Richmond, VA, February 18, 2015 – American Turkish Friendship Association(ATFA) and Mid Atlantic Federation of Turkic American Associations (MAFTAA) hosted the 7th Annual Turkish American Legislative Reception at the Library of Virginia. Members of the Turkish-American community volunteered to help ATFA & MAFTAA host another wonderful reception where legislatures were introduced to various aspects of Turkish culture.
Students from Pinnacle Academy presented an award-winning model of an energy efficient, tech-savvy future city. Guests patiently waited to have their names inscribed on water-marbled cards by a Turkish Calligrapher and freshly made Turkish coffee set the warm environment for Turkish-American-Virginians to indulge in conversations with Members of the General Assembly.
Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC) Executive Director, Mark Gibbs made the first remarks and shared his experience with ATFA & MAFTAA over the last few years. What started with an intercultural trip to Turkey, led to two years of successful Syrian Blanket Drive initiatives in a row…”Next year, we hope to encourage participants from across the nation” Gibbs said, hinting on furthering Syrian Blanket Drive initiative and enduring relations with ATFA & MAFTAA.
Senator Dick Saslaw urged his colleagues in the audience to partake in ATFA’s intercultural trips to Turkey, which himself and his wife had taken a few years back. Senator Saslaw said the trip covered all aspects of Turkish society in a fast-paced but well-managed and very well-planned itinerary.
Despite snow storm alerts, nearly one hundred guests made their way to what has now become a must-have Richmond tradition– Annual Turkish American Legislative Reception 2015 was a great success.
