January 20, 2012, Washington – The Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) and the Turkish Cultural Foundation (TCF) celebrated the official opening of their new Washington, D.C. office Tuesday night with a lively reception featuring minority community leaders, embassy officials, and Members of Congress.
“We are extraordinarily proud of our new home,” said G. Lincoln McCurdy, TCA President, “and even prouder of the milestone this represents for the Turkish American community. By establishing an office blocks from the White House, in the heart of the nation’s capital, we are helping send a message: Turkish Americans have a voice, have an identity and have a place in this country. Whether the discussion is about politics, policy, the arts or other cultural issues, Turkish Americans have a role to play.”
The joint TCA/TCF office, looking out on the Washington Monument from 1510 H St. NW, has already become a central meeting place and second home for many friends and allies, particularly in the minority communities, where TCA and TCF have worked in recent years to build relationships through events, scholarships, exchange trips and public education.
In recognition of these deepening ties, the reception played host to leaders from the Native American, African American, Hispanic American, Macedonian American, Bosnian American and Azeri American communities.
Namik Tan, the Turkish Ambassador to the United States, along with a number of his embassy officials, represented Turkey at the reception.
Additionally, Congress was well represented at the reception, with 13 Members of Congress in attendance. For the last four years, TCA has been one of the most active supporters of the Congressional Caucus on Turkey and Turkish Americans, which during that time has more than doubled in size to 132 Members.
