PLEASE JOIN US TO CELEBRATE THE 50 TH ANNIVERSARY OF NEW YORK ATATÜRK SCHOOL

Turkish Women’s League of America (TWLA), an applicant towards becoming member of the
United Nations Department of Global Communication;
in collaboration with,
Assembly of Turkish American Associations(ATAA) and
The Light Millennium(LM);
Associated with United Nations  Department of Global Communications, together proudly presents….

• Please click for Pdf version

• In Turkish (SINIRLARIN ÖTESİNDE ANADİL: TÜRKÇE) Media Release through www.atkb.org website.

IN SUPPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY (21 FEBRUARY, A/RES/56/252) AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL #4: QUALITY EDUCATION FOR ALL…

ON SUNDAY, 21 FEBRUARY 2021
TIME: 12:00 – 14:00 (EST) / 20:00 – 22:00 (TR)

TWLA webinar will be held virtually through the Zoom application.  
ZOOM ID: 977 0967 1995      |    PASSWORD: Ataturk
Language: TURKISH

“The connection between national feeling and language is strong. The Turkish Language is one of the richest languages, as long as this language is processed consciously.”  – Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

The guest of honor for this program is Archaeologist and Sumerologist Muazzez İlmiye Çığ, who is a historical and cultural icon in her field in Turkey and around the world, the keynote speaker is, famous young historian and author of the field of history of the Turkish Republic, Sinan Meydan.

In celebration of the 50^th Anniversary of the New York Atatürk School and in support of UNESCO’s proclamation of International Mother Language Day Resolution was adopted on 17 November 1999 at the UNESCO. Turkish Women’s League of America (TWLA) presents:   “Mother Languages Without Borders: Turkish”, a webinar will be held on Sunday, February 21, 2021 at 12:00- 2:00 pm (EST). The theme is in celebration of International Mother Language Day, which was proclaimed by the General Conference of UNESCO in November 1999 and welcomed by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution A/RES/56/262. The day was created to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism and has been observed on February21 of every year since 1999.

^{P R O G R A M}

• Welcoming Remarks by Gizem İşcan
• Turkish National Anthem
• Opening Remarks
• Mrs. Sermin Özçilingir (President of the Turkish Women’s League of America) (3-5 min.)
• Mrs.Tülay Taşkent (New York Ataturk School’s Principal) (5minutes)
• Guest of Honor Mrs. Muazzez İlmiye Çıǧ (First Turkish Sumerologist , Historian)
• Keynote Speaker Mr. Sinan Meydan (Author, Historian)
• Mr. Alper Coşkun (Ambassador Ankara,Turkey -Ataturk school Graduate-1978 ) (5 minutes)
• New York Ataturk School’s Song video (2-3 minutes)
• Mrs. Suzan Akyalı (Attorney-Ataturk School Graduate-1988) (5 minutes)
• Ms. Cansu Eser (12^th grade student-Ataturk School Graduate-2015) (5 minutes)
• Ms. Bircan Ünver (Founder-President and head Rep. of The Light Millennium to the United Nations Department of Global Communications) (10 minutes)
• Mr. Mazlum Koşma (President of the Assembly of Turkish American Associations, ATAA.) (10 minutes)
• New York Atatürk School historical documentary video (15 minutes)
• “Memleketim” Song with NY Atatürk School’s Music Teacher Mr. Onur Erol-interactive session
• Thank You & Closing

NEW YORK ATATÜRK SCHOOL

Founded and sponsored by Turkish Women’s League of America (TWLA) since 1971,New York Atatürk School has hundreds of alumni and is the oldest established weekend Turkish educational institution in New York. As a forerunner institution promoting the educational ideals of Atatürk, New York Atatürk School was founded in 1971 with President Ayla Erdamar’s diligent work and endeavor and with the support of Consul General Sait Sahipoğlu. At the time, the classes were held at the Turkish Consulate at Rockefeller Center in New York and the school had only 30 students. With the increase in number of students the following year, the classes were held at the leased classrooms in New York Theological Seminary Building. Between 1974-1977, the education continued at the United Nations International School. With the support of Permanent Representative of Turkey to the United Nations İlter Türkmen and Consul General Sıtkı Coşkun, Atatürk School moved to New York Turkish Center after its acquisition in 1977.

