Massachusetts 1982
New York City, New York 1983

The Italian American Parent Training Institutes of Parents and Teachers
Parent Training- $184,000 from U.S. Department of Education and $275,000 from School Districts

Funded by:

  • U.S. Department of Education
  • The National Italian American Foundation

To help Italian parents, who were from Southern Italy and had historically not taken part in the American schools. The scope of the project was to examine the impact of training upon: a) parents' active participation in the schools and political structure of the bilingual programs; b) the behaviors of parents as to the activities that they conduct with their children and c) the reading achievement of bilingual, elementary age children. Presentations in the program introduced parents to the structure of the American school, bilingual education, and reading skills and activities that they can do with their children on a day-to-day basis, and parents to work as aides in the various school programs. Based on research and practical experience, in 1982, Lombardo wrote a proposal for a Parent Training Program. When the program was funded it financed Lombardo's position as Education Director for NIAF. This was a dream come true. Lombardo had the opportunity to do some serious pioneer work using her education skills for the Italian American community. She developed programs, always from the immigrant, creative prospective of figuring out how to finance her ideas. In 1983, the NIAF conducted extensive training programs for Italian immigrant parents with bilingual children enrolled in American schools. The programs were held in New York City and Boston. Dr. Maria Lombardo, who headed the Parent Training Program, provided on site technical assistance for the Italian American organizations seeking to expand bilingual education programs. She noted that psychology findings indicate that fifty percent of a child's intelligence is developed by age four. "Therefore," she said, "it becomes important for educators to assist in the education that children receive in the home." In the case of Italian Americans, although parents were interested in having their children educated, most of them were unaware of reading and math activities that they could do at home to help improve their children's academic achievement. Many of the Italian American parents were not active participants in their children's schools, even in those that had bilingual (English Italian) programs. The reason for this may be that in Italy there is a centralized education system, whereas in the U.S. decisions about the educational system occur with community participation. Once the program was funded, parents learned how they could help their children and further their own education. The outcomes of this program were: the development of Parent Advisory Committees, organization of parents in making their opinions known to school officials, voting of parents at School Board elections, and training of parents who are involved in their children's education see increases in the reading levels of their children.

Two publications resulted from this program: "Italian American Parent Training Institutes," Office of Bilingual Education, 1987, and "Reading Skills and Activities for the Italian American Parent Training Institutes of New York City and Boston Public Schools," ERIC Document Reproduction Service, 1984.

COMPETITIVE GRANTS

DISTRICT DIRECTOR

Dr. Lombardo conceptualized ideas for programs, wrote proposals,acquired funding, conducted the programs and had outside evaluators examine the programs' strengths and weaknesses. Often these programs became models for other Italian organizations to emulate.

Starting in 1981, Lombardo submitted many grants on behalf of NIAF to the Federal Government, Private Organizations, Italian Government, the University of Massachusetts at Burlington, Private Companies and Individuals:

Union Ridge School District Consortium August , 2001
Foreign Language Proposal

Funded by:

  • U.S. Department of Education
  • Italian Consulate
  • Chicago Area Schools

In a unified effort, the Italian consulate of Chicago through Anna Fiore; the Union Ridge School District 86 through Dr. Raymond Kuper; and Dr. Maria Lombardo prepared a foreign language proposal that rendered successful results from the U.S. Department of Education. The Foreign Language Assistance Grant titled "Language and Learning for the Future: Global Education for the Global World" constituted a total matching fund of 4.3 million dollars for continuing and establishing the Italian language in Chicago area schools for the next three years. The U.S. Department of Education, the Italian consulate and the Union Ridge School District 86 made the matching funds available.

As a result of this grant, nine suburban schools from six school districts in the Chicago area, the Italian government and community groups established, developed and implemented an innovative model of foreign language "FLES program content enriched." This program provided Italian language instruction to 2,274 students from Kindergarten through eighth grade as part of the regular school day. Through this grant the nine schools developed a sequential integrated curriculum in Grades K-8 by delivering Italian language instruction three times a week, from forty to sixty minutes each time, including immersion units in art, music and social studies.


Washington, D.C. 1995
Preserving, Promoting The Italian Language & Culture in the U.S.A.

