On November 3-6, TCA held its Third Annual Turkish American Youth Leadership Congress in Washington, DC. Twenty-five young Turkish American college students, graduate students, and young professionals came away inspired to take a more active role in local and national politics and to become effective representatives of the Turkish American community. Youth Congress delegates attended meetings and briefings with Turkish policy experts, congressional staffers, a U.S. Former Member of Congress, the U.S. Department of State, political activists, and leaders in the Turkish American community. Delegates networked with other young Turkish Americans while learning about the U.S.-Turkey relationship and the political systems of both countries. They engaged in an active dialogue on the state of U.S.-Turkey relations and the 2016 U.S. election, and they also learned about the role of citizens in policy-making and the steps they could take to be successful Turkish American advocates.

On November 15, TCA hosted a Native American and Turkish Contemporary Art Exhibition on Capitol Hill in honor of Native American Heritage Month. The exhibition featured 10 Turkish and Native American contemporary paintings in collaboration with the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the Art in Embassies (AIE) Program of the U.S. Department of State, and the Ekmel Anda Collection in New Jersey. In attendance were Members of Congress including Native American Caucus Co-Chair and Turkey Caucus member Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK/4^th); Turkey Caucus members Reps. Andre Carson (D-IN/7^th), Scott Perry (R-PA/4^th) and Don Young (R-AK/AL); Rep. Al Green (D-TX/9^th); congressional staff; officials from both the State Department and the Turkish Embassy; and members of the Native American and Turkish American communities. Former Chief of the General Staff of Turkey General Ilker Basbug, who was on a lecture tour in the U.S., also attended the exhibition.

The Congressional Caucus on U.S.-Turkey Relations and Turkish Americans reached 157 members with the addition of Representative James Comer (R-KY/1^st). The current membership ties the all-time Turkey Caucus record of 157 members achieved in 2012. Currently, the Turkey Caucus is represented in 43 out of the 50 states and all six of the U.S. territories. The Turkey Caucus is a bi-partisan platform for members of Congress to focus on U.S.-Turkey relations and issues that concern Turkish Americans.

On November 17, University of Kentucky Professor Gregory O. Hall and students from the university’s Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce visited TCA headquarters in Washington. TCA President G. Lincoln McCurdy and Project Coordinator Sezan McDaniel briefed the students on U.S.-Turkey relations, the Turkish American community, and TCA programs and activities. Professor Hall and several students also attended TCA’s Native American & Turkish Contemporary Art Exhibition on Capitol Hill earlier in the week.

TCA President G. Lincoln McCurdy and TCA staff met with the Bureau of International Information Programs of the U.S. Department of State. At the meeting they discussed U.S.-Turkey relations, TCA programs and activities, and the Turkish American community.

TCA President G. Lincoln McCurdy attended a dinner hosted by the Turkish Heritage Organization with Former Chief of the General Staff of Turkey General Ilker Basbug (Ret.) and Turkey Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX/32^nd). At the dinner they discussed U.S.-Turkey relations and the importance of a strong U.S.-Turkey relationship.

On November 15, TCA celebrated the 33^rd Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). TCA President G. Lincoln McCurdy and staff attended a reception hosted by TRNC Representative Ismet Korukoglu at the Willard Hotel in Washington, DC.

TCA President G. Lincoln McCurdy travelled to Miami to meet with members of the Turkish American community. He also attended a Turkish Philanthropy Funds reception in Miami.