“ ”The Italian Diaspora Seminar was an unforgettable and deeply inspiring experience. Held in the heart of Southern Italy, it brought together an incredible community of scholars, artists, and local voices to explore the rich and complex stories of Italian migration. The combination of rigorous discussion, moving personal narratives, and immersive site visits created a powerful connection between past and present, between here and there.
What stood out most was the seminar’s commitment to bridging academic work with lived experience. It was intellectually stimulating, emotionally resonant, and beautifully organized. I left with new insights, meaningful connections, and a renewed sense of purpos in my work. I can’t recommend it highly enough!””
— Wanda Balzano, Founding Chair, Department of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Wake Forest University, USA
“The magic often found in setting conjured in words words words full of echoes.
Our ear attuned too well distorts the trek of language. Consider di-as-po-ra—scattered blown by winds of circumstance across the globe, perhaps is the only human condition in sync with the circularity of the universe. Italian migration, immigration, emigration, and generational roots crisscross oceans in search of place.
Professoressa Margherita Ganeri gives the condition its rightful name. Trauma. Italian Diaspora Studies applies the balm of knowledge in the community writers cloistered in panoramic splendor, feasted on Calabrian bounty, nourished on narrative.
Return! Return! Return! My mantra until next year. And do consider publication (insert journal title) of your work begun during your participation in the most inspirational writing seminars. Certainly by far I ever had the immense satisfaction of participating in.
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— Deborah Di Bari
““If you find yourself drawn to apply to the Italian Diaspora Studies Writing Seminar, I would encourage you to answer this call that has broken through the “everyday,” to fan the flame of your curious spirit. I attended in May 2025, and left astonished at the richness of the experience: the setting itself at the Grand Hotel San Michele, a Calabrian villa anchored by sea and birdsong and the most kind and attentive staff I had ever experienced; the colleagues who had come from around the world in search of both the personal and the historical meanings of diaspora, and who left as friends who had given and received so much through conversation and writing; the profound instruction and experience of writing, by our international teachers Clarke, Cribari, Riccio and Ganeri, that challenged our abilities and helped the ink flow, opening the soul; the select field trips to historical neighboring areas like Cetraro, Falconara, La Gardia Piemontese, and Paola, that enriched our understanding of the Italian diaspora via museums, hillside shrines, small towns, sanctuaries, and ports; and the unexpected discoveries each one of us made about our personal and ancestral experiences of diaspora, whether immigrant, or several generations removed. My own trip came shortly after my mother, beautiful immigrant from Trieste to the US, had died, and I will remain grateful for the deep connection with my roots that this seminar provided me.””
— Gabriella Miotto, California.
“The IDS writing program is an extraordinary opportunity to meet talented writers, challenge yourself in dynamic workshops, enjoy beautiful surroundings and first-class service and, above all, to celebrate yourself and whatever brings you to Calabria
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— Charity Hemingway, Connecticut, USA
“Was this writer’s seminar what I expected? No, it was not. Would I attend again? Absolutely! I was expecting more discussion and writing regarding the Italian Diaspora and was not aware of the focus on poetry. Having said that, the course was so valuable in many ways. The wonderful array of people taking part, sharing their life experiences was like a never-ending wealth of joy and tears. Admittedly we were an eclectic group, which made the whole experience more fulfilling. The world was encased in our group at various levels and we all had something to contribute. None more valuable than another. The course gave me the inspiration and the courage to express my ideas. I understood that I too have a voice that may allow someone else to feel emotions and perhaps a sense of hope. I would highly recommend the course for anyone who loves the idea of telling a story, your own or someone else’s.
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— Antonia Romeo, Perth, Australia
“The 2025 edition of the IDSW was an unqualified success. In the daily two-hour sessions, the participants were exposed to three respected poets, each offering distinct approaches to poetry: George provided the fire, Giovanna the entryways, Stephen the rigor – complemented by Margherita’s scholarly research on History, Literature and Calabria.
A powerful, supportive solidarity developed over the ten days, encouraged by the group’s talent and commitment. Three informative excursions highlighting Calabrian history and diversity further enriched the experience. I’d be remiss not to mention the joy of the Grand Hotel’s old-world class, with its beach and (hours-long, well-wined) meals.
Overall, IDSW2025 accomplished its mission of evoking the spirit of poetry, providing a memorable and transformative experience for all. ”
— Lauren Sunstein, American living in Rome
“When I first heard Professor Margherita Ganeri speak in Perth about the Italian Diaspora Writing Seminar in Calabria, her words illuminated a space I hadn’t fully acknowledged—a longing to reconnect with my heritage in a meaningful and creative way.
That longing led me to southern Italy, where I joined a group of people for ten days of writing, reflection, and cultural exploration. To my surprise, poetry was the genre we focused on. At first unexpected, poetry soon proved to be the good medium— intimate and deeply emotional.
Set in the stunning Grand Hotel San Michele, perched above the Tyrrhenian Sea, the seminar offered both inspiration and perspective. One powerful session on Calabria’s history revealed a legacy of hardship—poverty, neglect, and emigration—that many of us had inherited but never fully understood.
Through guided writing sessions, personal dialogue, and shared meals, we found language for stories long held silent. The experience wasn’t just about writing—it was about belonging, rediscovery, and healing.
For anyone seeking to explore their roots, reclaim their voice, or simply experience Calabria in an immersive, soulful way, this seminar is a journey worth taking.”
— Francesca Italiano, Perth, Australia
“Attending the Italian Diaspora Seminar was a moving and intellectually enriching experience – one that will inspire my own teaching and scholarship.
The program drew its energy from the beautiful region of Calabria, a crossroads of history and migration. The participants brough their own knowledge, energy, insights, and experiences about diasporas. Our discussions were not only rigorous and thought-provoking, but also deeply human, punctuated by moments of vulnerability, humor, shared memories, and friendship.
Writing workshops, site visits, presentations, conversations, and encounters with local communities make the Italian Diaspora Seminar more than an academic gathering; it’s a journey, and a call to a deeper understanding of our past and present.
The seminar will be a life-changing experience for anyone interested in the intersections of migration, memory, identity, and culture.
My congratulations and thanks go to Professor Margherita Ganeri who, with the assistance of Dr. Marilena Onorato, created this stimulating program.”
