USD Magazine Summer 2014

To bring the Italian community together Tom Cesarini ’07 (MA) has a vision. He describes the Convivio Society, the nonprofit he founded in 2003, as akin to a state of mind. “Whenever you might see a group of people breaking bread together as the Italians so famously do — enjoying the moment, the company and the conversation — that is the essence of Convivio.” A year ago, his grand idea found a home; a spacious storefront dubbed the Convivio Center and Little Italy Heritage Museum that provides a gathering place for those interested in preserving the history of the area’s thriving Italian community. “We wanted to create your living room,” he explains. “A place where people can come together.” His passion and enthusiasm for Italian culture and historical preservation led him to USD’s master’s in nonprofit leadership and management program. “Everything you see here, I learned there,” he says,

gesturing at the art exhibits, the performance space, the coffee bar and welcoming cozy tables. He’s even partnered with academia to create the Italian Community Digital Archives and is pursuing his doctorate at USD. “We aim to expand the scope and influence of San Diego’s rich and vibrant Italian culture and heritage and strive toward increased social consciousness,”

he says. “We can dance in the streets all day long, but this space is about bringing the community together as one.” — Julene Snyder [conviviosociety.org]

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SUMMER 2014