ATAA Participates in the 5th Annual Canadian Youth Conference

ATAA participated in the 5th Annual Canadian Youth Conference of the Council of Turkish Canadians (CTC in Ottawa). Past-President Gunay Evinch presented "The North American Turk" to over 150 student leaders from throughout Canada. Evinch shared his personal experiences as an American of Turkish heritage being born and raised in America, as well as his activities in student government. Evinch explained how he was the only Turkish American in his college, and how he and his Italian American friends formed the Turkish Students Association. Evinch had served as student body vice president in his college and president of his law school. Evinch drew an analogy with the adoption of women's rights in the revolution from the Ottoman Empire to the Turkish Republic, and expressed: "It is very difficult to gain rights, very easy to give them up. The protection of rights requires constant vigilance, even if such rights are enshrined in a constitution. You have to stand up for yourself, because no one else will."

In a joint presentation with Beril Unver from the Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) and Yenal Kucuker, ATAA Civic Engagement Director, informed students about grassroots activism in America and motivated Canadian Youth to take action in their local communities. Participants showed great enthusiasm and invited speakers Beril and Yenal to campuses throughout Canada.

ATAA Past President Evinch and Civic Engagement Director Kucuker indicated that ATAA is fully committed to helping both the Turkish Canadian and the Turkish American youth for greater success in grassroots activism in North America.

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