Funded by:

  • Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Italian Ministry of Public Education
  • Georgetown University

In 1995 Dr. Lombardo wrote a proposal to the Italian Ministry of Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct a conference in Washington, D.C., as way of preserving and promoting Italian language in the United States. Her entire proposal was based on the research and implementation of a grant she had funded by the U.S. Department of Education in 1982. Competing with various Italian American organizations and universities nationally, the NIAF, together with the Italian Cultural Institute of Washington, D.C., was awarded funding from the Italian Ministry of Education and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct a major international conference to discuss the status of Italian language study in the United States, and to develop strategies for establishing, maintaining and reinstating Italian language and culture programs throughout the country.

The intent of the conference "Preserving and Promoting the Italian Language and Culture in Washington D.C." was to bring educators together from Italy, Canada and the U.S. to discuss the most effective strategies for starting Italian programs and, maintaining Italian programs where they existed. A critical focus was to help teachers learn about exemplary programs. Another central concern was to discuss how to educate the general public about the positive aspects of the Italian and Italian American history and culture, thus eradicating the negative stereotypes of the Mafia etc. This International conference was held to present models for maintaining and promoting the Italian language and culture in the United States and abroad.

The Advisory Committee, which set the agenda for the language conference, was comprised of U.S. Senators and Members of Congress, including: Senators Patrick Leahy and Richard Santorum; Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro, Susan Molinari, Constance Morella, Nancy Pelosi and Marge Roukema; and Congressmen John Baldacci, Sonny Bono, Mike Doyle, Thomas Foglietta, Dan Frisa, John LaFalce, Rick Lazio, Frank LoBiondo, Donald Manzullo, Bill Martini, Frank Mascara, John Mica, George Miller, Joe Moakley, Frank Pallone, James Oberstar, James Traficant, and Robert Torricelli.

This stimulating international conference established the NIAF as a leader and pioneer in providing a forum for the promotion of Italian culture and, in particular, the Italian language, the study of which is threatened with extinction in the United States.

Boston, Massachusetts 1982
New York City, New York 1983

The Italian American Parent Training Institutes of Parents and Teachers
Parent Training- $184,000 from U.S. Department of Education and $275,000 from School Districts

Funded by:

  • U.S. Department of Education
  • The National Italian American Foundation

To help Italian parents, who were from Southern Italy and had historically not taken part in the American schools. The scope of the project was to examine the impact of training upon: a) parents' active participation in the schools and political structure of the bilingual programs; b) the behaviors of parents as to the activities that they conduct with their children and c) the reading achievement of bilingual, elementary age children. Presentations in the program introduced parents to the structure of the American school, bilingual education, and reading skills and activities that they can do with their children on a day-to-day basis, and parents to work as aides in the various school programs. Based on research and practical experience, in 1982, Lombardo wrote a proposal for a Parent Training Program. When the program was funded it financed Lombardo's position as Education Director for NIAF. This was a dream come true. Lombardo had the opportunity to do some serious pioneer work using her education skills for the Italian American community. She developed programs, always from the immigrant, creative prospective of figuring out how to finance her ideas. In 1983, the NIAF conducted extensive training programs for Italian immigrant parents with bilingual children enrolled in American schools. The programs were held in New York City and Boston. Dr. Maria Lombardo, who headed the Parent Training Program, provided on site technical assistance for the Italian American organizations seeking to expand bilingual education programs. She noted that psychology findings indicate that fifty percent of a child's intelligence is developed by age four. "Therefore," she said, "it becomes important for educators to assist in the education that children receive in the home." In the case of Italian Americans, although parents were interested in having their children educated, most of them were unaware of reading and math activities that they could do at home to help improve their children's academic achievement. Many of the Italian American parents were not active participants in their children's schools, even in those that had bilingual (English Italian) programs. The reason for this may be that in Italy there is a centralized education system, whereas in the U.S. decisions about the educational system occur with community participation. Once the program was funded, parents learned how they could help their children and further their own education. The outcomes of this program were: the development of Parent Advisory Committees, organization of parents in making their opinions known to school officials, voting of parents at School Board elections, and training of parents who are involved in their children's education see increases in the reading levels of their children.

Two publications resulted from this program: "Italian American Parent Training Institutes," Office of Bilingual Education, 1987, and "Reading Skills and Activities for the Italian American Parent Training Institutes of New York City and Boston Public Schools," ERIC Document Reproduction Service, 1984.

