ATAA Supports Ohio Ahiska Turks  at Turkish American Solidarity Conference

Dayton, Ohio - ATAA participated in full ranks at the 2nd Annual Turkish American Solidarity Conference, which was hosted by the Ahiska Turkish American Community Center (ATACC), City of Dayton, University of Dayton and Wright State University.  ATACC President Islom Shakhbnadarov welcomed national and local Turkish American leaders nationwide.  

Opening remarks were provided by Ohio Governor John Kasich, Dayton Mayor Gary Leitzell, Beavercreek Mayor Scott Hadley, Montgomery County Commissioner Debbie Lieberman, Ohio State Representative Roland Winburn, Ohio State Representative Jarrod Martin,  Wright University President David Hopkins, Wright University Provost Steven Angle, University of Dayton Provost Joe Saliba, Ohio Director of Government and Public Relations Anthony Whitmore and Turkish Consul General to Chicago Fatih Yildiz and his wife.

All commended the Ahiska Turks for being survivors of pogroms, massacres and deportations, for being hard workers, for having strong family values, and for enhancing the quality of life in Ohio and America.

Professor Justin McCarthy discussed the prejudicial stereotyping against people of Turkish heritage and the effect of such on scholarship on issues that concern US-Turkish relations.  Dr. James Dobbins of the Clinical Psychology Department at Wright State University explained that people of Turkish American heritage must excel in American society to rebut and bring balance to the various anti-Turkish narratives waged by other groups.

ATAA President Ergun Kirlikovali was the luncheon speaker on the first day, as he delivered an emotionally charged recount of the pain the Turkish American community has from atrocities committed against people of Turkish heritage, and the healing that can be achieved by writing down their family stories in the ATAA archives.

ATAA President Elect Mehmet Celebi was the keynote speaker on the second day, and discussed the current situation in Turkish - Israeli relations, and the role of the Turkish American and Jewish American communities in improving and strengthening relations.

ATAA Past President Gunay Evinch was the luncheon speaker on the second day, and discussed the modern Turkish American public advocacy network, including public advocacy by the ATAA, Federation of Turkish American Associations (FTAA), Turkish Coalition of America (TCA), Pax Turcica, Azerbaijan American Council, Azerbaijan Society of America, and US Turkic Network; political fund raising by the various Turkish PACs; and the defense of human rights by the Turkish American Legal Defense Fund (TALDF).  Evinch emphasized the principles of solidarity and cooperation within Turkish American diversity.

Evinch and Consul General Yildiz were guests at a home of an Ahiska family.  Guests were seated on big pillows around feast of Ahsika raviollis called "Hinka" and Uzbek rice.

Yildiz stated that Ahiskas had transformed the challenged neighborhoods where they had been placed by United States refugee services, by repairing and painting the homes, bringing strong family life and security, and working hard to take ownership of the destinies of their newly found communities, city and country.  Evinch expressed, "The Ahiskas are humble and noble people, with a strong work ethic and family culture.  This will set you apart and make you leaders as new Americans!"

Evinch attended the signing of a cooperation agreement between Wright State University and Atilim University for student exchanges and technology.  Thereafter, Evinch met with city officials regarding a building that the ATACC will be acquiring with the money they have worked so hard for and saved, mostly as truckers and home builders.

The three day conference was a resounding success, featuring insightful, thought-provoking, and well attended panels conducted by scholars, experts, and civic leaders.  There were visitors from as far away as Canada, Turkey, Russia, and Kazakhstan.  The next Turkish American Solidarity Conference will be held in 2013 and ATAA will certainly be there in full force.

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