ATC 29th Annual Conference on U.S.-Turkish Relations
April 11-14, 2010
Washington, DC
info: the-atc.org |
TCA Hosts Reception for Governor Bill Richardson and Hispanic Leaders
 Washington, DC - On Thursday, October 9, the Turkish Coalition of America hosted a reception for Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM) and the leaders of the nation's most prominent Hispanic organizations.
"TCA has a long history of working with Latino organizations to promote unity between cultures," said Lincoln McCurdy, President of TCA. McCurdy went on to express his hope for future cooperation with the all of these organizations:[read]
TCA Celebrates African American-Turkish Connections
 Washington D.C., October 5, 2009 – The Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) partnered with the Institute of Turkish Studies, Georgetown University and Howard University to explore African American and Turkish connections pioneered by James Baldwin and Ahmet Ertegün in an event held at the Georgetown University’s Copley Formal Lounge. The event was headlined by Dr. Magdalena Zaborowska of University of Michigan and Dr. Maurice Jackson of Georgetown University and brought together members of Congress, faculty, students and community and business leaders. [read]
TCA’s Turkish Universities Faculty Tour Ends
 Friday, June 12 marked the conclusion of the Turkish Coalition of America’s 6-city tour for faculty from leading Turkish universities. In cooperation with the United Negro College Fund Special Programs (UNCFSP), American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) and Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), TCA hosted faculty from Bahcesehir, Hacettepe, Istanbul Technical University, Middle East Technical University and Ondokuz Mayis University at minority serving institutions to establish a new educational collaborative between the United States and Turkey. [read]
First Lady of Mexico thanks the TCA for Donations to the Mexican Red Cross
February 27, 2009, Washington, DC – At the launch for the Mexican Red Cross's 2009 fundraising drive today First Lady Margarita Zavala Calderón thanked the Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) and its President, Lincoln McCurdy for the donation of ambulances to serve the people of Tabasco, Mexico. The ceremony, held at the President's residence, was symbolic of the close ties between Mexico, Turkey and the United States.The President of the Mexican Red Cross also thanked TCA at the ceremony which was attended by the wives of Mexican cabinet members, as well as over 100 others. [read]
Educators from American Minorities Visit Turkey
 The TCA sponsored a delegation of professors to visit Turkey in order to increase minority students participation to study abroad programs to Turkey. From January 7 through the 18, these professors and administrators had the opportunity to experience the rich culture and heritage of Turkey and visit with a number of the top universities in Turkey. Over the course of the trip, the delegation had the opportunity to meet with high level members of the Turkish government as well as the newly appointed US Ambassador to Turkey. The Turkish Coalition of America sponsors 100 partial scholarships per year to Turkey for minority students across the nation. For more info on these opportunities, please visit: www.tc-america.org
NOVEMBER 2008 |
Amb. James Jeffrey meets with leaders of Turkish American organizations
 November 17- Washington, DC - The Turkish Coalition of America hosted a dinner for James Jeffrey, the newly confirmed US Ambassador to Turkey . The dinner was held at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel on November 17 and was attended by the presidents of the leading organizations representing the civil and business facets of the US-Turkey relationship and Turkish Americans.
Several members of Congress joined the event to wish Ambassador Jeffrey success in his new assignment, underscoring the bipartisan support the US-Turkey partnership enjoys among leading members of Congress, as well as the increasing influence of non governmental organizations in the relationship, including Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL), Co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Turkey and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Congresswoman Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-MI), chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Congresswoman Jean Schmidt (R-OH). Attending were also leaders of other non-governmental organizations who work closely with the Turkish Coalition of America to build bridges between the US and Turkey and included the United Negro College Fund Special Programs, the Bosniak American Advisory Council of Bosnia Herzegovina, United Macedonia Diaspora and others. Former US Ambassador to Turkey , Dr.Faruk Logoglu and Dennis Hastert, former member of Congress, were also among the honored guests.
Former Turkish Ambassador to US visits Historically Black Colleges
 November 15-22, 2008 -The Turkish Coalition of America sponsored a speaking tour by Dr. Faruk Logoglu, former Turkish Ambassador to the US , which took Dr. Logoglu to five Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and other college campuses highlighting US-Turkey relations in the aftermath of the US presidential elections.