During the renovation of the Turkish Consulate Building in New York, Atatürk School continued to provide education by leasing classrooms from public schools in the Manhattan area. Since 2017, the school operates its education, cultural and social activities at the PS 6 The Lillie Devereaux Blake School at 45 East 81 Street, between 10am-4:15pm every Saturday from September through June.

During the Covid19 pandemic that has shaken the whole world, New York Atatürk school ‘s education continues online without interruption. In this process, it has expanded its education spectrum with students who participate in online education from other states and countries.

INTERNATIONAL MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY

This program, in connection with the International Mother Language Day, celebrates the contribution of New York Atatürk School, which has been providing continuous education in coordination to the 5-year primary school education program on Saturdays in New York City for 50 years.

International Mother Language Day has been celebrated annually on 21 February worldwide, under the leadership of UNESCO and by United Nations programs since 1999.  Its main purposes are defined as follows:

* Promoting linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.

* Showing that languages are the most powerful tools for preserving and enhancing our tangible and intangible heritage.

*All movements promoting the spread of mother language aim not only to promote linguistic diversity and multilingual education, but also to serve the development of a wider awareness of linguistic and cultural traditions in the world.

TURKISH WOMEN LEAGUE OF AMERICA (TWLA)

Established on September 17, 1958 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in New York, Turkish Women’s League of America (TWLA) aims to preserve and teach Turkish language and culture to the future generations.

The organization is one of the oldest active Turkish-American organizations in the USA and is the sole supporter of the NY Atatürk School which has been a pride since 1971.

The Turkish Women’s League of America’s Board of Directors is comprised entirely of volunteer members.

The organization and its members adhere to the principles of modern Turkey’s founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and the values of the Republic and adopt the national, moral, human, spiritual and cultural values of the Turkish Nation. Our Mission is to unite the Turkish women living in America under one roof, to provide solidarity and strength among them.

 We organize cultural and recreational activities to foster a better understanding between the people of Turkey and the United States.

With this awareness, Turkish Women’s League of America works devotedly with institutions and non-governmental organization to achieve and preserve the deserved respected place of women in the society. www.atkb.org

^{S P E A K E R S}

MUAZZEZ İLMİYE ÇIĞ (HONORARY GUEST)

Muazzez İlmiye Çıǧ, one of the most important Sumerologists in the world, was born in Bursa on June 20, 1914. During the War of Independence, her family settled in Çorum. She started primary school here, but when she moved to fifth grade, the family returned to Bursa. She took French and violin lessons at “Bizim Mektep” school. In 1926, she entered the Girls School. After graduating in 1931, Çıǧ became a teacher like her father and was transferred to Eskişehir. In 1936, she entered the Sumerian Department of Ankara Faculty of Language and History and Geography. She graduated in 1940 and was transferred to Istanbul Archaeological Museum. Here, she was assigned a job of great importance to the world and created and catalogued an archive of nail-written documents written in Sumerian, Akkad and Hittite languages. With her work with Prof. Samuel Noah Kramer (1897 – 1990), Head of Tablets Department at the University of Philadelphia Museum, Sumerian literature was brought new subjects and the missing ones were completed.

In 1940, she married to Kemal Çığ, who was the director of the Topkapı Palace Museum. In the same year, she had her first daughter Yülmen and in 1947, Esin were born.

In 1957, she attended the Orientalists Congress in Munich. In 1960, she conducted research here for 6 months upon her invitation from the University of Heidelberg.

In 1965, she presided over the Hittite exhibition in Rome and took it to London. She continued her studies in London, where she stayed for a short time. She retired from the Department of Archaeology in 1972 but continued her studies and research.

The Çıǧ, which attended the Philadelphia Assyrian Convention in 1988, she translated Prof. Dr. S. N. Kramer’s book (History Begins at Sumer.)
In 2000, She was awarded the title of Honorary Doctor.
Muazzez İlmiye Çıǧ, one of the most important researchers of Sumerian and Hittite cultures, wrote twenty-four books and 8 scientific books.

