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.
Ekim Alptekin, president of TABA/AmCham, presented a check to David Sanborn, executive director of NAIHC, at a reception organized by the US Chamber of Commerce in honor of Prime Minister Erdogan’s visit to Washington. Turkey’s Minister of Economy Zafer Çağlayan and Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bağış were also present. Alptekin thanked Minister Bağış for his support of the event and praised Minister Cağlayan for his commitment to increase trade between Turkey and Indian Country.
The Leadership Institute is a series of educational programming that empowers American Indian leaders to stabilize their communities and build capacity for much-needed economic development. This grant, which was facilitated by TCA, helps NAIHC fund the program through the end of 2013 and is intended to expand trade relations between the U.S. and Turkey through closer collaboration with Native Americans.
"The lack of affordable housing on tribal lands stymies small business investment, leading to increases in unemployment, crime, and health issues," said Alptekin. "In addressing this crucial issue, the Leadership Institute is building a positive future for the American Indian community. We are proud to support the efforts of NAIHC and hope that many other Turkish American organizations will follow the lead of TCA and TABA/AmCham and establish deep economic and commercial ties with native communities."
“We appreciate and are honored that TABA recognizes the important work that NAIHC is doing across Indian Country with capacity building,” said Sanborn. “The education provided through our Leadership Institute helps ensure that housing professionals return to their programs empowered with the skills necessary to construct new, high quality and affordable housing. Our courses also promote the effective management of both existing and new homes following construction. This, in turn, leads to healthy and thriving Native communities, and also supports economic development and growth within the community.”
To learn more about TABA/AmCham, please visit www.amcham.org. For more information on NAIHC's Leadership Institute, please click here: http://naihc.net/.
Contact: Shane Brown
shaneb@bljworldwide.com
(202) 596-8710