COMPETITIVE GRANTS

DISTRICT DIRECTOR

Dr. Lombardo conceptualized ideas for programs, wrote proposals,acquired funding, conducted the programs and had outside evaluators examine the programs' strengths and weaknesses. Often these programs became models for other Italian organizations to emulate.

Starting in 1981, Lombardo submitted many grants on behalf of NIAF to the Federal Government, Private Organizations, Italian Government, the University of Massachusetts at Burlington, Private Companies and Individuals:

Union Ridge School District Consortium August , 2001
Foreign Language Proposal

Funded by:

  • U.S. Department of Education
  • Italian Consulate
  • Chicago Area Schools

In a unified effort, the Italian consulate of Chicago through Anna Fiore; the Union Ridge School District 86 through Dr. Raymond Kuper; and Dr. Maria Lombardo prepared a foreign language proposal that rendered successful results from the U.S. Department of Education. The Foreign Language Assistance Grant titled "Language and Learning for the Future: Global Education for the Global World" constituted a total matching fund of 4.3 million dollars for continuing and establishing the Italian language in Chicago area schools for the next three years. The U.S. Department of Education, the Italian consulate and the Union Ridge School District 86 made the matching funds available.

As a result of this grant, nine suburban schools from six school districts in the Chicago area, the Italian government and community groups established, developed and implemented an innovative model of foreign language "FLES program content enriched." This program provided Italian language instruction to 2,274 students from Kindergarten through eighth grade as part of the regular school day. Through this grant the nine schools developed a sequential integrated curriculum in Grades K-8 by delivering Italian language instruction three times a week, from forty to sixty minutes each time, including immersion units in art, music and social studies.


Washington, D.C. 1995
Preserving, Promoting The Italian Language & Culture in the U.S.A.

Funded by:

  • Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Italian Ministry of Public Education
  • Georgetown University

In 1995 Dr. Lombardo wrote a proposal to the Italian Ministry of Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct a conference in Washington, D.C., as way of preserving and promoting Italian language in the United States. Her entire proposal was based on the research and implementation of a grant she had funded by the U.S. Department of Education in 1982. Competing with various Italian American organizations and universities nationally, the NIAF, together with the Italian Cultural Institute of Washington, D.C., was awarded funding from the Italian Ministry of Education and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct a major international conference to discuss the status of Italian language study in the United States, and to develop strategies for establishing, maintaining and reinstating Italian language and culture programs throughout the country.

The intent of the conference "Preserving and Promoting the Italian Language and Culture in Washington D.C." was to bring educators together from Italy, Canada and the U.S. to discuss the most effective strategies for starting Italian programs and, maintaining Italian programs where they existed. A critical focus was to help teachers learn about exemplary programs. Another central concern was to discuss how to educate the general public about the positive aspects of the Italian and Italian American history and culture, thus eradicating the negative stereotypes of the Mafia etc. This International conference was held to present models for maintaining and promoting the Italian language and culture in the United States and abroad.

The Advisory Committee, which set the agenda for the language conference, was comprised of U.S. Senators and Members of Congress, including: Senators Patrick Leahy and Richard Santorum; Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro, Susan Molinari, Constance Morella, Nancy Pelosi and Marge Roukema; and Congressmen John Baldacci, Sonny Bono, Mike Doyle, Thomas Foglietta, Dan Frisa, John LaFalce, Rick Lazio, Frank LoBiondo, Donald Manzullo, Bill Martini, Frank Mascara, John Mica, George Miller, Joe Moakley, Frank Pallone, James Oberstar, James Traficant, and Robert Torricelli.

This stimulating international conference established the NIAF as a leader and pioneer in providing a forum for the promotion of Italian culture and, in particular, the Italian language, the study of which is threatened with extinction in the United States.

