Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA) is a fast-growing umbrella organization of Turkish American associations throughout the United States, and Turkey, dedicated to pursuing the interests of Turkish Americans and friends of Turkey in Washington and beyond.
Established in 1979 to fight defamation and attacks on Turkish Americans, ATAA has evolved to be the most influential grassroots umbrella organization for the Turkish American community in the United States, Canada and Turkey.
The strength of ATAA not only comes from its ability to unite many local Turkish-American organizations but also its ability to empower them. The ATAA Board of Directors, representing 13 different geographical regions within the U.S., brings the voice of many Turkish Americans to this organization. This representation, creating a network of communities, enables transference of ideas, brings about new solutions to existing problems, and in turn empowers the communities during the process. Since 1979, to this date, the Assembly has managed to serve this purpose only through the “volunteerism” of its Board of Directors.
As a non-faith-based organization, ATAA is open to people of diverse backgrounds.
ATAA is governed by the Board of Directors with executive responsibility and a Board of Trustees that provides financial guidance and oversight.
ATAA is a tax-exempt, non-profit organization that relies on membership dues, private donations, as well as private and public grants.
What is ATAA?
ATAA Regional Map
With 10 regional vice presidents nationwide, ATAA represents local Turkish American associations coast-to-coast, as well as member associations in Canada and Turkey.
Mid Central Region (Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio); Midwest Region (Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin), New York Region (New Jersey, New York, Canada); Mid Atlantic Region (Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia); Northeast Region (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont); Southwest Region (Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas);Western Region (Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah); Capital Region (Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia, Türkiye); Southeast Region (Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina); Northwest Region (Alaska, Oregon, Montana, Washington, Wyoming, Idaho)
ATAA Leadership
The ATAA Board of Directors is composed of the following elected officers: A President, a President-Elect, 10 Regional Vice-Presidents, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and the immediate past President.
Board of Directors (2023)
Board of Trustees (2023)
Dr. Bülent Başol, Chairman
Kenan Çağlar
Kürşad Doğru
Dr. Selim Erhan
Dr. Fatma Gül
Ergün Kırlıkovalı
Davut Okutçu
İbrahim Onaral
Dr. Ülkü Ülgür
Nurten Ural
Honorary Board of Trustees Members
Bonnie Kaslan
Engin Holmstrom
Committees
ATAA Rules Committee
- Dr. Ulku Ulgur, Chairperson and ATAA Board of Trustees Member
- Kursad Dogru, ATAA Board of Trustees Member
- Gokhan Ozalp, ATAA Past President
ATAA Education Committee
- Dr. Mehmet Yaya, Co-Chair and ATAA Treasurer
- Lale Iskarpatyoti, Co-Chair and Secretary, Turkish American Friendship Society of US – TAFSUS
- Hulya Koc, Founder, Empowering the Turkish American Community – ETAC
- Cennet Kose Rivera, Former President, Maryland American Turkish Association -MATA
- Dr. Ulku Ulgur, ATAA Board of Trustees Member
ATAA Media Relations Committee
- Gokhan Ozalp, ATAA Past President
- Burcu Tansu, ATAA Western Region VP
- Dr. Nilufer Esen Bilgin, ATAA President-Elect
ATAA Membership Committee
- Yucel B. Tavolara, Chair, ATAA Midwest Region VP
- Dr. Nilufer Esen Bilgin, ATAA President-Elect
- Engin Ates, ATAA Mid Central Region VP
- Dr. Mehmet Yaya, ATAA Treasurer
ATAA UN Relations Committee
Executive Officers:
- Mazlum Koşma, ATAA President
- Yucel B. Tavolara, Co-Chair, ATAA Midwest Region VP
- Alev Wieland, Co-Chair and ATAA Southwest Region VP
- Saime Atakan, ATAA UN Youth Representative
Members:
- Levent Onat, ATAA Southeast Region VP
- Burcu Tansu, ATAA Western Region VP
- Demet Edeer, Turkish Canadian Society President
- Çiğdem Çınaroğlu, Turkish Canadian Society VP
- Atakan Şengül, Turkish Canadian Society Secretary
- Ali Alp Gürer, ATAA UN Youth Representative
ATAA Youth Committee
- Mehmet Tascioglu, Co-Founder & Chair
- Ela Elmas, Co-Founder & Vice Chair
- Eren Okuyucu, Co-Founder & Secretary
- Dr. Nilufer Esen-Bilgin, ATAA President-Elect
- Yenal Kucuker, ATAA Capital Region VP
Central Office
Hakan Dakin, Art, Media & Communication Director