Sicily is undergoing a remarkable transformation.
Following decades of Mafia control, Palermo and other communities
over the island have been making in recent years a significant
comeback to lawfulness and democratic culture, based on a revival of
citizenship participation and commitment. In a world where organized
crime and corruption have become major impediments to democratic,
political and economic development, the renaissance process which is
going on in Sicily even through difficulties and resistances is a
shining example of how communities can work together to reduce crime
and corruption and enhance the quality of life of their people.
The Sicilian Renaissance Institute (SRI) is designed to
foster civic renewal throughout the island and to provide information
and inspiration to interested regions and communitites around the
world. Specifically, the Institute will:
facilitate
an understanding of the recent Sicilian experience in this field
through publications, audiovisual material, seminars and educational
exchange; and
co-operate
with institutions, communities and individual in Sicily and
elsewhere to encourage the adoption of civic initiatives designed to
strengthen a culture of lawfulness and democracy aiming at
preventing and mitigating the effects of crime and corruption.
The
Sicilian Renaissance Institute (also named Istituto per il
Rinascimento Siciliano) was founded in Palermo on November 29,
1999 as a nongovernmental, nonprofit organization by a group of
Italian and American civil society leaders. The SRI is based in
Palermo, Italy, and it maintains an office in Washington D.C., USA and in Tijuana, Mexico.
Its policy and direction is set by an international Board of
Directors.
The members of the current SRI Board of Directors are:
President:
Hon. Prof. Leoluca Orlando, member of the Sicilian Parliament; former
Mayor of Palermo and member of the European and Italian Parliaments;
Vice
President: Dr. Rita Borsellino, Vice President of LIBERA (Italian
national consortium of civic associations);
Counselors:
Prof. Roy Godson, President, The National Strategy Information
Center, Washington, D.C.; Professor at the Georgetown University; and
Andrea Scrosati, President, Media Network (Italian national public
relations firm).
Honorary
President is Cardinal Salvatore Pappalardo, Palermo Archbishop
Emeritus.
Honorary
Director for Culture is Prof. Wole Soyinka, Nobel Laureate in
Literature and Professor at Emory University.