Boston, Massachusetts 1982
New York City, New York 1983

The Italian American Parent Training Institutes of Parents and Teachers
Parent Training- $184,000 from U.S. Department of Education and $275,000 from School Districts

Funded by:

  • U.S. Department of Education
  • The National Italian American Foundation

To help Italian parents, who were from Southern Italy and had historically not taken part in the American schools. The scope of the project was to examine the impact of training upon: a) parents' active participation in the schools and political structure of the bilingual programs; b) the behaviors of parents as to the activities that they conduct with their children and c) the reading achievement of bilingual, elementary age children. Presentations in the program introduced parents to the structure of the American school, bilingual education, and reading skills and activities that they can do with their children on a day-to-day basis, and parents to work as aides in the various school programs. Based on research and practical experience, in 1982, Lombardo wrote a proposal for a Parent Training Program. When the program was funded it financed Lombardo's position as Education Director for NIAF. This was a dream come true. Lombardo had the opportunity to do some serious pioneer work using her education skills for the Italian American community. She developed programs, always from the immigrant, creative prospective of figuring out how to finance her ideas. In 1983, the NIAF conducted extensive training programs for Italian immigrant parents with bilingual children enrolled in American schools. The programs were held in New York City and Boston. Dr. Maria Lombardo, who headed the Parent Training Program, provided on site technical assistance for the Italian American organizations seeking to expand bilingual education programs. She noted that psychology findings indicate that fifty percent of a child's intelligence is developed by age four. "Therefore," she said, "it becomes important for educators to assist in the education that children receive in the home." In the case of Italian Americans, although parents were interested in having their children educated, most of them were unaware of reading and math activities that they could do at home to help improve their children's academic achievement. Many of the Italian American parents were not active participants in their children's schools, even in those that had bilingual (English Italian) programs. The reason for this may be that in Italy there is a centralized education system, whereas in the U.S. decisions about the educational system occur with community participation. Once the program was funded, parents learned how they could help their children and further their own education. The outcomes of this program were: the development of Parent Advisory Committees, organization of parents in making their opinions known to school officials, voting of parents at School Board elections, and training of parents who are involved in their children's education see increases in the reading levels of their children.

Two publications resulted from this program: "Italian American Parent Training Institutes," Office of Bilingual Education, 1987, and "Reading Skills and Activities for the Italian American Parent Training Institutes of New York City and Boston Public Schools," ERIC Document Reproduction Service, 1984.

COMPETITIVE GRANTS

DISTRICT DIRECTOR

Dr. Lombardo conceptualized ideas for programs, wrote proposals,acquired funding, conducted the programs and had outside evaluators examine the programs' strengths and weaknesses. Often these programs became models for other Italian organizations to emulate.

Starting in 1981, Lombardo submitted many grants on behalf of NIAF to the Federal Government, Private Organizations, Italian Government, the University of Massachusetts at Burlington, Private Companies and Individuals:

Union Ridge School District Consortium August , 2001
Foreign Language Proposal

Funded by:

  • U.S. Department of Education
  • Italian Consulate
  • Chicago Area Schools

In a unified effort, the Italian consulate of Chicago through Anna Fiore; the Union Ridge School District 86 through Dr. Raymond Kuper; and Dr. Maria Lombardo prepared a foreign language proposal that rendered successful results from the U.S. Department of Education. The Foreign Language Assistance Grant titled "Language and Learning for the Future: Global Education for the Global World" constituted a total matching fund of 4.3 million dollars for continuing and establishing the Italian language in Chicago area schools for the next three years. The U.S. Department of Education, the Italian consulate and the Union Ridge School District 86 made the matching funds available.

As a result of this grant, nine suburban schools from six school districts in the Chicago area, the Italian government and community groups established, developed and implemented an innovative model of foreign language "FLES program content enriched." This program provided Italian language instruction to 2,274 students from Kindergarten through eighth grade as part of the regular school day. Through this grant the nine schools developed a sequential integrated curriculum in Grades K-8 by delivering Italian language instruction three times a week, from forty to sixty minutes each time, including immersion units in art, music and social studies.


Washington, D.C. 1995
Preserving, Promoting The Italian Language & Culture in the U.S.A.

Funded by:

  • Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Italian Ministry of Public Education
  • Georgetown University

In 1995 Dr. Lombardo wrote a proposal to the Italian Ministry of Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct a conference in Washington, D.C., as way of preserving and promoting Italian language in the United States. Her entire proposal was based on the research and implementation of a grant she had funded by the U.S. Department of Education in 1982. Competing with various Italian American organizations and universities nationally, the NIAF, together with the Italian Cultural Institute of Washington, D.C., was awarded funding from the Italian Ministry of Education and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct a major international conference to discuss the status of Italian language study in the United States, and to develop strategies for establishing, maintaining and reinstating Italian language and culture programs throughout the country.

