Italian Cultural Center of Maryland

410-547-9934

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410-547-9934

Italian Cultural Center of Maryland

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About us / Chi siamo

Board of Directors


Executive Committee


Sue Hilger, Board Chair

Fulvio Domenicali, Interim Vice Chair, Pompeian

Samantha Benjelloun, Interim Treasurer, Marriot International

Diane Sancilio - Gilchrist, Secretary


Tiffany Bassford

Fulvio Domenicali - Pompeian 

Sue Hilger, Strategic Marketing  Consultant

Carlo Iomini - Johns Hopkins Medicine

Armanda Ligabue  - Governance Committee Chair 

Diane Sancilio - Gilchrist

Monica Lapenta, Be a Chef for a Day Founder, Executive Director, and CEO


Board Members Emeriti

Robert Baldassari

Pier Massimo Forni*

Francesco Legaluppi

Morris Weinman* -  The Toby and Melvin Weinman Foundation

*Deceased





Check out our CANDID profile here: https://www.guidestar.org/profile/52-2169101


STAFF


Kimberly Gough, Director of Social Enterprises and Workforce Development

Gail Gray, Be a Chef for a Day Food Access Program - Bussie Bussie Driver

Jamera Hawkins, Community Health Program Coordinator

Monica E. Lapenta, Executive Director & CEO - Be a Chef for a Day Founder

Sienna Lindamood, Outreach Specialist

Maya Madanda, Be a Chef for a Day Specialist - Govans Elementary

Matteo Magaldi,  B-More Pasta Specialist

Robyn Schmittt, Be a Chef for a Day Food Access Program - Bussie Bussie Driver

Tyreek Smith, B-More Pasta Specialist

Taueret K. Thomas,  VP of Gastronomy Education and Workforce Development

MISSION STATEMENT

The BIT’s (formerly known as Italian Cultural Center) mission is to support an equitable prosperous Baltimore building community health and wealth for citizens of the world who call Baltimore home. 


Always inspired by our Italian culture, we do so by empowering families through the Arts, building community access to affordable quality food, 

providing food education, 

promoting food justice, 

creating international exchange opportunities, training, and jobs for young adults.



TAX ID: 52-2169101  


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history of the organization

The Bit Center (formerly Italian Cultural Center of Maryland) was founded in 1955 by Professor Regina Levi-Bianchini Soria, Dr. Raffaele Canevaro, and Mrs. Helen Knipp as Circolo Culturale Italiano and incorporated in 1999 joining forces with ItalCultura, founded by Hon. Francesco Luigi Legaluppi.  


This decision was made to be more incisive in promoting the contribution of the people of Italy, their descendants, and the immigrant's contribution to Maryland and especially to Baltimore City.  


Since 2015 under Monica E. Lapenta leadership, all the community programs were created.


The BIT Community Center Inc. is a 501C(3) charity registered in Maryland,  working every day to build community health and wealth for citizens of the world who call Baltimore home and promoting Italian Culture and Heritage in Maryland.  


TAX ID: 52-2169101  

  

About Prof. Soria  


Professor Soria moved to the U.S. in 1940 and joined the Notre Dame college faculty in 1942, teaching Italian. 


A 1979 article in The Sun described her as "a sturdy woman with a big smile, a living room populated principally with books and overstuffed furniture, a dedication to Italy and Italian culture, and a husky voice that gets a lot of exercises."  Prof. Soria was the first to point out what Italians have done in Baltimore when she organized in 1979, "The Marble Door," a conference about the influence of Italians in early Baltimore. In it, she discussed Enrico Causici, sculptor of the George Washington statue atop Baltimore's monument to the first president in Mount Vernon Place. She said she wanted the lectures to offset the negative image of Italians brought by The Godfather novel and films.   


A memento of Professor Soria, the Center established THE REGINA LEVI-BIANCHINI SORIA AWARD that recognizes excellence in Philanthropy.

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The Bit Center

315 Homeland Southway, Baltimore, Maryland 21212, United States

410-547-9934

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The Bit Center

315 Homeland Southway, Baltimore, Maryland 21212, United States

4105479934

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The BIT Center welcomes Chef Taueret K. Thomas

Chef Thomas joins the BIT Center as VP of Gastronomy Education and Workforce Development.

Learn more