Current & Upcoming Events

May 17, 2013, Washington, DC – The Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) today announced a major grant from the Turkish American Business Association (TABA/AmCham), an American Chamber of Commerce in Turkey, to help train 750 future leaders of the American Indian housing sector through the National American Indian Housing Council's (NAIHC) year-long Leadership Institute. The grant builds on TCA’s long-standing relationship with tribal communities and paves the way for deeper commercial and cultural ties between Turkey and Indian Country. read more

On June 2-5, The American Turkish Council will host the 32nd Annual Conference on U.S.-Turkish Relations: Partnership, Trade, and Investment – The Time is Now. This year’s conference aims to provide attendees with in depth analysis delivered by expert panelists focusing major issues in the US and Turkish relationship including: the political landscape for Turkey and it’s region, defense & security affairs, energy issues, banking & finance, the European Union, infrastructure, agribusiness, education, and tourism. read more

Today, the heart of jazz will be beating in Istanbul as the city hosts the 2nd International Jazz Day with jazz lovers worldwide. April 30 was officially designated as “International Jazz Day” by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) officially in 2011, in recognition of the role played by Jazz music in uniting people from all over the world. Legendary jazz pianist and composer Herbie Hancock serves as co-chair of the International Jazz Day in his capacity as UNESCO Ambassador for Intercultural Dialogue and Chairman of the Thelonius Monk Institute of Jazz, which has played the lead role in coordinating the events worldwide. read more

Today, TCA welcomed Egemen Bağış, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator, Ambassador Haluk Ilıcak, Undersecretary of Ministry for EU Affairs, and Ekim Alptekin, president of the Turkish American Business Association (TABA/AmCham), to its Washington office for a discussion on TCA's leadership in engaging the Turkish American community. read more

A delegation from the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TUSIAD), led by Ms. Umit Boyner, president of its Board of Directors, recently visited Washington, D.C. for a series of talks on U.S.-Turkey relations. read more

On November 26, Turkish Ambassador Namik Tan hosted for the second year in a row a reception celebrating Native American Heritage Month. The event was co-hosted by TCA, National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), and National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC) with support from the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TUSIAD). read more

For the 4th consecutive year TCA sponsored the Reyes of Comedy After Party at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s (CHCI) 35th Annual Leadership Conference at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. The annual comedic event featured performances by Erik Rivera, Melissa Villasenor, Alex Reymundo and Felipe Esparza, as well as members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus read more

Sunday, August 12, marked the conclusion of the 15th congressional trip sponsored by the Turkish Coalition of America. This delegation of 12 senior Senate and House staffers learned of the need for continued American and Turkish support for peace and stability in the Balkans through visits to cities in both Bosnia and Turkey. read more

For the second year in a row, top Republican leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives met with Turkish American business and community leaders this week in New York to discuss U.S.-Turkey relations and Turkish American participation in the political process. read more

June 11, 2012, Washington D.C. - The Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) recently hosted the National Association of Attorneys General and attorneys general from four states for a week-long program in Turkey. The delegation, cosponsored by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was led by Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler and included David M. Louie of Hawaii, Lawrence G. Wasden of Idaho, and Chris Koster of Missouri. read more

The Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) on May 27 concluded its 14th Congressional delegation to Turkey. Since 2009, TCA has taken 133 members of Congress and senior staff to Turkey and its neighboring countries. The delegation, comprised of four senior staffers from the offices of Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), Rep. Tim Holden (D-Pa.), Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pa.), and Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.), had the opportunity to meet with business executives, read more

The event, taking place between April 12-April 14, will feature numerous speakers discussing US-Turkish issues and public advocacy efforts, including TCA President G. Lincoln McCurdy. read more

Turkish Coalition of America is accepting applications for its 2012 TCAdvance Scholarship Program. The TCAdvance Scholarship Program was established in 2007 to support American students of Turkish and Turkic heritage who pursue a career in public and international affairs, law, communications and public relations. The scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic achievement, civic engagement, particularly active participation in Turkish American community affairs, as well as individual leadership qualities. Since the program's inception, 60 Turkish American students have been awarded the TCAdvance scholarship. read more

The TCA commemorates the twentieth anniversary of the Khojaly massacre, which occurred on February 25-26, 1992 in the town of Khojaly located in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. As a result of this tragedy, approximately 2,000 innocent Azerbaijani civilians were deliberately killed and taken hostage by Armenian armed forces in what is known to be the worst atrocity of modern times in the South Caucasus region. read more

The Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) on Feb. 14th wrapped up its twelfth Congressional Delegation to Turkey in its continuing quest to educate Members of Congress and their staff about Turkey by providing first-hand exposure to country and its people.Since May 2009, TCA has taken 119 Members of Congress and senior staffers to Turkey and surrounding countries. read more

March 5, 2012, Las Vegas – A Turkish government delegation, led by Deputy Undersecretary Cemalettin Damlaci of the Ministry of Economy and the Turkish Ambassador to the United States, Namik Tan, joined the Turkish Coalition of America Feb. 27 - March 1 at the 26th Annual Reservation Economic Summit (RES). read more

The Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) on Feb. 14th wrapped up its twelfth Congressional Delegation to Turkey in its continuing quest to educate Members of Congress and their staff about Turkey by providing first-hand exposure to country and its people.Since May 2009, TCA has taken 119 Members of Congress and senior staffers to Turkey and surrounding countries. read more

January 20, 2012, Washington – The Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) and the Turkish Cultural Foundation (TCF) celebrated the official opening of their new Washington, D.C. office Tuesday night with a lively reception featuring minority community leaders, embassy officials, and Members of Congress. read more

January 9, 2012, Istanbul – On January 7, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) visited Turkey for the first time, and met, also for the first time, her Turkish relatives in an Istanbul reunion organized by the Turkish Coalition of America. read more

On November 17, H.E. Namik Tan, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to the United States, hosted a reception at the historical Turkish Embassy Residence to mark American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month and celebrate the successful passage of H.R. 2362 out of the House Natural Resources Committee. read more

Marking a new step forward in the burgeoning relationship between the Republic of Turkey and Native American tribes, the Turkish Embassy will host a reception on Nov. 17 to commemorate American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month and celebrate the deepening ties between Turks, Turkish Americans and Native Americans. read more

TCA continued its partnership with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) by supporting the CHCI’s 34th Annual Leadership Conference and sponsoring the Reyes of Comedy After Party held at the historic Warner Theater. The annual comedic event featured performances by Paul Rodriguez, Shayla Rivera and Mike Robles, as well as Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, including Congressman Silvestre Reyes (D-TX) and Congressman Jose Serrano (D-NY). read more

Dr. Yalcin Ayasli, Chairman of TCA, received the Macedonia Friendship Award of United Macedonia Diaspora (UMD) at a ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Skopje in the presence of His Excellency Gjorge Ivanov, President of Macedonia. Dr. Ayasli was presented the award by Stojan Nikolov, Chairman of UMD and Meto Koloski, UMD President. Dr. Ayasli also visited Bitola (Manastir) and Ohrid, where he met with the Mayors of both towns. read more

Francis J. Ricciardone, the newly appointed US Ambassador to Turkey and Scott Kilner, US Consul General to Istanbul, visited the offices of the Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) in Istanbul. The top US diplomats in Turkey were welcomed by Yalcin Ayasli, Chairman of TCA, and Basak Kizildemir, TCA Vice President and Turkey Representative and were briefed on the programs of the organization. read more

The Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) and the Turkish Cultural Foundation (TCF) were honored to host Congressman John Boehner (R-OH), the Speaker of the House, at a dinner on April 12, 2011 in Washington, D.C. read more

January 14, 2011 – The Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) hosted a reception on Wednesday for Francis J. Ricciardone, the newly appointed US Ambassador to Turkey. Leaders from the Turkish American community, as well as the Azerbaijani American, Bosniak American, and Macedonian American communities attended the event to wish Ambassador Ricciardone well as he departed for Ankara. read more

The Turkish Coalition of America hosted a dinner on April 24 for Rep. Tom Cole (OK-4) and Leroy Sumatzkuku, a representative of the Hopi Native American Tribe. The dinner was organized as part of TCA’s program to promote economic, educational and cultural ties between the Hopi Tribe and the nation of Turkey. read more

The Istanbul skyline provided the perfect backdrop to a memorable evening, when American students who are living and studying in Istanbul met members of a TCA-sponsored Congressional delegation. Of the students, who are recipients of the TCA Study Abroad in Turkey Minority Scholarship program, Alaina Hanks and Shenetta Payne were invited to participate at a farewell... read more

February 11, 2010 –TCA partnered with Spelman College - the nation’s leading historically black female institution of higher education - to introduce a unique perspective to its celebration of Black History Month by hosting an event exploring African American-Turkish connections pioneered by Ahmet Ertegun and James Baldwin. The event, which recreated the successful “African American-Turkish Connection Through the Arts” lecture at Georgetown University in October... read more

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... read more

Washington DC, 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. read more

For the second year in a row, top Republican leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives met with Turkish American business and community leaders this week in New York to discuss U.S.-Turkey relations and Turkish American participation in the political process. read more