The intent of the conference "Preserving and Promoting the Italian Language and Culture in Washington D.C." was to bring educators together from Italy, Canada and the U.S. to discuss the most effective strategies for starting Italian programs and, maintaining Italian programs where they existed. A critical focus was to help teachers learn about exemplary programs. Another central concern was to discuss how to educate the general public about the positive aspects of the Italian and Italian American history and culture, thus eradicating the negative stereotypes of the Mafia etc. This International conference was held to present models for maintaining and promoting the Italian language and culture in the United States and abroad.

The Advisory Committee, which set the agenda for the language conference, was comprised of U.S. Senators and Members of Congress, including: Senators Patrick Leahy and Richard Santorum; Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro, Susan Molinari, Constance Morella, Nancy Pelosi and Marge Roukema; and Congressmen John Baldacci, Sonny Bono, Mike Doyle, Thomas Foglietta, Dan Frisa, John LaFalce, Rick Lazio, Frank LoBiondo, Donald Manzullo, Bill Martini, Frank Mascara, John Mica, George Miller, Joe Moakley, Frank Pallone, James Oberstar, James Traficant, and Robert Torricelli.

This stimulating international conference established the NIAF as a leader and pioneer in providing a forum for the promotion of Italian culture and, in particular, the Italian language, the study of which is threatened with extinction in the United States.

Boston, Massachusetts 1982
New York City, New York 1983

The Italian American Parent Training Institutes of Parents and Teachers
Parent Training- $184,000 from U.S. Department of Education and $275,000 from School Districts

Funded by:

  • U.S. Department of Education
  • The National Italian American Foundation

To help Italian parents, who were from Southern Italy and had historically not taken part in the American schools. The scope of the project was to examine the impact of training upon: a) parents' active participation in the schools and political structure of the bilingual programs; b) the behaviors of parents as to the activities that they conduct with their children and c) the reading achievement of bilingual, elementary age children. Presentations in the program introduced parents to the structure of the American school, bilingual education, and reading skills and activities that they can do with their children on a day-to-day basis, and parents to work as aides in the various school programs. Based on research and practical experience, in 1982, Lombardo wrote a proposal for a Parent Training Program. When the program was funded it financed Lombardo's position as Education Director for NIAF. This was a dream come true. Lombardo had the opportunity to do some serious pioneer work using her education skills for the Italian American community. She developed programs, always from the immigrant, creative prospective of figuring out how to finance her ideas. In 1983, the NIAF conducted extensive training programs for Italian immigrant parents with bilingual children enrolled in American schools. The programs were held in New York City and Boston. Dr. Maria Lombardo, who headed the Parent Training Program, provided on site technical assistance for the Italian American organizations seeking to expand bilingual education programs. She noted that psychology findings indicate that fifty percent of a child's intelligence is developed by age four. "Therefore," she said, "it becomes important for educators to assist in the education that children receive in the home." In the case of Italian Americans, although parents were interested in having their children educated, most of them were unaware of reading and math activities that they could do at home to help improve their children's academic achievement. Many of the Italian American parents were not active participants in their children's schools, even in those that had bilingual (English Italian) programs. The reason for this may be that in Italy there is a centralized education system, whereas in the U.S. decisions about the educational system occur with community participation. Once the program was funded, parents learned how they could help their children and further their own education. The outcomes of this program were: the development of Parent Advisory Committees, organization of parents in making their opinions known to school officials, voting of parents at School Board elections, and training of parents who are involved in their children's education see increases in the reading levels of their children.

Two publications resulted from this program: "Italian American Parent Training Institutes," Office of Bilingual Education, 1987, and "Reading Skills and Activities for the Italian American Parent Training Institutes of New York City and Boston Public Schools," ERIC Document Reproduction Service, 1984.

COMPETITIVE GRANTS

DISTRICT DIRECTOR

Dr. Lombardo conceptualized ideas for programs, wrote proposals,acquired funding, conducted the programs and had outside evaluators examine the programs' strengths and weaknesses. Often these programs became models for other Italian organizations to emulate.

Starting in 1981, Lombardo submitted many grants on behalf of NIAF to the Federal Government, Private Organizations, Italian Government, the University of Massachusetts at Burlington, Private Companies and Individuals:

Union Ridge School District Consortium August , 2001
Foreign Language Proposal

Funded by:

  • U.S. Department of Education
  • Italian Consulate
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