Family is our Inspiriation

The Importance of Family

Arguably the most important aspect of many cultures, especially, the Italian culture is “la mia famiglia” – my family, but also, Greek: Η οικογένεια μου, Spanish: "mi familia", Hindi: (Indian): "mera parivaar", Korean: "nae gajok, Filipino: My Family.

Everything Italians (Greeks, Spanish, Indians, Koreans, Filipinos and other cultures too) do centers around their family and loved ones — meals, work, social and free time. Despite families living independently, yet collectively, my favorite time is spent with my family, children, grandchildren, parents and son in laws and parents…we travel on trips together, visit each other, go to dinners, and generally really enjoy spending time together.

I believe this extends to many other families in the US today and according to a 2021 study by the nonprofit Generations United, more than one in four Americans — about 66.7 million adults (18 and above) — now live in households with three or more generations under one roof, a 271% increase from 2011.

To begin, here’s a little context. My family emigrated from Italy to the United States in 1952, my grandfather and my father only speaking Italian, started it all in Astoria, Queens, New York before moving to the San Fernando Valley, in California, which is where my parents, and extended family all followed and lived for 45 years. I had the privilege of growing up closely together with my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, all within walking distance, informal card games and dinners on Saturday nights, building cement walls, and sharing projects, cutting the grass when I was able, going to Mass on Sunday’s and eating yet again, were all part of my growing up and early family experience. At the same time, staying to our heritage, visiting other relatives in Casalvieri, Italy from time to time. These are my roots and certainly influenced my sense of family lifestyle.

Although we didn’t live in the same house, we were very close by and this privileged existence was blessed with lots of love, care, and hospitality as we all grew together, and supported each other in the simplest ways. My uncle gave us haircuts, my mom, grandmother and our family all started businesses, were always cooking and baking, my grandparents sharing and enjoying all the children, growing vegetables in their garden, again were we often spent time all thirty+ of us cramped into a little cottage home around the corner. It’s no surprise, that with my family, children and grandchildren, we also have continued to share our lives and time together in meaningful ways that have enriched and expanded our roots and have lived in similar style.

The importance of family in life and how we can all learn something from the many cultures and peoples that are distilled in this country. Being that my family has always lived close-by, and we spend time together often, it’s easy to take for granted simply because they’ll always be around. But family shouldn’t be a time when we are growing up, it should be more than that, family should always be cherished and at the center of our lives throughout. The opportunity to live and create an incredible culture of love, care and hospitality, in which the multigenerational family system is supported, and welcomed under one roof and loved just as much as a child would be.

Family is the inspiration for Generation Haus. Over the last 10 years from conception to the formal building process today, my vision to create this sense of culture in a modern and authentic multi-generational home that can effectively meet the needs of independence, privacy and autonomy, with shared space and experiences, is now a reality.

I am grateful and pleased to partner with MBA Development- Charles, Ken and the whole professional building team who have embraced and share this vision.

Personally,

James L. Torti, Ph.D.