An in-depth, and deeply personal, program capturing the extraordinary diversity and depth within Chicago’s Italian American community had never been done before. With historic Italian enclaves dwindling and Italian-Americans’ assimilation into larger society, the time was ripe. A meeting with the programming team at Chicago's local PBS affiliate showed us how hungry audiences were for heritage shows.  Just as we hit the fundraising trail, actor Joe Mantegna, a proud native Chicagoan, signed on to narrate. Funded in part by the Illinois Humanities Council and the National Italian American Foundation, on-air underwriters, and private donations from the wider community, And They Came To Chicago premiered as a prime-time special and aired multiple times, clinching a Midwest Emmy nomination for Outstanding Historical Program and mamy other accolades along the way. Sixteen years later, it's the gift that keeps on giving.