Italian Studies in the Community

Connect. Collaborate. Create Impact. 

Italian Studies Emory University invites the local community to partner with us in creating meaningful opportunities for students, faculty, and community partners. 

Why Partner With Us? 

• Meet highly motivated students prepared to contribute through internships, research, and employment. 

• Collaborate with faculty experts on projects, workshops, and applied research. 

• Join us in building sustainable, local, and global initiatives that make a difference. 
• Engage in events where business leaders and students share ideas and foster collaboration. 

Opportunities for Businesses 

• Host internships or apprenticeships 

• Participate in career panels & guest lectures 

• Partner on research or community projects 

• Sponsor or collaborate in cultural and educational events 

ITALIAN 365 Sustainable Food and Culture of Italy 

This course explores the role of food in shaping contemporary Italian society, with a special focus on sustainability and the Slow Food Movement. Divided into two parts, the course begins with the planning and execution of the Emory Sustainable Food Fair, giving students hands-on experience in leadership, community engagement, and sustainable practices. The second half examines Italian food culture—how markets, cooking, eating, and shared meals shape social identity and cultural practices. 

Students participate in group and individual projects, assignments, and excursions, while engaging with Emory’s sustainability network of farmers’ markets, local vendors, and gardens. 

The Emory Sustainable Food Fair is an annual student-run event at Emory University that celebrates sustainable and local food practices by bringing together students, staff, faculty, and the broader Atlanta community for free food samples, educational exhibits, local vendors, and live music. Typically held at Asbury Circle, attendees can learn about sustainable farming, taste local products, and interact with organizations focused on food sustainability.   

Key Aspects of the Fair 

• Student-Run:  

The event is organized by Emory students, often as part of a sustainability course, ITALIAN 365, taught by Dr. Simona Muratore. 

• Community-Focused:  

The fair is open to everyone, including students, staff, faculty, alumni, and the general public in Atlanta.  

• Local and Sustainable Focus:  

The fair highlights local farmers, restaurants, and organizations dedicated to sustainable food practices and local sourcing.  

• Free Food & Entertainment:  

Attendees can enjoy complimentary food samples from local vendors and learn about sustainable food choices through games and posters. 

• Education and Awareness:  

The event serves as an opportunity to educate the community on sustainable agriculture, healthy eating, and local food systems.  

• Partnerships:  

The fair is often held in conjunction with Emory's weekly Emory Farmers Market and involves partners like the Office of Sustainability Initiatives and Emory Dining.  

The Sustainable Food Fair in the News 

https://news.emory.edu/stories/2024/10/er_emory_ranked_fifth_princeton_review-_22-10-2024/story.html  

For information about the fair, please contact Simona Muratore smurato@emory.edu 

https://french.emory.edu/people/bios/muratore-simona.html 

ITAL 375W: Diaspora in Italy and Beyond 

What does it mean to be from one place and live in another, or to leave and return, or to never be allowed to return? What constitutes home when you are away from it? In this class we will look at the concept of diaspora (people who have spread out or been dispersed from their homelands). We train in a photo-based participatory mapping workshop on diaspora where community members will contribute their own experiences and stories of arrivals, serving as a snapshot of the communities with whom we partner. We will learn Photovoice techniques, capture images, and create photo captions to share individual and community strengths, challenges, and stories. We will plan and carry out an exhibition of photographs and develop our own interviews and photos to represent and nurture community members of the diaspora from Emory, Clarkston, and beyond. Our course will begin by talking about diaspora in Italy. Next, we will explore Italian American communities. We will look at the diaspora located in Atlanta, Clarkston, and Emory. Finally, we will explore our own family stories of diaspora. This course will not only help us learn about Italy, diaspora, and the world, it will also promote investigation into who we and our families are in relation to the broader diaspora and communities we study. 

Prior Community Partners for this class: 

• Photography Experts Jon Cox and Andy Bale, founders of the ARRIVALS Project 

• A number of small businesses and community members from the Clarkston Community 

• The Idaho Museum of International Diaspora 

• The Aga Khan Museum 

• Univerzita Mateja Bela v Banskej Bystrici 

• 7 Stages Theater 

• Tuscany at Our Table 

• The Carlos Museum 

• The Cox Hall Computer Center Art Gallery 

• The Idaho Museum of International Diaspora 

• The Center for Native and Indigenous Studies at Emory University 

• The Emory College Language Center