Yunus Emre Institute Was Invited to Present About Cultural Diplomacy
Washington, D.C. - On Saturday, June 26th, prominent Muslim American women from all over the United States met at the Turkish Embassy Residence for a luncheon hosted by Mrs. Inci Mercan, the wife of the Turkish ambassador to the U.S. Yunus Emre Institute was invited to give a presentation about its work in the U.S.
Mrs. Mercan started the program by highlighting the need for greater cooperation among Muslim women to advocate for women and their education in the Muslim American community. She expressed her hope for the future by saying “Today’s meeting should be a catalyst for more meetings to come.” Mrs. Mercan was followed by Ms. Roulla Allouch, the Chairwoman of the Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) International.
Her speech called on Muslim American women to work together to advocate for justice and community-building in the U.S. Ms. Dalia Mogahed, the Director of Research at the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU), spoke to the great contributions of the Muslim American community to the U.S. by highlighting Muslim American achievements in the arts and their contributions to disaster relief efforts.
Yunus Emre Institute was introduced by Public Relations Director Casey Kim Coskun. She explained the institute’s work to build bridges between the U.S. and Turkey and its values rooted in the humanist poetry of Yunus Emre. She invited the group to join the institute by sharing its motto, “Gelin Tanış Olalım,” which means “come let us be friends for once.” The audience also enjoyed a short clip that showed many of YEE’s popular programs such as the Anatolian Evening concert with The Secret Trio and the recent Youth and Kites Festival in Azez, Syria.
The luncheon was friendly and productive. It established and strengthened relationships between prominent women Muslim Americans and laid the groundwork for future initiatives for the Muslim American community. The women expressed their sincere gratitude to Mrs. Mercan for organizing the event and agreed to continue working together.
Yunus Emre Institute is a Turkish cultural center located in Washington, D.C. and around the world. The institute hosts events and programs that educate the public about Turkey’s culture, history, and language. For more information about the institute’s mission or online programs, please email washingtondc@yee.org.tr or follow @yeewdc on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.