by Allegra Baistrocchi
When I arrived in Detroit in September 2021, I confess that I didn’t know what to expect. I read articles about a dangerous and industrial city, which however collided with my research, which instead saw a city in full rebirth. What was the reality? Nothing had prepared me for the overwhelming energy I would have found here — an energy that immediately infected me, with an extraordinary Italian community and a Midwest full of opportunities.
The first months were a whirlwind of initiatives and discoveries. On the one hand there was a challenge to make the Consulate closer to citizens, more accessible and modern, after one of the most difficult periods – surely for our generation; on the other hand, there was my desire to tell Italy that innovates, the one that dialogues with the world and carries on its tradition with creativity.
2022 – L’anno in cui tutto ha preso forma
The few months remaining of 2021 were therefore dedicated to imprinting what would have been my four-year journey: the event dedicated to the Italian Co-Presidency of COP26, an opportunity to talk about sustainability and responsible design, a theme that would have inspired a lot of my journey here; and then the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World, where our gastronomic culture has become ambassador of a living, inclusive and sustainable Italy. I can only describe it as a small manifesto of my mandate: join people, build bridges, make Italy feel close to thousands of kilometers away.
2022 was the year when the Consulate really began to take shape. It was like looking at a yard that, day after day, turned into a living and welcoming home. After the complexity of the pandemic, the goal was clear: make the Consulate more efficient, modern and close to the community.
With a team reduced to the bone — we spent difficult times, with only three employees besides me in September — and two electoral returns to manage, we always ensured full continuity of services. Despite all, we managed to overcome pre-pandemia numbers: an increase of 180 civil status recordings, about 600 new AIRE inscriptions, and a productivity that never stopped growing. Behind every practice there was a story: the joy of a family that finally obtained citizenship, the satisfaction of those who left for Italy for the first time, the gratitude of those who received a long awaited document. And this inspired us to do and give more and more.
The Consulate began to look away: 12 missions on the territory, the first steps to open the Honorary Consulate in Nashville, a constant dialogue with our Honorary Consuls and with the Com.It.Es. We have strengthened links with all Italian associations, not only in Michigan but also in other countries of competence, creating a mosaic of faces, stories and accents that today represent the heart of our constituency.
And then, there was LoveITDetroit. Winning the first call of MAECI for the “City of Italian Creativity in the World”, we created an immersive installation that involved 60 brands, 100 products and 12 events in the presence with more than 3,000 visitors in real space, flanked by the first metaverso of a public body in the world, obviously dedicated to Made in Italy, which saw 15,000 virtual visitors.
And not happy to do this once, we created our virtual space 2.0 for the Contemporaneo Day, with a metaverso in collaboration with the Galleria d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea in Rome and another 15,000 visitors. It was our way of saying to the world that Italy is not only to admire, but to live and to innovate, and this was warned then concretely by Italian companies on the territory. The press followed our path – of more than 40 events – with 110 articles, 5 TV appearances and a podcast, bringing Italy near citizens and institutions of the Midwest.
On the economic front, we also introduced Italian companies to new local partners, promoted their presence at the World Economic Forum in Detroit and constantly dialogued with the authorities and numerous economic institutions. Economic diplomacy here has become a bridge between cultures and opportunities, between dreams and reality.
One of the most exciting moments was receiving the Spirit of Detroit Award from the city, for my leadership and achievements for Detroit and its people. And if this may seem like a goal, actually thinking about 2022 I see it as the prologue of a rebirth story: the year in which we laid the foundations of all that would come after. It was the year Detroit learned to speak a little more Italian… and in which I also learned to understand Detroit.
2023 – L’espansione
2023 was a year of consolidation and growth. We continued to improve the efficiency of consular services: +14% seen, +51% civil status transcripts, 1.763 new AIRE inscriptions. There was then a real marathon, made possible by an exceptional team, with over 350% citizenship-transmitted practices to try to eliminate the backlog created before my arrival.
LoveITDetroit 2023 has confirmed our role as creative laboratory: 14 events in the presence, a sustainable metavert in collaboration with Vogue Italia, more than 3,000 physical visitors, 2,000 event participants and 14,000 virtual users, with a media engagement of 146,000 people. Sustainable mobility, business matching in the renewable sector and attention to local CEOs and institutions have made this project much more than a cultural event, but a model of economic and growth diplomacy.
We have treated the dialogue with Italian and local companies, created networking events, maintained constant relations with public and private entities and consolidated commercial promotion in all countries of competence. Culture and language continued to shine: 45 events, with 30,200 total participants, more than 200,000 visitors to the 100-year exhibition of the Air Force in Ohio.
The press followed carefully, producing 344 articles, of which 280 only on LoveITDetroit 2023, and an edition of EdibleWow magazine dedicated to Italy.
2024 – La maturità
Our commitment in 2023 led to Reputation Award 2024 of Reputation Research, for the impact of LoveITDetroit on the reputation of the Italian system in the reference states. And so, in 2024, we consolidated everything that had been built, starting from the consular services, which reached impressive records: +70% of passports issued, +14% of visas issued, triple transcriptions of civil status, +23% of AIRE registrations. We have expanded the venue, optimized the spaces and made the archive more efficient. All the objectives assigned were achieved: New recruits, missions in Ohio, Indiana and Tennessee, institution of a new Honorary Consulate in Nashville, support to Com.It.Es. and constant dialogue with Honorary Consuls and Italian schools. The increased attention to Tennessee then immediately saw concrete developments and a record increase in imports from our country increased by +40% in the year.
