The Columbus Heritage Coalition (CHC) was created in 2017 to protect and preserve the legacy of Christopher Columbus and Columbus Day celebrations in communities across the nation against the unwarranted attacks on this cherished national holiday. The CHC’s initial focus was to challenge a group that wanted to remove the iconic statue of Christopher Columbus in New York City’s Columbus Circle. The CHC prevailed and with the full support New York State’s governor, the statue is now protected as part of the National Register of Historic Places.
“It is important to debunk the many myths surrounding Christopher Columbus,” said Angelo Vivolo, CHC president. “The pride Italian Americans have in their heritage is the pride every immigrant community in this country of immigrants possesses, which is why the Coalition exists – to show our solidarity with Italian American communities nationwide supporting the celebration of Columbus Day.”
Under Vivolo’s leadership, the CHC is stepping up its efforts to address numerous initiatives in towns, cities and states across the United States that continue to besmirch Columbus’ good name and minimize his accomplishments. To that end, the CHC offers scholastic lesson plans that reflect the true and factual history of Christopher Columbus, free of charge to teachers at all grade levels. Already proven to have been invaluable to students across the country, teachers can register for these lesson plans, entitled “What Did Columbus Say” and authored by Janice Mancuso, at sharemylesson.com.
In order to continue the efforts of the CHC, three meeting dates have been set for 2020: Thursday, March 5; Tuesday, June 9 and Thursday, September 10. For more information on the meetings or how to join the Coalition, please visit https://columbusheritagecoalition.com. Individuals and groups who support the mission can also donate on the website, submit events or find out about upcoming events in their area.