Since its foundation in 2007, TCA has focused on reaching out to American minorities and ethnic communities in an effort to build mutual understanding between cultures and build bridges between the Turkish American community and other communities in America . Several programs have been developed by TCA to expand relations with the African American community, including providing scholarships to African American college students to study a semester in Turkey and increasing faculty exchanges between HBCUs and Turkish universities. Partnering with the United Negro College Fund Special Programs and the Ron Brown Scholar Program, TCA has taken a delegation of African American college administrators to Turkey in March 2008 and plans a similar visit for January 2009.
A thirty-five year veteran of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a former Undersecretary of the Ministry, Dr. Logoglu also served as President of the Eurasian Strategic Studies Center . Dr. Logoglu’s presentation titled “Turkey: A Strategic U.S. Partner – Now, and in the Future”, was given at a number of venues on the East Coast from November 15th to the 22nd, including at Howard University; North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University in Greensboro, NC; Winston-Salem State University in Winston-Salem, NC; the World Affairs Council at Duke University in Durham, NC; Spelman College in conjunction with faculty and students from Morehouse College. Dr.Logoglu was also welcomed warmly by Turkish Americans in the cities he visited, meeting with community representatives, as well as Turkish American students. In Boston , he met with Turkish American students in the area at Brandeis University , his Alma mater, and with members of the Turkish American community at a TCA dinner in his honor.
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OCTOBER 2008 |
Senator C. Hagel underscores importance of US-Turkey alliance, praises Ataturk
 October 27- Washington, DC - Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska shared his views on US-Turkey relations with participants at a Capitol Hill event on October 27, organized by the American Friends of Turkey (AFOT) and sponsored by the Turkish Coalition of America. The Turkish Ambassador to the US , H.E. Nabi Sensoy and Mrs. Sensoy, and the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to the United States , H.E. Yashar Aliyev also attended the event. Senator Hagel highlighted areas of his new book, "America: Our Next Chapter" as they pertain to US-Turkey relations. As the event took place just a few days before the election, the Senator predicted that both candidates had a very special appreciation of relations with Turkey and would be strong advocates of this relationship. The Senator’s remarks received wide coverage in the Turkish press. More about Senator Hagel’s remarks. [pdf]
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TCA's book signing event: July 14-Washington, DC - At the event Congressman Wexler(D-FL/19th), signed copies of his new book FIRE-BREATHING LIBERAL: How I Learned to Survive (and Thrive) in the Contact Sport of Congress. [photo]
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 Congressman Wexler with Rifat Sivisoglu, Democrat candidate for the DuPage County Board in Illinois --the only Turkish American running for public office in 2008. [photo] |
 June 4-Washington, DC - TCA President G. Lincoln McCurdy, Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan and Congressman Ed Whitfield (R-KY/1st), Co-Chair of the Turkish Caucus, at the US Capitol on June 4, 2008 at a reception by the Congressional Study Group on Turkey, co-sponsored by TCA. [ photo] |
 May 15-Washington, DC - TCA donates two ambulances to Mexican Red Cross. At a ceremony on Capitol Hill on May 15, the Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) announced its donation of two fully equipped ambulances to the Mexican Red Cross to be used in the southeastern Mexican state of Tabasco. [ read] |
April 14, 2008 - Washington, DC - TCA sponsors "Turkish American community panel" at the American Turkish Council's Annual Conference.
Empowering the Turkish American Community
G. Lincoln McCurdy, President, Turkish Coalition of America , Moderator
Grassroots
Kaya Boztepe , President, Federation of Turkish American Associations
Nurten Ural, President, Assembly of Turkish American Associations
Allison Block, Advocacy Director, Assembly of Turkish American Associations
Political Activism and Coalition Building
Lydia Borland, Consultant
G Lincoln McCurdy, President, Turkish Coalition of America
Building Bridges
Allison Block, Advocacy Director, Assembly of Turkish American Associations
Guler Koknar, Vice President, Turkish Coalition of America
Defending Turkish American Rights
Bruce Fein, Turkish Anti-Defamation League
David Saltzman, Turkish Anti-Defamation League
April 12, 2008-Boston, Massachusetts - TASSA-Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) Joint Workshop on Innovation in Grassroots Politics (Chair: Lincoln McCurdy), held during Turkish American Scientists and Scholars Association at Harvard University Medical School.
