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MONTHLY NEWSLETTER JUNE-JULY 2014

Turkish American Youth Leadership Congress

TCA announced the convening of the first TCA Turkish American Youth Leadership Congress. The Congress will take place on October 9-12, 2014 in Washington, DC and provide a select group of young Turkish Americans the opportunity to experience Washington, DC, connect with their peers and heritage, while learning about civic engagement, political life, and U.S. - Turkey relations. Up to 30 students will be selected to participate in the Congress. For more information and to apply, please visit the TCA website.

TCA Internship Program Begins

The 2014 TCA Washington Summer Internship Program is in full-swing with 17 young Turkish Americans from all over the country beginning their internships in Washington, DC. The TCA Washington Summer Internship Program provides an opportunity for Turkish American collegiate students and recent graduates to intern in Washington, D.C. in offices of members of the U.S. Congress, and select governmental and non-governmental organizations. The goal of the program is to foster young Turkish Americans' interest in public affairs and service, as well as enhance their knowledge of American political life. Since the program began in 2007, TCA has provided 133 internship opportunities.

Typhoon Haiyan Relief Efforts

TCA awarded the final donation of $25,000 to the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Texas for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan at a ceremony on July 1st in Houston. The donation ceremony was attended by members of the Filipino and Turkish communities, Congressman Pete Olson (R-TX/22nd), Turkish Consul General Bahri Batu in Houston and the Honorary Consul of the Philippines to Texas, Ethel Mercado. With this donation, TCA fulfilled its pledge of  $100,000 to Haiyan relief efforts.

Letter of Condolence from the Turkey Caucus Co-Chairs

The Co-Chairs of the Caucus on U.S.-Turkey Relations and Turkish Americans sent a letter of condolence to the Ambassador of Turkey, H.E. Serdar Kilic, expressing their “heartfelt condolences in wake of the tragic coal mine disaster in Soma.” The Soma mine disaster claimed 301 lives. Members of Congress Gerald E. Connolly, Steve Cohen, Ed Whitfield, and Virginia Foxx, along with the TCA community expressed their sympathies to Ambassador Kilic.

TCA President Meets with Turkish American Community

TCA President G. Lincoln McCurdy traveled to New York, Chicago and Houston to meet with members of the Turkish American community to discuss numerous pressing issues. Included in the topics discussed were grassroots efforts, community involvement, and the current political environment on Capitol Hill.

TCA President Participates in Native American Events

On June 26, TCA President G. Lincoln McCurdy participated in an International Trade Panel Discussion at the Reservation Economic Summit Trade Show (RES DC), in Washington, D.C. The event was sponsored and hosted by the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development. and was attended by more than 350 tribal leaders and federal, state, and local officials. RES DC was an opportunity to bring Native American issues into the public sphere, and encourage investment in Indian Country.

TCA was honored at the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Annual Governor's Dinner, Friday, June 27, for facilitating the TIKA grant that is partially funding a much needed water tank project for the Tribes' Reservation in Oregon. Mr.McCurdy spoke at the dinner about TCA's Study Abroad in Turkey scholarships for Native American college students.

TCA Expands its Study Abroad Program

TCA announced the addition of Filipino Americans to the TCA Study Abroad in Turkey Scholarship Program for American Minority Students. This program awards up to 100 scholarships annually for American undergraduate and graduate students of select minorities, who have been accepted to a university in Turkey with the goal to support study abroad opportunities for minority students. African American, Armenian American, Hispanic American, Native American and now Filipino American students are eligible to apply.

Since the beginning of the year, TCA has awarded a total of 29 scholarships to college students under the TCA Study Abroad in Turkey Scholarship Program for American minority students. 17 scholarships have been awarded to African American students and 12 to Hispanic American students. Students who received a scholarship in June to study in Turkey come from Duke University, Syracuse University, University of California Irvine and the University of Maryland. The total number scholarships awarded under the TCA Study Abroad in Turkey Program has now reached 348 since the program's inception in 2008.

 
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