Italian American Legacy: A 4‑Session Live Class

Understand the real history behind your Southern Italian ancestors and start a legacy project for your grandchildren

What You’ll Get in 4 Sessions

Explain that over four live Zoom sessions, students will learn the true story of Southern Italy before their family left, why they emigrated, and how to turn that understanding into a simple family legacy project.

Learn the real history of Southern Italy that led to mass migration.
Reclaim pride and language to tell your family story.
Learn what questions to ask your relatives and start researching.
Begin a legacy project you can share with your family

What’s inside the course

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Session 1: The World They Left

Why Southern Italy was different, what changed, and how that pushed your ancestors to leave.

Session 2: Pride, Shame, and Lost History

How stereotypes and silence shaped Italian Americans, plus a food & memory segment to decode clues from recipes and traditions.

Session 3: Research Lab

How to interview relatives, interrogate your own memories, and begin document‑based research without getting overwhelmed.

Session 4 – Legacy Session

Choose and outline a simple legacy project: booklet, digital archive, or story collection.

Choose Your Level of Support

Standard – $347

4 live 90‑minute Zoom sessions
Limited‑time access to replays
Research Guide (PDF)
Food & Memory Guide (PDF)
Curated Reading List (PDF)

Legacy Builder – $597

Everything in Standard, plus:
One 60‑minute 1:1 Legacy Consult on Zoom
Personalized “next 3 steps” for your family research

Family Bundle – $1,297

3 seats in the core course (you + 2 relatives)
Everything in Standard for each participant
1 60-minute session on Zoom
Ongoing support via email to review your research and answer questions

About your instructor

My name is Danielle Oteri

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Italian American Heritage Class

Explore Italian American heritage in a 4-class series led by Danielle Oteri, founder of Arthur Avenue Food Tours and host of the podcast "Danielle Oteri's Italy." Danielle brings 16 years’ experience at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and deep expertise in Southern Italian art and history. Two sessions focus on Southern Italian history and culture. One class teaches research methods to uncover your own roots, and a final session offers Q&A and guidance to solve family history mysteries

Course Description

Class 1: What most Italian Americans don't know about their roots

Session 1 looks at why the unification of Italy in 1861 led so many people from southern Italy to leave. After the Italian peninsula was united was the country of Italy, life became much harder for people in the south, with fewer jobs and more poverty. For a long time, even people in Italy didn’t talk about these reasons. In the past twenty years, however, more writers and historians have shared this story. Most Italian Americans don’t know the real reasons why their families left Italy for a new life.

Class 2: A closer look at the lives of your ancestors and their arrival in the U.S.

Session 2 examines what early Italian immigrants actually faced after arriving in the United States. Life was challenging—many worked difficult, low-paying jobs, struggled with poor living conditions, and often faced discrimination. Much of this real history has been overshadowed by Hollywood stories or forgotten as families changed details to fit in or protect themselves. This session uncovers these hidden truths, helping everyone understand what their ancestors truly experienced.

Class 3: How to find your roots

Session 3 is an active workshop led by Danielle, where you’ll learn step-by-step how to use helpful tools and resources to explore your Italian heritage. Danielle will guide you through research methods you can start using right away. The session also covers what to do when visiting Italy after finding your family roots, as well as creative ways to bring back traditions and culture, even if your family’s connection to ancestral villages has been lost.

Class 4: Q&A

Session 4 is a Q&A led by Danielle, where you can get answers to your personal family history questions. Whether you’re just starting out or deep into your research, you can submit your questions ahead of time so Danielle can look over them and come prepared with helpful ideas and answers for your case. This supportive setting is designed to help you move forward with your Italian heritage journey.

Bonus Reading List

Participants will also receive a comprehensive reading list to explore and understand their Italian heritage more deeply.