United Negro College Fund Special Programs Visits Turkey
April 3, 2008, Washington, DC: Representatives of the United Negro College Fund Special Programs Corporation (UNCFSP) completed a visit to Turkey today. [read]
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December 17, 2007-Madison, Indiana - TCA honors the Honorable Albert G. Huntington, Mayor of Historic Madison, Indiana, for his efforts in promoting Turkish investment in southeastern Indiana and cultural exchanges between Turkey and the United States . Mr. Huntington is stepping down as mayor at the end of 2007. Madison , like Savannah , Georgia , and Charleston , South Carolina , is a national historic landmark that attracts some 500,000 tourists a year. To add to Madison ’s cultural diversity, Mayor Huntington has been encouraging investors to establish a Turkish restaurant on Madison ’s Main Street. The city’s current connection to Turkey is through Hanover College, one of the top liberal arts colleges in the Midwest. Hanover has a successful and popular study abroad program with Bosphorus University in Istanbul, and it now hopes to attract Turkish students to study at its campus as the college strives to expand its international student body. [photo]
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September 14, 2007 - Washington, DC - Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC/5th) and TCA President G. Lincoln McCurdy hosted a luncheon discussion in Washington, DC, about the importance of being politically involved with representatives of the Turkish American business community. [photo]
September 9, 2007, Texas - TCA and the Turkish American Association of Northern Texas jointly host a workshop for the community on the American political process.
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October 20, 2007 - Pittsburgh, PA - TCA, ATAA and the Pittsburgh Turkish American Association jointly host a workshop for the community on the American political process.
October 12-13, 2007 - Washington, DC - ATAA Leadership Conference. This event is supported by the Turkish Coalition of America.
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AUGUST 2007 |
August 24,31-Turkey
United States Association of Former Members of Congress' Turkish Study Group Congressional staffers visit to Turkey. This project is sponsored by the Turkish Coalition of America.
August 30-Turkey
Turkish Cultural Foundation lunch and lectures by Prof. Nurhan Atasoy and Prof.Gunsel Renda on Turkish culture for Turkish Study Group congressional staff group. TCA dinner and Bosphorus tour for congressional staff.
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July 26-Washington, DC
Congressional Study Group on Turkey (CSGT) luncheon featured Daniel Fried, US Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs. This event was sponsored by a grant from the Turkish Coalition of America.
July 16-Washington, DC
Turkish American Congressional Internship Program-Summer 2007 Sponsored by TUSIAD-US (US Representative Office of the Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association) in Partnership with the Turkish Coalition of America.
At a TCA dinner honoring the interns on July 16, President G. Lincoln McCurdy talked about the importance for Turkish Americans being involved in the US political system. [photo]
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June 23-Detroit, MI
TCA participated in a workshop organized by ATAA and the American Turkish Cultural Association of Michigan. Lincoln McCurdy, president of TCA, gave a presentation on the "Importance of Turkish Americans being involved in the US Political System." Nurten Ural, ATAA president, later hosted a reception for all participants at her residence in honor of Mr.Kenan Ipek, the new Turkish Consul General to Chicago. [photo]
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Congressman Dan Burton (R-IN) and TCA President Lincoln McCurdy meet. Congressman Burton has been a staunch supporter of US-Turkish relations since his first years in Congress. He visited Turkey for the first time, though, on the Turkish Study Group's trip to Turkey, which was co-sponsored by TCA. [photo]
Congressional Study Group on Turkey completes Annual Seminar
"Each time I visit Turkey, I’m reminded what an important friend and ally Turkey is and I continue to be astounded by its history, diversity and welcoming people."-Congressman Ed Whitfied (R-KY),Co-Chair of the Congressional Study Group on Turkey.
