Programs at Turkish & American Universities/Colleges initiated, Facilitated and/or sponsored by TCA

TCA organizes and supports a diverse array of events and lectures with a view to educate the general public about Turkey, US-Turkey relations and Turkish Americans. TCA’s efforts have enabled an impressive range of speakers to share their knowledge with audiences across the US and in Turkey. [read]

 

TCA Hosts Hopi Tribe Representative

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. The Hopi Tribe will soon be announcing its first Honorary Representative to Turkey. “TCA hopes that this is only the start of a flourishing relationship between Indigenous Peoples in the Americas and Turkey,” said G. Lincoln McCurdy, President of TCA. [read]

TCA Minority Scholars Meet Members of Congress in Istanbul

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 dinner on April 2, hosted by Bahcesehir University in honor of the delegation.

Shenetta, a junior at Arkansas State University, and Alaina, a junior at South Dakota State University, are enrolled in Bahcesehir University, and are among the 44 minority students who have received the TCA scholarship since the program’s inception.

Each year, TCA provides up to 100 scholarships to African American, Hispanic American and Native American students who choose Turkey as their study abroad destination. TCA’s efforts to expand educational exchanges between Turkey and the US have led Bahcesehir University and Istanbul Technical University to also extend scholarship opportunities to students of African American, Hispanic American and Native American heritage. Additionally, TCA offers scholarships to American students of Armenian descent who are accepted to a study abroad program in Turkey.

 

TCA Partnered with Spelman College in Atlanta

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 2009, featured Dr. Magdalena Zaborowska of University of Michigan, author of James Baldwin’s Turkish Decade. [read]

 

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: "TCA hopes that working with these organizations will help to advance all of our interests, particularly our scholarship program for Hispanic students." [read]

TCA Celebrates African American-Turkish Connections

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. 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]

 

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