mission is to promote and protect the Italian culture and the interests of the Italian-American
community.
Guide for Italian Culture. He now has his own website that is loaded with info, links, articles
about Italy and its culture.
organization is to preserve and foster interest in Italian folk arts; to research Italian folklore,
traditions, costumes, dances, songs, instruments, etc.; to act as a center for gathering, storing
and disseminating the information, and to bring together Italian folk performing groups and
other interested individuals. IFAFA is also a member of the Federazione Italiana di Tradizioni
Popolari (Italian Federation of Popular Traditions) in Rome, Italy. It has a member group in
Kansas City -- Italian Folk Dancers of Kansas City -- although they may be dormant and
looking for dancers.
in 1941 to help fellow immigrants from Italy in Kansas City. After Bisceglia died in 1988, his
son-in-law Charles Shangler , now the Center's Executive Director, and his wife Kathryn
remodeled and renamed the center the Bisceglia Italian Cultural Center. After Kathryn died in
1991, Shangler's focus became preserving Italian culture in Kansas City and founded the
Scuola Vita Nuova, Kansas City's Italian charter school, on the Center's campus. The Center
has exhibits, hosts seminars, Italian language and literature classes, gourmet cooking
classes, wine tastings, operas and a variety of outreach programs for children and adults.
www.kcitalianculturalcenter.com.
Il Circolo Italiano. A nonprofit corporation dedicated to educating the public and promoting the
Italian language and culture. Founded by Sheila Syty, the organization provides language
classes, Italian conversation and cultural programs on its own and through partnerships,
including with the Bisceglia Italian Cultural Center. More info at italian.meetup.com/15/about/
and www.kcitalianculturalcenter.com/ilcircoloitaliano.htm.
