WITH THE GROWTH in the Las Vegas valley becoming more prevalent, with serious issues involving traffic, education, medical treatment and job growth, another somber matter is affecting our community. The Italian-American population is growing further apart as our valley stretches to the edge of the surrounding mountains. We are losing the bond that helped our culture thrive in the major cities of the East Coast and Midwest. There are no neighborhoods in which an Italian-American boy or girl can learn about traditions that make us such a profound people. We are losing our customs and legacy to the 'American Pop Culture,' or in this case the 'Las Vegas Pop Culture.'

Our ethnic brothers and sisters in the Hispanic, Chinese and Jewish communities are growing by leaps and bounds. Spanish-speaking radio stations, Chinatown and synagogues are some of the ways people are keeping their backgrounds flourishing. We on the other hand are losing our sense of self, our Italian inheritance, which our forefathers brought with them from the 'old country.'

Is it possible for our Italian community, so rich in history, passion and self-worth, to come together and find a place to congregate? Is it possible for our Italian children to be brought up in the city of Las Vegas and still be proud of their heritage? I say yes, but it will take a lot of work to do this.

But as Italians, one of our utmost and significant principles is "we are hardworking people." This is one of the reasons La Voce Publishing Co. was created. In this our newspaper and Web site has become the Italian-American's 'virtual' neighborhood. But this is not enough. Even with the San Gennaro Feast, which this year there will be two feasts in town, we are lacking in teaching our second, third and fourth generation Italian children what it truly means to be Italian.

To further educate our youth we must create a "Little Italy Las Vegas." La Voce wants to spearhead this community project by inviting all the Italian and Italian-American leaders in business, finance, and education to meet and plan a community of our very own. If you are open to helping organize and be one of the leaders in this vision to build a worthwhile and necessary function for the Italian-American community, please contact La Voce at 702.792.8623 or by email at lasvegaslavoce@aol.com.