Brooklyn PS 380 educators Deborah Casey (left) and Anthony Zalak (right) join Brooklyn MS 582 teacher Delma Rodriguez and UFT Italian American Heritage Committee Chair Sally-Ann Bongiovanni-Famularo (2nd from right) for San Gennaro Night.
For Angela Roccasalvo, art teacher at PS 48 in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, the UFT Italian American Heritage Committee San Gennaro Night on Sept. 24 was an opportunity to enjoy a New York tradition alongside her peers. “Everybody’s coming together to have fun, and sharing food and culture,” she said. This year marked the 100th Feast of San Gennaro, and UFT members flocked to Manhattan’s Little Italy to network with colleagues over slices of New York pizza at the landmark Caffe Palermo, home to the “Cannoli King,” owner John DeLutro. “This is the quintessential way to start off the Italian American Heritage events of the year,” committee Chair Sally-Ann Bongiovanni-Famularo said. Teresa Bello, a pre-K teacher at PS 185 in Harlem, said the event provided a valuable opportunity to connect with educators who share common experiences. “Whatever our roles are, we work very hard,” Bello said. “To be with people where you can just be social, you build relationships like that.”