SİNAN MEYDAN (Keynote Speaker)

Sinan Meydan completed his primary and secondary school education in Şavşat, Artvin, and his higher education at the Department of History of Faculty of Literature at Istanbul University between 1993-1997.

Mr. Meydan has been conducting research on Ancient Turkish history, Atatürk, and The Republic history since 1997. He holds a master’s degree in History of the Republic of Turkey from Istanbul University.  He holds a master’s degree in history of the Republic of Turkey from Istanbul University Institute of Social Sciences.

His publications and books include studies of Ataturk’s life, the history of language and the history of the Republic. Sinan Meydan is a history educator and contributor to prominent daily Turkish newspaper Sözcü Gazetesi.

ALPER COŞKUN, Ambassador, Ankara, Turkey  
(1978- Atatürk School Graduate)

Ambassador Coşkun is a career diplomat of 32 years with experience in both bilateral and multilateral settings. He was the Director General for International Security Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2016-2019), covering NATO, transatlantic relations, as well as Euro-Atlantic security/defense and arms control/disarmament matters. Before that, he was posted as Ambassador to Baku, Azerbaijan (2012-2016), where he oversaw a large diplomatic mission, with a wide multi-agency composition. He has held various positions within the Foreign Ministry on issues related to maritime jurisdiction affairs; security and intelligence; and NATO/Euro-Atlantic security matters. He has served in the cabinets of both the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His foreign assignments include Turkish missions in Moscow, Athens, and the United Nations (New York), as well as NATO (Brussels), where he was the Deputy Permanent Representative. Previously, he was a faculty member of the NATO Defense College in Rome, where he also acted as the Turkish National Representative. Ambassador Coşkun is married and has two daughters aged 9 and 10.

From 1973 and 1978 Mr. Coşkun and his sister attended Atatürk School, while their father was stationed as Consul General the honorable Mr. Sıtkı Coşkun.

SUZAN AKYALI (Attorney)  
(1988 Atatürk School Graduate)

Suzan Sandıkçıoğlu Akyalı was born in New York, NY, and attended the Bronx High School of Science. She is a graduate of Harvard University. She received her law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law and her Master of Laws from NYU School of Law. She worked as a lawyer in the tax departments of two prominent law firms in New York and Boston for 8 years. Since 2013, she has been working for the federal government as a tax lawyer dealing with large businesses and international issues.

CANSU EREN – 12^th grade High School Student
(2015 Atatürk School Graduate)

Cansu Eser graduated from the Ataturk School in 2015 and is now 17 years old. She was born in Queens, New York and is currently a senior at the Baccalaureate School for Global Education. During her time at the Ataturk School, she participated and won first place in the 23 Nisan International Art Competition. She also won first place with her sister Bensu Eser, in a competition for the reading of the 10 stanzas of the Turkish National Anthem. After her graduation, Cansu hosted the 99th annual celebration of 23 Nisan, International Children’s Day in 2019. With the background and sense of nationality the Ataturk School gave her, she has tried to educate not only her peers on Turkish culture, but also to further educate herself on Turkish history. Having been told the amazing qualities and actions of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk her entire life, she decided to research any backlash that this national hero faced for her IB Extended Essay. Taking an unbiased perspective on Ataturk’s policies and the Kemalist ideology, her admiration for Ataturk was strengthened. As the founder and president of the UNICEF club at her school, she strives to raise money and awareness for children in humanitarian crises around the world. Most of her work revolves around helping children. She helps disabled children go trick-or-treating on Halloween, raises money to buy Christmas gifts for children with HIV and AIDS, and created a device to prevent medical adhesive related skin injuries in premature babies at her Biomedical Engineering Internship. This year, she became a science teacher for underprivileged children and children of frontline workers. Because of the Ataturk School, her appreciation for Turkish culture will be reflected in whatever she does. 

MODERATOR: Gizem İşcan, Ph.D. Fellow Bowling Green State University
(2002 Atatürk School Graduate)

Gizem İşcan (she/her/hers) was born in Brooklyn, New York and is currently a second year Ph.D. student in the American Culture Studies program at Bowling Green State University. She grew up in two separate and distinctly different environments: New York and Istanbul which has notably affected her perspective, experiences, and research topics. Gizem graduated from

Istanbul University majoring in American Culture and Literature (B.A.), and spent a few years in Istanbul as an English teacher and bilingual translator. Afterwards, she worked as an adjunct at Brooklyn College, CUNY where she gained an M.A degree in English. At the moment, Gizem is a Graduate Teaching Instructor giving courses in Women`s Studies and Ethnic Studies to undergraduate students. She is also an active supporter and member of the Women`s Foundations and LGBT Foundations in Istanbul and New York.

