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MONTHLY NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2014

TCA Briefs U.S. and Turkish Government Officials

On December 5, TCA briefed a delegation of Turkish Consul Generals from Boston, New York, Miami, Houston, Chicago, and Los Angeles during their visit to Washington, D.C. TCA’s presentations focused on TCA programs and opportunities for Turkish American political engagement. On the same day, TCA met with the Turkish Embassy Commercial Counselors to discuss the Turkish American business community and plans for 2015. TCA also recently briefed the Turkey Desk (Office of Southern European Affairs) at the U.S. Department of State about TCA and TCF initiatives and discussed the current political climate surrounding U.S.-Turkey relations.

TCA Study Abroad in Turkey Scholarships for American Minority Students

The Study Abroad in Turkey for American Minority Students program benefits students of African, Armenian, Bosnian, Filipino, Hispanic, Macedonian, and Native American heritage. In December 2014, 9 students received the TCA Minority Scholarship to study abroad in Turkey during the Spring 2015 semester. The students hail from Syracuse University, Duke University, the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Claremont McKenna College, the University of Southern California, and Rice University. In 2014, a total of 51 scholarships were awarded to students to attend a university in Turkey, bringing the number to 378 since the program began in 2008.

TCA Meets with Chaldean Bishop Francis Kalabat

On December 9, TCA hosted Chaldean Catholic Bishop Francis Kalabat and Martin Manna, President of the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce, for a meeting at TCA headquarters. Bishop Kalabat and Mr. Manna thanked TCA for the $100,000 grant that was provided in past years to the Chaldean Federation of America and also expressed their appreciation for Turkey’s generous aid to Iraqi and Syrian refugees. They provided TCA with new details about the tragedy of the diminishing Christian population in Iraq and the dire circumstances of refugees and internally displaced persons in the region.

Ceremony Marks Completion of Water Tank Project in Indian Country

On December 18, a celebration at the Turkish Embassy marked the completion of a water tank project for Oregon’s Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs (CTWS). The water tank was constructed with funding from the Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA) and spearheaded by TCA. The TIKA grant underwrote the cost of the water tank, which will serve students of a newly built elementary school and help CTWS meet their water needs for the next ten years. At the ceremony, Turkish Ambassador Serdar Kılıç presented the $200,000 check from TIKA to CTWS. For more information on the event, please click here.

ATA-DC Celebrates 50th Anniversary

TCA congratulates the American Turkish Association of Washington, D.C. (ATA-DC) on 50 years of service to the community. This anniversary is an important milestone of Turkish American presence in the nation’s capital.

2015 Washington Summer Internship Program

TCA is accepting applications into January for its 2015 Washington Summer Internship program. The program provides an opportunity for young Turkish Americans to work in Washington, D.C. at congressional offices and non-governmental organizations. Since the TCA Washington Internship Program began in 2007, TCA has provided 134 internship opportunities to young Turkish Americans. For more information about TCA’s Washington Summer Internship Program, please click here.

 
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