In economic diplomacy, LoveITDetroit – The Perfect Pitch has led Italian startups to present projects to venture capitalists and local investors, with the opening of the event by Vice Governor Gilchrist. The volume of imports from Italy in Michigan grew by 19.5% from my arrival in Detroit, and if even a small part of this is our merit, the concrete results for startups were immediate.
We organized 29 cultural events, with over 3,500 participants, improved digital communication by reaching 10,400 cumulative users on Consolato social media and gained visibility through 230 articles and television interviews, including PBS and Fox Detroit. But the most rewarding one was undoubtedly when all the staff of the Consulate cooked a meal for over 400 homeless at Capuchin Soup Kitchen – being able to offer a healthy, genuine and full-bodied Italian meal was the moment dedicated to our most satisfying cuisine.
2025 – Celebrazioni e arrivederci
But in addition to consolidating the successes achieved, in 2024 I experienced a personal experience that deeply marked my connection with Detroit: the birth of my third son, a small Michigander who will forever bind me to these places. His presence has added a special meaning to my path, making every milestone even more valuable.
The 2025 was finally a triumph, under the banner of “going out with a bang”, with the award of the “Woman of the Year” award during the Italian Heritage Month. But let’s go back together the funniest stages!
The Italian Heritage Night with the Detroit Pistons has transformed the Little Caesars Arena into a sea of tricolors: over 250 Italians gathered to celebrate Made in Italy between sport, friendship and pride. It was exciting to see the enthusiasm of many young people (and differently young) during the mini basketball tournament organized for the occasion — and even more when Simone Fontecchio, our NBA champion, rewarded the winners and greeted the community with the simplicity of those who can inspire with the example.
The story of Italy continued with the screening of “Cabrini”, the film dedicated to Santa Francesca Cabrini, an extraordinary figure that has joined faith, courage and social commitment. Bringing this story to Detroit, Cleveland and Ann Arbor, with the presence of actress Cristiana Dell’Anna, was a way to remember how the Italian soul contributed – and continues to contribute – to the history and values of these cities.
In 2025, for the first time, the Feast of the Italian Republic was also celebrated in Nashville: a new stage in our path of unity and inclusion, which symbolically embraced all the souls of the Italian diaspora in the Midwest. A small, great goal that marks the growth and strength of a community that never stops to find itself, evolve and celebrate together.
And this extra focus for Tennessee has led Italy to be the protagonist of 3686 LaunchTN with The Perfect Pitch 2.0, where three Italian startups (2hire, Alba Robot, Volvero) presented sustainable solutions in front of more than 300 investors and an audience of more than 800 people dedicated to innovation. We also had moments dedicated to the strategic role of Italy for American companies in Europe and for the startup of InvestTN; and organized a pop-up partner with universities and big companies (TVU, Vanderbilt, Nissan). An example of concrete economic diplomacy — and in fact the following for companies have been immediate.
In conclusione – Grazie, Detroit
And while I write this message, there are other things planned for the end of the year: the Italian Heritage Night with the Detroit City Football Club – and then again with my beloved Pistons; the Week of Language dedicated to dialects with the Com.It.Es. and our always present Dante Alighieri (awesome thanks to the President, Lia Adelfi, and the Vice President, Daniela Henderson, for four incredible years – you were my “country system”); Teo Bok in concert and visiting the schools in which Italian is taught (and a special thanks to our School Manager, Marina Lenza, who follows us from Chicago, as well as our NOI Foundation Manager); the Week of Cuisine, with our Caribbean dinner, and to follow the Tableaux Vivants of Caravaggio in Detroit and Indianapolis; the Health Campus with focus on Mediterranean diet and medical screening. If only there were more hours in a day..
I wanted to close with a pinch of irony. What am I gonna miss about Detroit? The emergency cell — faithful companion who, let’s face it, played more often than I hoped and in the most unlikely hours. And the “magic” of organizing events in the middle of the Midwest – cold michigander, I don’t fear you anymore.
But if we want to put aside the jokes, rethinking these four years, the first feeling is gratitude: towards the city, the Italian community, my tireless staff and all those who have believed and collaborated with me – you know who you are and you know I appreciate all that you have done. Detroit wasn’t just a challenge: was a school of humanity, resilience and curiosity.
Every event, every practice, every encounter has left an indelible mark in my heart. Four years have flown like a beat of wings, yet they leave behind a bright trail of memories, friendships and conquests. I keep all this with affection and a smile: Yes, Detroit can be complicated, surprising, incredibly vast by extension (and thousands of miles crossed) and always wonderfully American… but you let yourself love, and I leave you with the certainty that I will never forget you.
And so I close this chapter, ready to take with me into my heart, wherever I go, a piece of Detroit and – above all – a piece of you and Italy I have known here.
NDR:
The events scheduled for November to which the Consul refers, such as the Health Campus scheduled from 14 to 16 November at the Dante Alighieri Society of Michigan, were all realized, as always, with great success.
In foto: il sindaco Wade Kapszukiewicz consegna le Chiavi della Città di Toledo ad Allegra Baistrocchi
The Baistrocchi Consul received a standing ovation during the dinner greeting event in Detroit and, in a subsequent dinner in his honor organized in Toledo by Louis Tosi, in the presence of key figures of the civic and economic life of the area, he received from the mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz the Keys of the City of Toledo, an honor attributed in the past to very few personalities (including President Nixon).