^{IN COLLABORATION WITH}

ASSEMBLY OF TURKISH AMERICAN ASSOCIATIONS (ATAA)

The ATAA, representing over 50 local chapters and 500,000 Turkish Americans throughout the United States, serves locally and nationwide to develop an informed and empowered Turkish American community and to support strong U.S.-Turkish relations. The ATAA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization formed under the laws of the District of Columbia in 1979. As a non-faith-based organization, ATAA is open to people of diverse backgrounds. In July 2020, ATAA has associated with the United Nations Department of Global Communications.

The founding principle of ATAA was the need to create cohesion and cooperation among the large numbers of social/cultural Turkish American organizations around the US. The Assembly’s main goal is to be a link between all communities, large or small, and pursue their interests in Washington and beyond. The main objectives of ATAA are two-fold. One is to create an informed national Turkish American community that can help foster US-Turkey relations and take an active part in promoting a balanced and truthful picture of Turkey in the US. The other is to educate Americans in government, the media, and the public at large about Turkey and issues that concern us as Turkish Americans. www.ataa.org

THE LIGHT MILLENNIUM, INC. Charitable Global Human Advancement Organization

Has sustained a good standing as an associated NGO with the United Nations Department of Global Communications (formerly, UN-DPI since 2005). The LM publishes online issues, organizes public events, produces-and-presents television programs on the local channels (LMTV) and develops/presents various concepts in multi-platforms. It was introduced on the Web in 1999, and officially founded based in New York in 2001 by Bircan Ünver. The LM mainly has been focused on public awareness via multi-media platforms, has encouraged active participations from the all walks of life and promotes the following matters within its capacity as a ‘rights based’ organization, based on its initial 2001 Certificate of Incorporation: Human Advancement, Democracy-Equality-Justice, Fostering World Peace, Freedom of Expression, Encouraging Intellectual Productivity, Girls-Women Rights, Cultural Diversity, Advancing Culture of Peace, and Global Connectivity…

The LM is a non-religious, non-political, not-for-profit (501-c-3), nongovernmental (NGO), and independent secular organization. The Organization received the “approval” of the “Amended–and–Broadened” Certificate of Incorporation and gained a new capacity towards becoming a ‘service’ and ‘rights’ based organization, effective as of December 17, 2019. www.lmglobal.org   

PLEASE JOIN US on Sunday, 21 February 2021 – Time: 12:00 –14:00PM(EST) / 20:00-22:00 (TR)

ZOOM ID: 977 0967 1995 | PASSWORD: Ataturk
https://zoom.us/j/97709671995?pwd=cGJLNklkNEVKYWZXZkt2a2JtcVVPdz09

In collaboration with:

Assembly of Turkish American Associations
(ATAA)

The Light Millennium, Charitable Global Human Advancement Organization (LM)

• Please click forPdf version

• In Turkish(SINIRLARIN ÖTESİNDE ANADİL: TÜRKÇE)Media Release through www.atkb.org website.

The Light Millennium congratulates NewYork Atatürk School’s 50th Anniversary for its unique contribution towards teaching and keeping alive Turkish Language and culture in New York and around…

• Please click for Pdf version

• In Turkish(SINIRLARIN ÖTESİNDE ANADİL: TÜRKÇE)Media Release through www.atkb.org website.

Web sites: www.atkb.org | www.ataturkschool.com
www.ataa.org | www.lmglobal.org | www.turkishlibrary.us

Hashtags: #MotherLanguageDay #SDG4 #amerika_turk_kadinlar_birligi #ataturkokuluny #imld #imld2021 #motherlanguageday #languageswithoutborders #Multilingualism #internationalmotherlanguageday #UNESCO #UN #lightmillennium #UNWithCivilSociety #UNDGC_CSO #A_T_A_A