ATAA UN Related Announcement# 36
In Support of “International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace (A/RES/73/127)”
Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA),
Turkish Women’s League of America (TWLA),
Turkish Youth Club in Southern California (AKM) and,
Azerbaijan Center of Midwest America (ACMA)
Present a Webinar on
Fostering Peaceful Dialogue
Historical Reflection and Youth Collaboration
Sunday, April 27, 2025
12:00pm ET, 11:00am CT, 9:00am PT, 20:00 TR
Language: English
* * * Online Registration * * *
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_XJ0vhl7hQ76uS5Uel8gvEw
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Background
On April 27, 2025, Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA) and Youth Groups jointly will hold a virtual event titled ‘Fostering Peaceful Dialogue – Historical Reflection and Youth Collaboration’ in support of “International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace (A/RES/73/127)”
Introduction
The International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace, observed on April 24th, highlights the importance of multilateral diplomacy in fostering global cooperation and peaceful resolution of conflicts. It underscores the role of international organizations, like the United Nations, in facilitating dialogue among nations, promoting diplomacy, and advancing peaceful solutions to global challenges. This day encourages the recognition that peaceful relations among countries are crucial for addressing pressing issues such as poverty, climate change, and armed conflict, and it emphasizes the need for collective action to achieve lasting peace and stability worldwide. Through diplomacy and multilateralism, nations are reminded of their shared responsibility to uphold human rights, security, and prosperity for all.
This program objective is to educate our community. Engage our experts and youth in a dialog about historical events, to foster peaceful solutions and practices to promote peaceful behavior within our community.
Program
Opening Remarks and Introduction by
Dr. Nilüfer Esen-Bilgin
ATAA President
Moderators
Dr. Selim Erhan
ATAA Trustee and ATAA UN Committee Member
Keynote Speakers
Dr. Burcu Pınar Alakoç
Terrorism as a Security Threat: Contemporary Challenges and Debates
Dr. Ali Askerov
Lost Decades: The Consequences of Armenia’s War with Azerbaijan
* * *
Youth Perspectives Panel Discussion
Aylin Akman
Two Nations One Word
Sean Özalpaşan
The Power of Multilaterism, an Example from Turkic Nations
Nazrin Mammadova
Destruction Beyond Borders
* * *
Upcoming Program Announcement by
Yücel Burdurlu
Co-Chair, ATAA UN Committee
Closing Remarks by
Alev Wieland
Co-Chair ATAA UN Committee & ATAA President-Elect
Biographies
Dr. Burcu Pınar Alakoç
Associate Instructional Professor, Committee on International Relations, University of Chicago
Dr. Alakoç (Ph.D. Political Science) is an Associate Instructional Professor and Interim Program Coordinator for the Committee on International Relations, and a Faculty Fellow at the University of Chicago Susan and Richard Kiphart Center for Global Health and Social Development. Her research and teaching interests lie at the intersection of international security and political violence, with a particular emphasis on terrorism, conflict, and forced migration.
Her ongoing research projects examine the effectiveness of citizen-centered counterterrorism strategies and the role of frontline workers in refugee integration. Dr. Alakoc’s research appears in journals such as Journal of Global Security Studies, Politics & Policy, Comparative Politics, Terrorism and Political Violence, and Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, among others.
At the University of Chicago, she teaches the core seminar in International Order and Security, as well as elective courses on Political Violence and Terrorism and Middle East Politics. Dr. Alakoc also organizes CIR’s curricular and extracurricular programs including the CIR Asian IR Seminar in Taiwan.
Dr. Ali Askerov
Associate Professor, Co-Chair of the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, University of North Carolina
Dr. Askerov is a faculty member at the University of North Carolina – Greensboro, specializing in peace and conflict studies. His research focuses on ethno-political conflicts, forced migration, refugee issues, and structural violence, with a recent emphasis on Russia’s aggressive policies.
He has written on ethnic conflict, terrorism, mediation, peace education, conflict transformation, refugee issues, and structural violence, among others. He is an author or co-author of several books that include Contemporary Relations Between Turkey and Russia: From Crisis to Cooperation (2018), Transformative Change: An Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies (2015), Historical Dictionary of Chechen Conflict (2015), and Chechens From Past to Future: Healing the Wounds (2012).
Youth Speakers
Aylin Akman
Junior, Harvard-Westlake Upper School, CA
Aylin is a high school junior with national recognition in speech and art, including state qualifications and Scholastic Art Awards. She completed a hands-on research internship at City of Hope, contributing to cancer treatment studies using R, SQL, and lab techniques.
She is founder of AKM Youth Club (Turkish Youth Club in Southern California) and Vice President of Teens at the Door, supporting cultural connection and refugee integration.
She is passionate about bioengineering, public speaking, and visual storytelling.
Sean Özalpaşan
ATAA UN Representative & Youth Committee Member
Sean is an 18 year old high school senior who goes to Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles, California. Sean is a proud member of the Turkish American community, and takes pride in participating in ATAA United Nations Committee Events, as well as ATAA Youth Committee Events.
Because of his diligent work with ATAA, Sean was selected to represent all Turkish-American Youth at the 2024 Turkish World Youth Forum, held in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Sean is interested in computers and circuity, and enjoys creating his own coding projects. He created his school’s sailing team and Turkish club, and still passionately leads them today.
Furthermore, Sean enjoys traveling and whenever he and his family go to Turkey, they make sure to visit UNESCO recognized ancient historical sites as well as important hallmarks of Ataturk’s legacy on Türkiye.
