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

Dialogue Eurasia: Humanitarian Davos

Hüseyin Gülerce There has never been a formal atmosphere in DAP. It is not without reason that DAP is frequently referred to as the humanitarian version of the Davos meetings. DAP entertains humanitarian values and imparts loyalty and acknowledges that the meeting was inspired by the ideas of Fethullah Gülen. The recently published WikiLeaks documents made a mess […]

U.S., Turkey at impasse over extraditing Muslim cleric living in Poconos

Turkey says the United States is legally bound by a treaty to immediately hand over Fethullah Gulen, the Poconos-based Muslim cleric it accuses of plotting to overthrow Turkey’s government.

Hizmet from the Heart

That’s hizmet: freedom from fear, secure in the ultimate mercy and grace of a compassionate God, yet freedom to serve: recognizing the needs and suffering of one’s neighbors, and the strength and joy found in solidarity and community. That’s hizmet. And yet it is also the path to a meaningful, rich life — rich in the things that matter, the things that endure, the things that aren’t things.

Micro-Finance and Vocational Training for Empowerment of Women

Peace Islands Institute and Kimse Yok Mu held a panel discussion on “Micro-Finance and Vocational Training For Empowerment of Women” on the occasion of the 59th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. Mehmet Kilic, Director of Peace Islands Institute’s Center for Global Affairs, served as moderator for a panel of speakers from diverse backgrounds and experience in humanitarian relief, pharmaceutical, and politics.

Nelson Mandela’s wife Graça Machel receives Fethullah Gulen Peace and Dialogue Award

FORMER president Nelson Mandela’s wife Graça Machel last night assured South Africans that Madiba was getting better. Machel made the assurance after receiving the Fethullah Gulen Peace and Dialogue Award during the sixth annual Ubuntu Lecture and Dialogue Awards ceremony that was held in Sandton, Johannesburg, last night.

International Panel for “Sharing Coexistence Experience” in Korea

The International Panel for Sharing Coexistence Experience brought together the representatives of the religions in South Korea and the religious groups in Turkey in Seoul, the capital of South Korea. The panel was jointly organized by the Korean Conference on Religion and Peace (KCRP), the Istanbul Cultural Center, which operates in South Korea, and the Intercultural Dialogue Platform (KADİP) of the Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV).

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

Why did Fethullah Gülen visit John Paul II?

Gülen’s lawyer files criminal complaint against several Twitter accounts

Gabon is very satisfied with Turkish school

Individuals can force change

Representatives of Abrahamic religions meet in Iftar in Antioch

Bill Clinton on Fethullah Gulen’s Contribution to the World

Erdoğan has to respect civil society

Copyright 2026 Hizmet News