New Nazzaro Center Director, Steven Siciliano, Takes the Reins

The Nazzaro Community Center has announced its new director, Steven Siciliano, who formally starts this week at the 30 N. Bennet Street location in the North End. He takes on the position previously held by Carl Ameno who retired earlier in the year.

“My life has come full circle,” says Siciliano, who was a youth worker at the Nazzaro nearly 30 years ago under then director Patricia (Tanso) Romano. His most recent experience is as Chief Probation Officer in the Juvenile and Adult Courts where he served for the past twenty-five years managing a large staff within a complex, multi-site organization. He also has extensive coaching experience, through a variety of youth baseball and basketball leagues. Steven has volunteered for many years as part of the North End Athletic Association (NEAA) and is active in supporting North End Against Drugs (NEAD) where he would often speak at family dinner events.

At a recent Neighborhood Council meeting, the new director spoke about some of the things he’d like to do including expanding daycare-type centers, services for seniors, substance abuse education and prevention, career / resume building and job skills. He expressed excitement about the ongoing study for a new community center to be built in the next 3-5 years that will would allow for more space and resources for these types of programs. The Nazzaro also manages the Mirabella Pool on Commercial Street during the summer months.

“The Nazzaro Center holds a special place in my heart because of all the memories I have growing up as a child and young adult,” added Siciliano. “It is an honor to now take on the director position.”

A native of Boston’s North End, Siciliano continues to reside in the neighborhood with his wife, Lydia, and 6 year old daughter, Ava. In addition to the Nazzaro, he was a member of the North End Union and the North Bennet Street School. In those days, the community center was called the “club” as locations for activities changed before being centralized at the Nazzaro Center.

Getting familiar with the operations over the past few months, Steven expects to hit the ground running now that he has officially started. “What I have found thus far is that the staff is totally committed to these families, children and North End community as a whole,” he said. “My goal, in a general sense, is for us to find ways to better serve the entire community and to reach as many families/children in need of services to make their lives and the community the best it can be.” Steven welcomes residents and families to stop in anytime and talk to him.