Over the past 3 years, the Congressional Study Group on Turkey has brought together Members of the U.S. Congress and Members of the Turkish Grand National Assembly for a series of discussions on issues of mutual concern. Every year, a delegation of U.S. and Turkish parliamentarians meet with one another in Turkey or the United States. This year’s Seminar took place from May 25- June 1, 2007 in Ankara and Istanbul, Turkey. The Seminar is an opportunity for Turkish and American legislators to discuss issues pertinent to the transatlantic and bilateral relationship. From the House of Representatives, Rep. Edward Whitfield (R-KY), Co-Chair Congressional Study Group on Turkey, Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN), Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-MO), Rep. Stephen Cohen (D-TN), and Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez (D-IL) participated in the seminar.
Topics for this year’s agenda included US-Turkish military cooperation, interfaith dialogue, and the Middle East. In addition to current and former lawmakers from the United States and Turkey, participants included representatives from the U.S. Administration, the Turkish government, and the business and academic communities of both countries. The seminar participants had meetings with high level Turkish government officials, including Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Gul. In addition to a meeting with Turkish non profits, the Turkish Cultural Foundation’s Istanbul office hosted the delegation for a luncheon and a lecture on Turkish art and culture by Dr. Nurhan Atasoy, Scholar in Residence at TCF.
The Turkish Coalition of America has become a sponsor of the Seminar and of other programs by the Turkish Study Group for 2007/2008. |
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April 19-Washington, DC
TCA hosted a lunch for a delegation of the Turkish Parliament and members of the Congressional Caucus on Turkey in Wash., DC on April 19, 2007.[ photo]
April 17-Washington, DC
TCA sponsored a panel discussion in Washington, DC in cooperation with the Assembly of Turkish American Associations and the American Turkish Association of Washington, DC, on "Life in American Politics." The panel featured Oz Bengur, first Turkish American to have run for Congress; Jonathan Katz, Senior Advisor for Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL); and Lesley Stout, Legislative Director for Congressman Ed Whitfield (R-KY). [photo1, photo2]
April 29-Raleigh
TCA and Turkish Americans for Informed Policy organized an informational session on the American Political system. |
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March 24-25-Washington, DC
Third Annual Conference of the Turkish American Scientists and Scholars Association (TASSA). This event was sponsored by the Turkish Coalition of America. [ info]
March 26-Washington, DC
25th Anniversary Gala Dinner of American Friends of Turkey.
This event was sponsored by the Turkish Coalition of America. [ info]
March 14-Washington, DC
The Congressional Caucus on Turkey and TCA organized a meeting with visiting members of the Turkish Grand National Assembly and members of Congress on Capitol Hill. The delegation consisted of Egemen Bağış, Chairman of the Turkey-US Parliamentarian Friendship Group, Vahit Erdem, Chairman of Turkish Parliamentarian Delegation to NATO, Reha Denemeç, Vice Chairman of the Justice and Development Party, Ömer Çelik, Chief Political Advisor to the Prime Minister, Bihlun Tamaylıgil, Deputy General Secretary of Republican People's Party, Ersin Arıoğlu, Member of the European Union Compliance Commission, Mustafa Remzi Bozkurt, Grand National Assembly Foreign Affiars and Protocol Official. Six members of Congress attended the event where topical issues related to US-Turkish relations were discussed. [photo1, photo2, photo3]
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February 27-Washington, DC
TCA, in cooperation with the Congressional Caucus on Turkey, organized a meeting with visiting members of the Turkish Grand National Assembly for members of Congress and staff on Capitol Hill. The delegation consisted of Hon. Murat Mercan, Justice and Development Party, Hon. Şaban Dişli, Justice and Development Party, Hon. Necdet Budak, Justice and Development Party, Hon. Muzaffer Gülyurt, Justice and Development Party, Hon. Haluk Koç, Republican People’s Party, Hon. Mehmet Neşşar, Republican People’s Party. Three members of Congress and 27 staffers attended the event which provided an informal opportunity to discuss issues related to US-Turkish relations.
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