May 29, 2025 (Middletown, Conn.) — In 2020, Angelo Glaviano, CT State Middlesex professor, and Daniel Nocera, coordinator of the Center for New Media Productions, began producing a documentary called “The Italian Heritage Project.” The project captured the voices and experiences of Sicilian immigrants and their families who left Melilli, Sicily, to build new lives in Middletown, Conn. In May 2025, the project came to life as Middletown welcomed a delegation of 54 visitors from its sister city in Melilli, including its mayor, Giuseppe Carta.

The delegation also included the Melilli City Municipal Band, academics, artists and other community members.

“Everything started when I realized that different ethnic communities around our area were getting credit for their various contributions to the development of Middletown, except Sicilians. And this, even though everywhere you would see signs advertising, Sicilian bread, Sicilian pizza, Sicilian pastries, Sicilian vacations, and so on. Academically, as a foreign languages professor, I witnessed the growth and establishment of Asian, African, Latino studies, even Italian studies, but not those representing Sicilians,” recalled Professor Glaviano.

“Recently, I was confronted with accusations that Italians, represented by Christopher Columbus, were racist towards other ethnicities, although our history was telling a completely different story, i.e., the lynching of 11 Sicilians in New Orleans, La., in 1891, and more closer to home, how Sicilians—in parallel to the Jim Crow laws of the South—were made to ride in the back of the bus during the mid-20th century,” Professor Glaviano continued. “In effect, Sicilians were the target of racism, not all the way around. It's my hope that this documentary highlights the great contributions of Sicilians to not only Middletown but the state of Connecticut and the United States as a whole.”

For Nocera, the project is deeply personal—his great-grandparents, Rosario Nocera and Sebastiana Marchese, made that same journey from Sicily to Middletown over a century ago.

“What started as a hands-on learning opportunity for Middlesex students became a tribute to my own family’s history,” Nocera said. “It’s about preserving the past, honoring the struggles and successes of our ancestors, and sharing those stories with future generations.”

After years of conducting interviews and gathering footage, Glaviano reached out to Nocera earlier this year with a request: could the editing on the documentary be completed in time for a historic visit from the Melilli delegation? With support from staff members Leandra Ciolkosz and Matthew Kraines and students Cecilia Ryan, Michael Jordan and Sebastian Guillan, the team spent the next several months creating a 30-minute preview of the film. The preview is missing many historical photographs, which they are still collecting, and will be added along with a present-day section of voices from the Melilli delegation in the future.

On May 17, a large audience of Middletown residents and the visiting Melilli delegation previewed the documentary at the Russell Library. They were moved by the emotional interviews and stories.

At City Hall, the mayors of Middletown and Melilli signed a formal agreement to promote a cultural exchange and solidify the bond between the two cities. The visit culminated in a performance by the Melilli City Municipal Band.

“Meeting people from Melilli and sharing this work with them was incredibly meaningful,” said Nocera. “I’m proud of what our students accomplished and grateful to the administration for allowing us to work on this project. I hope to visit Melilli, Sicily, soon and continue strengthening this connection.”

Nocera and Glaviano said they agree the Italian Heritage project stands as a bridge between generations and cultures, showcasing the power of storytelling, education and shared heritage.

Watch the Italian Heritage Project Preview: https://youtu.be/flV2Z-G6CYQ

View Melilli delegation visit to Middletown City Hall: https://youtu.be/GdNkFjCGItM

Dan Nocera & Angelo Glaviano
May 2025