National Italian American Heritage Month is designated each year with a presidential executive order.  Festivities kick off during Columbus Day.  Italian Americans are America’s fifth largest ethnic group, and more than 5 million Italians have immigrated to the U.S. since 1820.  Their contributions are ingrained in the fabric of the country.

In government, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has been one of the most prominent Democratic politicians in the nation.  He has built a legacy as a champion for women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, and economic growth.  Prior to governing New York, he worked as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Bill Clinton and worked as the New York Attorney General.  Reports indicate he’s eyeing a presidential run in 2020.

Lady Gaga is perhaps the world’s most famous Italian-American.  The New York-born singer and actress has sold millions of records, logged several number-one hits, and won accolades for her contributions to television and film, including a Golden Globe and an Academy Award.  But even bigger, she’s been a very vocal advocate for the LGBTQ community, and she’s given a national face to fibromyalgia, the debilitating chronic pain condition.

Sofia Coppola, daughter of legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, has become a legend in her own right.  She’s one of only 5 women to be nominated for the Best Director Oscar, and she became the first woman to win the Venice Film Festival’s Golden Lion in 2010.  Her most recent film, The Beguiled, was a great critical success.

The influence and contribution of Italian-Americans is something we’ve all felt, and this month is a way to honor that influence in a meaningful way.