Nazrin Mammadova
Jones College, Chicago, IL
Nazrin is a junior at Jones College Prep in Chicago, IL, with a strong interest in public health and aspirations to become a pediatrician or physician-scientist. She is actively involved in her school’s Women in STEM Club and Science Olympiad.
Outside of school, she volunteers at an equestrian center, assisting physical and occupational therapists during therapy sessions for children with disabilities, as well as volunteering at her local hospital.
Additionally, she is an active youth member of the Azerbaijani Center of Midwest America (ACMA). She has a passion for dance and enjoys performing traditional Azerbaijani dance showcases at both community and outside of community events.
Project Team
Alev Wieland
ATAA President-Elect, ATAA UN Committee Co-Chair
Alev Wieland has Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from University of Cincinnati, OH. Worked for Balcan Engineering at Proctor of Gamble as Project Engineer for 7 years. She retired from PepsiCo, Inc-AMEA Capability Director in 2012.
Alev has extensive experience in Lean Manufacturing, Lean Product Life Cycle Management, Equipment and Processes Development. Project Management, Construction Management, Food Manufacturing, Paper Converting, Cosmetics and Laundry Soap Industries. She has solid understanding of Engineering, Manufacturing and Operations Processes. She is an expert in ISO 9001 and GMP Certifications and Standards. Alev is the CEO of Manufacturing Excellence Technical Services and Alev Cosmetics.
Alev has been serving as the President-Elect of ATAA since May 2024. She served on the ATAA Board of Directors as the Southwest Region Vice President from 2020 to 2024 and as First Vice President from October 2023 to May 2024. Alev also serves as the co-Chair of the ATAA UN Relations Committee and Chair of the ATAA Newsletter Committee.
She is the Secretary General and NGO Relations Director Contemporary Education Foundation (COEDFO) since 2013, has been responsible for organizational communication, meetings management, documentation, website management. As the Trustee and active member of the Turkish American Association of Northern Texas (TURANT), she has been providing organizational operations support to its elected board members and helping with executions of projects since 2000.
Since 2008, Alev takes active role at her local Main Street Organization and International Community, helps with organizations of the major festivals that is proven to become the key events that provides income to the city. She served as President of Cincinnati Turkish American Association (CTAA) from 1994 to 1996.
Since 2023 Alev serves as the Trustee of the Turkish American Visual and Performing Arts (TAVPA).
Since March 2024, Alev is serving Dallas Turkish Businesswomen’s Network as the Advisor.
Dr. Selim Erhan
ATAA Trustee and ATAA UN Committee Member
Dr. Selim Erhan was born in Istanbul Turkey. After graduating with a chemical engineering degree from the University of Istanbul, he continued his studies at Western Michigan University with a Ph.D. in Polymer-Organic Chemistry. After teaching at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo College and Lake Michigan College, he started a research career first at the USDA’s National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research in Peoria, IL. He continued his career in the private industry, working on application of bio-based products to industrial applications.
Dr. Erhan started actively working on introducing Turkey and the Turkish Culture in USA while studying at Western Michigan University in 1980. He joined the Turkish American Cultural Alliance in 2000 and became active in educational activities and in 2009. He was the co-founder of the highly successful TACA – Public Outreach Program, aiming at educating middle school, high school and university students on important issues. The Public Outreach Organization brought speakers like Prof. Justin McCarthy, Prof. Turkkaya Ataov, Emre Kongar and Lincoln McCurdy.
In 2013 he joined TACA’s Board of Directors and became the Director of the Ataturk School and the Adult Turkish School. Continued as the TACA Public Outreach Chair preparing seminars and conferences to reach out and enlighten the public in the Midwest region.
Dr. Erhan was elected as ATAA’s Midwest Region VP 2015 to 2019. He has continued working at ATAA, helped to form the UN Committee and was instrumental to form the highly successful Turkish American Presidents Group under ATAA, improving communications with the Component Associations in USA and pulling in similar Turkish organizations from Canada. In 2022, he was elected to ATAA’s Board of Trustees.
Yücel Burdurlu
ATAA UN Committee Co-Chair and ATAA Midwest Region Past VP
Yücel Burdurlu was born and raised in Istanbul Türkiye. After receiving her Bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Hacettepe University Ankara Turkey, she continued her graduate studies at California State University Long Beach.
After graduating, she started a career in private industry working on applied and theoretical research on coatings and coating raw materials. Yucel worked for Imperial Chemical Industries formerly known as ICI Paints North America in their Strongsville Research Center most of her career in the international innovation team where she was involved variety of interesting projects in collaboration with their Slough Laboratory in Slough, England, ICI France in Rouge, France and ICI South America Research Center in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Next, Yucel worked for BUNGE Oils North America where, she worked with inorganic synthesis of anticorrosive pigments and tested them in collaboration with Batelle Laboratories in Columbus Ohio, University of Southern Mississippi and Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas.
Presently, Yucel is with True Value Manufacturing in Cary Illinois as a Research Chemist. Yucel lives in the suburbs of Chicago. She joined TACA’s Board of Directors in 2013-2015 and she was the Director of the Ataturk School and the Adult Turkish School 2014-2015.
Yucel also has been a member of the Chicago Turkish Festival Planning Committee and a volunteer in the festival since 2013 and has served as the Volunteer Coordinator for the Chicago Turkish festivals in 2016 and 2018. Yucel is planning to continue working on bringing Turkish and American groups together using her organization skills, people skills, education skills and her passion for harmony and peace.
For further inquiries, please e-mail uncommittee@ataa.org, presidentelect@ataa.org (Alev Wieland, Co-Chair & ATAA President Elect)
Websites: www.ataa.org | www.ataa.org/u-n
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