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

Reception for ‘Time in Turkey’ held in New York

The exhibition, which shows Turkey from the lens of 25 masters of photography, has been on display in New York for the last six days and will be open to visitors until Jan. 9. The exhibition, which hosted millions of visitors in 19 other cities around the world, will end its global tour in New York.

GYV discusses respect for sacred values at UN panel

The Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV) held a panel on Saturday on “Respect for Sacred Values” at the United Nations’ Geneva headquarters. Many academics and diplomats showed great interest in the panel, which was held as the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) conducted its annual meetings in Geneva.

Lecture: What Went Wrong in Turkey?

Sahin Alpay is a columnist for Turkish dailies Zaman (since 2002) and Today’s Zaman (since 2007). He has previously served as editor and columnist at other leading Turkish dailies Cumhuriyet (1982 – 92), Sabah (1993 – 94) and Milliyet (1994 – 2001).

Philip Clayton on Fethullah Gulen and Hizmet Movement

Dr. Philip Clayton is the Ingraham Professor of Theology at Claremont School of Theology. He received dual PhDs from Yale in philosophy and theology and held posts at Williams College and the California State University, as well as guest professorships at the University of Munich, the University of Cambridge, and Harvard University. He is a leading advocate for interreligious dialogue, comparative theologies, and the internationalization of the science-religion dialogue. He authored or edited 22 books.

Turkish journalist tells Staten Island group about censorship in his country

Turkish journalist Aydogan Vatandas warned Friday night at the Turkish Cultural Center of Staten Island in Dongan Hills that freedom of the press in his country is under siege.

Serbian torture base now houses Turkish school

A building once a command base used to torture Bosnian prisoners is now serving as a Turkish school to educate Bosnian, Serbian and Croatian students under same roof.

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

My opinion on the book ‘Imam’s Army’

Turkish court jails 17 housewives over alleged coup involvement

Deputy PM Bülent Arınç says row with Hizmet movement would do no good

Political Activism for Peaceful Coexistence in Rumi and Gulen

Fethullah Gülen versus Ayatollah Khomeini?

Gülen calls on int’l community to pressure Turkey over rights violations

Turkish deputy PM says Fethullah Gülen is supra-political, conscience of 75 million people in Turkey

Copyright 2026 Hizmet News