Atlantic Institute’s Annual Dialogue and Friendship Dinner in Tennessee


Date posted: December 2, 2013

Atlantic Institute, Tennessee, held its 7th Annual Dialogue and Friendship Dinner at the historic Hermitage Hotel in the state’s capital, Nashville, on November 13th. The dinner saw the attendance of a large number of prominent politicians, academics and NGO representatives and businessmen.

Japan’s Consul General in Nashville, Motohiko Kato; Tennessee Senator Bill Ketron; the president of Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), Sidney McPhee; and several assembly members were in attendance of the event themed “”The Value of Dialogue in our Changing Society.”

Senator Bill Ketron, in his remarks, offered his reflections on the Atlantic Institute’s dialogue and cultural trip to Turkey he earlier had attended. He highlighted Turkey’s economy and young population in addition to hailing the Turk’s hospitality he had observed throughout the trip. “I recommend that everyone attend these trips that build bridges of friendship between Tennessee and Turkey,” Ketron remarked.

Next, Dr. James Harrington, director of Texas Civil Rights Project, discussed the significance of interfaith and intercultural dialogue and Hizmet Movement’s contribution to global peace and education. Specifically, Harrington spoke highly of the movement’s contributions to educational initiatives in the eastern and southeastern Turkey.

Atlantic Institute’s foreign relations representative, Dr. Elvan Aktas, who first identified himself as a Hizmet Movement member, went on to discuss the significance and rewards of dialogue. Based on his personal experiences, Aktas elaborated on how effective the intercultural and dialogue trips are in eliminating mutual biases between the two communities.

institute also honored the individuals for their contributions in the fields of community service, education, peace, and media. Nashville Police Department Chief Steve Anderson received the community service award; MTSU president Sidney McPhee, education; Tennessee Supreme Court justice Dr. Sharon Lee, peace award; NPT president and CEO Beth Curley, media award.

A Turkish folk string instrument, baglama, performance was given along the dinner.

Published [in Turkish] on Zaman Amerika, November 20, 2013

Source: HizmetMovement.Com , December 2, 2013

Tags: | | | |


Related News

Int’l students delight Washington in language festival

Cheers and laughter dominated Washington’s landmark Warner Theater on Tuesday as dozens of talented international students delighted guests with songs and dances, highlighting diversity with their dazzling variety of clothes and songs.

Erdoğan’s hate speech moves to US

The graffiti echoes Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s hate speech against the Hizmet movement inspired by Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, with which the cultural center is affiliated.

Gülen becomes litmus test for American media

The International Herald Tribune and the New York Times published a story on Fethulah Gulen and the civic society movement he has inpsired, the Hizmet movement. It was the same story with different headlines. It was full of mistakes if not defamation. Below is a detailed analysis of the the news.

NBA Player Enes Kanter: I’ve Spoken Out Against Turkey’s President Erdogan and Now I Can’t Go Home

Enes Kanter: This month, my dad will face trial in Turkey for “membership of a terror group.” He is a university professor, not a terrorist.

Dialogue Institute of the Southwest presents Whirling Dervishes of Rumi

The Whirling Dervish Performance of Rumi is a highly cultural and spiritual celebration of existence, performed by members of a branch of the Sufi order, which was founded in the 13th century in the Turkish city of Konya. The Whirling Dervishes played a vitally important part in the evolution of Ottoman Empire high culture.

CCBT Teaches Turkish in Public School in Rio de Janeiro

The Turkish-Brazilian Cultural Center (CCBT) has been teaching Turkish classes at the State School Infante Don Henrique in the Copacabana neighborhood, Rio de Janeiro, since July 2013. This course has been attracting attention of educators, tourism professionals, journalists and governors from other Brazilian States.

Latest News

Turkish inmate jailed over alleged Gülen links dies of heart attack in prison

Message of Condemnation and Condolences for Mass Shooting at Bondi Beach, Sydney

Media executive Hidayet Karaca marks 11th year in prison over alleged links to Gülen movement

ECtHR faults Turkey for convictions of 2,420 applicants over Gülen links in follow-up to 2023 judgment

New Book Exposes Erdoğan’s “Civil Death Project” Targeting the Hizmet Movement

European Human Rights Treaty Faces Legal And Political Tests

ECtHR rejects Turkey’s appeal, clearing path for retrials in Gülen-linked cases

Erdoğan’s Civil Death Project’ : The ‘politicide’ spanning more than a decade

Fethullah Gülen’s Vision and the Purpose of Hizmet

In Case You Missed It

Exiled Turkish professor ‘leading US university’

The mother of all wars

520 children of imprisoned mothers growing up in jail, yet Turkey celebrates Children’s Day

Hakan Şükür’s resignation blamed on lack of intra-party democracy

Can a leader play a mediator role while terminating an aid charity?

Turkish School’s sucesss in Iraq

Erdogan’s dirty deal: Afghanistan to hand over control of Gülenist schools to Turkey

Copyright 2026 Hizmet News