On Sunday, May 11, the Double I Young Professional Civitan Club hosted a meaningful charity event at Rome’s Albergo Etico to present its 2025–2026 project and introduce the second volume of the Youth Is Future series. The initiative, opened by President Maria Igea Di Marzo together with Vice President Giovanni Ribaldi and General Secretary Caterina Patanè, aimed to raise funds for the publication of the booklet “The Art of Being Fragile”, dedicated to the theme Art and Fragility.

The project explores how art can express—and even transform—the many forms of human fragility. Distinguished speakers from the artistic, medical, and academic fields offered their insights, including:

Maria Serna Tino, Head of Albergo Etico Rome, Professor Massimo Moretti (Sapienza University of Rome), specialist in Modern Art History and Iconography, Francesca Andronico, psychologist, Psiche Balduina Association, Giuseppe Ussani D’Escobar, art critic and curator, Carlotta Bortesi, Teachers Coordinator for the Dance Well program, dedicated to Parkinson’s patients

Through their interventions, the guests highlighted how fragility and art are deeply interconnected. Art can give powerful voice to vulnerability, often more clearly than words. Conversely, fragility itself can generate beauty, creativity, and truth.

Professor Massimo Moretti reflected on the symbolic value of “cracks” and ruins, noting that even the remains of ancient Rome inspire rebirth and testify to past greatness. Art critic Giuseppe Ussani D’Escobar emphasized how disability can become a source of genius and emotional richness, stating: “Fragility is not discrimination; it is power.”

Dance Well coordinator Carlotta Bortesi spoke of dance as a force that reconnects people in an increasingly isolated society, while psychologist Francesca Andronico reminded attendees that humanity itself began when humans first created art.

International artist Massimiliano Ferragina encouraged young people to listen to fragility as a path to growth, later donating an artwork created especially for Civitan youth.

A charity auction of artworks helped raise additional funds for the booklet’s publication. The event closed with a networking session, allowing participants to exchange ideas and reflections.

Thanks to the success of this initiative, the Double I Young Professional Civitan Club Italy strengthened its mission to promote inclusion, awareness, and dialogue—shedding light on the powerful and often overlooked connection between art and human fragility.