Sierra Foundation’s Dialog and Friendship Dinner Brings Together Many in Reno


Date posted: November 25, 2013

This year’s Dialog and Friendship Dinner by Sierra Foundation repeated its tradition of bringing together many around a dinner table in Northern Nevada. The dinner has become a platform for bringing together diverse set of guests around the table and starting dialog and friendship among different cultures, faiths and communities. The event was well attended by federal, city and state officials, faith and community leaders, academicians, many other distinguished guests from various segments of our society in Northern Nevada.

At Reno Ballroom of Silver Legacy, the event commenced with recognitions from Governor Sandoval, Senator Heller and Congressman Amodei, all emphasizing the value of dialog and dialog-promoting events like the dinner. President of Sierra Foundation outlined the foundation’s vision, “Harmony within diversity”, and summarized the motive for such dialog events. “We believe everyone should always strive for positive action, and new relationships with the near other, culturally different other, far other, and regional other.” he said. The night’s keynote speaker Mr. Mustafa Akyol offered a deep discussion of issues in modern Islamic society and a comparative analysis of them across other faiths and traditions. He pointed out how one can easily be mislead at the face of unknown and how blind literalism could lead to destructive misunderstandings.

This year Attorney General Catherine Masto, Judge Howard, Judge Sattler, Judge James Spoo, Reno City Attorney John Kadlic, Washoe County Sheriff Mike Haley, and Ormsby County Sheriff Ken Furlong attended the dinner. In prior years many distinguished guests attended our dinner, including the late Senator William Raggio, Sparks Mayor Geno Martini, Reno Police Chief Steve Pitts, and Sparks Police Chief Steve Keefer.

The event offered live calligraphy demonstration, along with desserts, by a pioneering Turkish calligrapher Mr. Aydin Cayir. In closing remarks, Attorney General emphasized the theme of tolerance, respect for one another, and accepting all of our differences. “As we all go on our daily life, if we remember that theme, we would be such a better society and a better world.” she said.

Sheriff Haley praised the activities of Sierra Foundation and underlined the importance of looking each other without religious prejudices, and said “I truly believe that you look at people as human beings first.” Judge Sattler vowed the importance of dialog and finding commonalities via simple communication. He concluded “What shocks me is how infrequently people get together and simply talk to each other. Sit down on a table. They do not have the ability just to understand that the people they are dealing with are very much like themselves. We are not different. We are the same.” The dinner was attended by more than 100 and is 8th in its series.

Source: Sierra Foundation , November 22, 2013


Related News

Dialogue and Friendship Dinner Unites Multi-Cultural, Faith Groups

Against the backdrop of the San Antonio skyline, members of various religious and cultural groups from every corner of the city broke bread and shared a thoughtful discussion during the Dialogue Institute of the Southwest‘s 11th Annual Dialogue and Friendship Dinner.

Fethullah Gulen in 2 minutes

Who is Fethullah Gulen. This video tells about him in just 2 minutes.

“Reserve in your heart a seat for all” – Friendship Dinner in Rochester, NY

“Reserve in your heart a seat for all”, a memorable quote by Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish civic activist and the Peace Island Institute’s Honorary President, could have been the slogan for the evening. The Peace Island Institute (PII) branch for Upstate New York in Rochester was celebrating its 11th Annual Friendship Dinner with Award Ceremony at the Double Tree Hilton in Henrietta

Erdogan – Turkey’s desperate president

There is a curious reluctance on the part of the Turkish government to carry out an in-depth investigation of the coup, but the blame has been put unequivocally on an erstwhile ally, Fethullah Gülen, a reclusive Turkish imam resident in Pennsylvania, and the cadres of his movement, which enabled Erdogan and the AKP to come to and hold power.

Why Erdogan Snubbed Biden

What is going on in Turkey right now reminds me very much of the last few scenes in the first Godfather movie, where Michael Corleone is settling all of the Family’s outstanding business. Corleone is seen in church renouncing “Satan and all his works” while he participates in the baptism of his nephew—shortly before garroting the baby’s father, Carl.

Embrace Relief Worldwide Qurban (Feast of Sacrifice) Campaign

As part of their Hunger Relief program, Embrace Relief administers qurban organizations all over the world to bring joy to the table of people in need, while helping Muslims take care of their religious obligations. In 2015, qurban donations have been distributed amongst countries such as Bangladesh, Haiti, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Mexico, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, and the United States. This year, qurban donations will be distributed to those in need in the United States, Latin America, Africa, and Asia.

Latest News

Fethullah Gulen – man of education, peace and dialogue – passes away

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

In Case You Missed It

Police and inspectors raid Gülen-inspired kindergarten in Manisa

Is PM looking for someone he can pass the blame to?

Gulen admits meeting key figure in Turkey coup plot, dismisses Erdogan’s ‘senseless’ claims

Importance of Hizmet’s 11-article declaration

Gülen-inspired schools and SMOs

Recruiting based on ‘color lists’ breach of Constitution

Turkey donation by Turkish Cultural Center Albany

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News