October 14, 2025

Consul General of Italy expresses thanks for proclamation

Hahn and members of the board of the Little Italy Association of Los Angeles, pictured in 2024.

Los Angeles, CA – Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion by Supervisor Janice Hahn to proclaim October 2025 as Italian American Heritage Month in Los Angeles County. Supervisor Hahn’s district includes San Pedro, which is home to approximately 45,000 Italian Americans—the largest Italian American community in Southern California.

“The roots of Italian heritage in Los Angeles County run deep. Italian immigrants and their descendants have helped shape who we are, and it was important that we recognize that legacy,” said Hahn. “From the Harbor Area to Hollywood and beyond, the contributions that Italians have and continue to make are extraordinary. And I’m honored to represent the historic heart of this community.”

The fishing industry in San Pedro was developed in large part thanks to Italian immigrants coming from Ischia and Sicily, and Supervisor Hahn led an effort when she served on the Los Angeles City Council to officially designate Ischia as a Sister City.

“I wish to thank Los Angeles County for proclaiming today Italian Heritage Month in Los Angeles. This proclamation honors the enduring legacy and vibrant contributions of the Italian American community — a community that continues to enrich the cultural, economic, and civic life of this County. We celebrate the pioneers of yesterday and the talents of today, who together embody a living bridge between Italy and Los Angeles,” said Raffaella Valentini, Consul General of Italy in Los Angeles.

“The Italian-American community has been woven into the fabric of Los Angeles County for over a century. Our ancestors arrived with little more than hope and determination, facing discrimination and hardship, yet they persevered. They built our neighborhoods, fed our communities through their restaurants and through their work on the land and the ocean, and contributed immeasurably to the cultural richness of this region. We must never forget the sacrifices they made—leaving their homeland, working tirelessly in often difficult conditions, and during World War II, enduring suspicion and prejudice despite their loyalty to this country,” said Mario Amalfitano president of the Little Italy Association of Los Angeles, which is based in San Pedro. “Today, we honor their resilience, their contributions to LA’s growth and prosperity, and the legacy of hard work and family values they passed down to us. Their story is an essential part of the American story, and Los Angeles is better because they chose to make it their home.”

Italian American artists, entrepreneurs, civic leaders, and workers have also made lasting contributions to Los Angeles County’s architecture, cuisine, entertainment, and labor rights movement. Over 5.4 million Italians immigrated to the United States between 1820 and 2000, with over 26 million Americans of Italian descent living in the United States, making them the fifth largest ethnic group in the nation.