Marianna Gatto is a Cal State LA alum who is now the Executive Director of the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles (IAMLA).
What is your job title?
Executive Director of the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles.
How did you earn your spot at at IAMLA?
That’s a good question. I would say that it was combination of what was needed to run the museum, and my background is Italian American history, specifically Los Angeles/ Southern California. I also have a background in Education and worked for years in the community, so I was kind of a familiar face. But, I think above all, it was largely persistence. I fell in love with this project since I first learned about it, so I kind of set my sights on becoming what I am today.
What was your first job after college and earning a degree?
I became a High School Teacher. My last school that I taught was located on Skid Row. I taught History, Government and Economics.
What inspired you to join this field of work?
Since the time I was a little girl, I was always drawn to history. It was just something that I often say that I felt in my heart; it just ignited a spark in me, especially immigrant history. When I was a little girl I would read stories about immigrants and their experiences. I would say just the passion inspired me. I often tell my son, “your reoccurring dream, whether its your waking or sleeping dream, that is your path. It’s your indication on what path to take in life”. Sometimes we’re afraid to see it or too caught up in trying to figure out what it is that we want to do, but that’s kind of how your path presences itself to you. So in retrospect, its just what I always loved and what I enjoy doing the most, the idea of preserving peoples stories.
What is the best part of your job?
I love the research aspect, discovering new things. In my background, Italian American history in Southern California, there has only been less than a handful of historians that have written about the Southern California Italian community in the last 100 years. So there’s a lot of work to be done and it’s really satisfying when I discover something new because it’s like that history will now be preserved. But beyond that, I think that working in the community and talking to elders is one of the best parts. I had one woman say to me, that actually made me cry, was “Marianna, I have no children, and I always worried that when I die my history will die with me that I’d be forgotten, but now I know that you will preserve it!” Just that idea that these stories will live on and hopefully inspire other people.
What is the toughest part of your job?
Well my job requires that I wear a lot of different hats. One of them being fundraising; this project IAMLA is not exactly at the top of priorities when it comes to receiving funding. We’re definitely competing for money with a lot of other really worthy causes. Many other funders would be more likely to support a project that deals with gang intervention, before they support the Italian American Museum, it’s like what’s a higher priority. So raising money is a challenge.
What is one thing you wish you knew about your industry when you were first starting that you know now?
There’s a lot of different things, like how to structure the organization so that you’re more attractive to funders. That’s something you learn along the way. It seems like it’s going to be easy, but there’s a science behind it but I’ve come to understand it more.
Whats the best advise anyones given to you?
My dad used to say to me “Don’t forget to stop and smell the flowers,” and sometimes when I’ve had a hard day when it’s really crazy and I’m rushing around, unless you’re enjoying it, it makes the whole race pointless, then it’s like what are you racing to? You’re racing to the next thing but you’re not enjoying any of the moments. Appreciate where you are in that time even if that day is particularly hard just try to appreciate it.
What advice can you give to young women on their journey to success?
Get an education. An education is one of the most powerful things you can ever acquire, because nobody can take it away from you. Your looks go at a certain point but when you have that education you have more power and options, you don’t have to depend on anybody.
Whats your next move?