PROVIDENCE, RI, March 26, 2012—The Federal Hill House Association (FHHA), a Providence human services agency that spurred the city’s growth in the early 1900s by helping thousands of immigrants assimilate, recently named Gene Gasbarro, Johnston, chairman of its 125th Anniversary celebration committee. Nina Pande, the Federal Hill House Association’s executive director, made the announcement. The committee is responsible for planning and implementing activities to help celebrate the organization’s milestone birthday, including a gala dinner in June at the Providence Marriott.
Gene was a member of FHHA’s Board of Directors for more than 44 years, starting in 1964. He served as president of the Board of Directors for two years and helped spearhead construction of FHHA’s current home after its Atwells Avenue home was destroyed by fire. He stepped down from the Board in 2006.
Gene is a long-time Rhode Island business executive. A management consultant and a CCRI supervisor, he served as a vice president of Industrial National Bank and a senior vice president of Eastland Bank. He also worked as an administrator for the Laborers-AGC Education and Training Fund, a labor-management trust.
A native Rhode Islander, Gene graduated from Classical High School and received a Bachelor of Arts from Dartmouth College. He attended Boston University School of Law and has a certificate from the Graduate School of Credit and Financial Management.
About Federal Hill House Association
The Federal Hill House Association is Providence’s second largest human services agency. It serves a diverse community and delivers a wide range of client-focused services. During the early 1900s it helped thousands of Italian immigrants assimilate. Today, the Federal Hill House is a multi-ethnic, non-profit agency, providing social services that help improve the quality of life of its constituents.
For more information about the Federal Hill House Association services, contact the Federal Hill House Association, 9 Courtland Street, Providence, RI 02909, Tel: 401-421-4722. E-mail: fhh@federalhillhouse.org
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Contact:
Nina Pande
Federal Hill House Association
Tel: 401-421-4722
FAX: 401-421-4725
E-mail: ninapande@federalhillhouse.org
Web Site: www.federalhillhouse.org
It’s still important for immigrants to assimilate, of course. Here’s my top-ten list of what we should expect from those who want to become Americans (and those who are already Americans, for that matter). The list was first published in a National Review Online column a decade ago [link: http://old.nationalreview.com/comment/comment091200d.shtml ], and it is fleshed out in Congressional testimony [link: http://judiciary.house.gov/hearings/May2007/Clegg070523.pdf ]:
1. Don’t disparage anyone else’s race or ethnicity.
2. Respect women.
3. Learn to speak English.
4. Be polite.
5. Don’t break the law.
6. Don’t have children out of wedlock.
7. Don’t demand anything because of your race or ethnicity.
8. Don’t view working and studying hard as “acting white.”
9. Don’t hold historical grudges.
10. Be proud of being an American.