Butler County native Chris Benevino, who said he is working on his writing in his retirement, has published “Resilience/The Capacity to Persevere, Adapt and Survive: Stories About the People of Serrastretta, Calabria, Italy and How Resilience Has Shaped Their Character.”

Benevino maintains that the five million Sicilians and Calabrians who left Italy between 1880 and 1920 to emigrate to North America and Australia were able to thrive in their new homelands because of the resilience they had inherited.

The book traces the origins of how these Southern Italians developed the resilience characteristic.

Benevino interviewed more than 100 contemporary Calabrians for their stories.

The 290-page book contains 60 color photographs and is available in digital and paperback formats. It was released by Regeant Press, Berkeley, Calif.

Benevino spent his career in various management positions for trade and professional nonprofit associations.

During his retirement, he has owned and managed an art gallery and custom framing business. He said he is also working on his painting.

“Resilience”