About the Alghini Institute
Preserving Italian American heritage through education, community, and cultural celebration
The Alghini Institute for Italian Americans preserves and shares Italian American history, family stories, and cultural traditions through public education and heritage resources.
Our freely available publications help families and general readers explore their heritage. Our Heritage Story Archive is an active digital platform; classroom programs and wider community initiatives remain planned.
We distinguish available resources from future plans and invite readers to help us improve accuracy through our editorial and corrections process.
Our Work Today
Educational Publications
ActiveRead freely available articles and research guides about Italian American history, genealogy, and culture.
Story Submission
ActiveSubmit a family story for editorial consideration. Submission does not guarantee publication.
Heritage Story Archive (Digital Piazza)
ActiveExplore our oral-history tools and public story archive. Review AI-assisted text for accuracy and keep your own permanent copies of recordings and photographs.
Phoenix Clean Streets
Active PilotAn active volunteer Adopt-A-Street pilot in Phoenix, Arizona. Institute volunteers maintain 20th Street between Camelback Road and Indian School Road through the City of Phoenix Adopt-A-Street program.
What Drives Us
Preserve
Safeguarding the stories, traditions, and cultural contributions of Italian Americans for future generations.
Connect
Building a vibrant digital community where Italian Americans can share experiences and strengthen bonds.
Educate
Providing accessible resources about Italian American history, language, cuisine, and cultural practices.
Celebrate
Honoring the enduring legacy and ongoing contributions of Italian Americans to society.
Our Vision
Just as the piazza has always been the heart of Italian community life, we envision a digital gathering place where Italian Americans come together to share, learn, and celebrate.
The Heritage Story Archive (Digital Piazza) is our active platform for oral histories. Broader discussion groups and community-platform features remain future ideas.
Our beginnings
Austin, Texas with Ron, Chris and Frank
Ronald Anthony Alghini Sr. envisioned italianamericans.com as an online home for Italian Americans. He acquired the domain and began developing the site with Christopher before his death in 2009.
In a mission statement preserved in his archive, he called for sharing Italian culture, heritage and traditions across generations. His plans included biographies and family photographs—a place where people could feel at home regardless of their profession or organizational ties. That vision is part of the foundation of the Alghini Institute’s work today.
Ronald Anthony Alghini Sr. (October 17, 1939–September 11, 2009) was born in Chicago and died in Austin, Texas. His wife, Aurora Masi, predeceased him. He was the father of Ronald Jr., Marc, Matthew, Christopher and Dawn Marie, and a grandfather to Nicholas, Chrissa and Ashley. His broker registrations included Weeden & Co. (1969–1972), Jefferies & Company (1972–1986), Dillon, Read & Co. (1986), Oscar Gruss & Son (1988), Phoenix Capital Markets (1988–1990) and The Chicago Corporation (1992–1995). He became president of Jefferies Group in 1980 and left as president and chief operating officer in January 1986.
Where we work
Our mailing address is in Austin, Texas. Our Clean Streets pilot operates in Phoenix, Arizona, where Christopher Alghini and Frank Scalise participate in neighborhood cleanups.
Who we serve and how gifts help
We serve people exploring Italian American history and families preserving their heritage. Readers can use our educational publications and genealogy resources without making a donation. The Heritage Archive is an active digital platform providing oral-history tools and a public story archive, and the Phoenix Clean Streets initiative is an active local pilot.
Unrestricted gifts help support the Institute’s publishing, editorial research, website and archive infrastructure, and documented community activities. Future curriculum and national expansion remain proposals. A gift does not purchase a service or guarantee a particular project outcome.
Read our tax records and financial transparency information.
Current Leadership
The stewards guiding our mission to preserve Italian American heritage
Christopher Alghini
Founder & Executive Director
Technical Systems Architect at Cisco with 20+ years in technology, collaboration engineering, and community building.
Frank Scalise
Genealogist & Acting Treasurer
Genealogist and fiscal steward overseeing financial governance, budgets, and donor stewardship for the Institute.
Debra Pompo
Secretary
Organizational leader managing records, compliance filings, and board meeting minutes for the Institute.
Build the Piazza With Us
Whether you want to support our work, share your story, or join the community, we invite you to be part of our journey.
Explore Our Heritage
Explore Italian American history, identity, and culture with our introductory guide and its sources.
Read the Complete Guide