Turkish Cultural Center Maine Turkish Cultural Center Maine
Mission
Turkish Cultural Center Maine is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization that aims to respond to social and cultural needs of Turkish Americans and to promote cross-cultural awareness that is based on mutual respect and understanding of the Turkish Culture within Maine by bringing everyone together in an open dialog.
We, the Turkish Americans, believe that promoting respect and mutual understanding among all cultures and faiths is one of the critical means to create a harmonious environment.
There’s a large community of Turkic Americans living in Maine. To fulfill its mission, our organization partners with other faith-based, civic and social organizations and organizes/sponsors educational and cultural activities. Seminars, lectures, festivals, dinners, art performances, trips are some of these activities through which we seek to interact with members of diverse groups and share and appreciate our common values.
Vision:
In a modern world where even the farthest point is within an arm’s reach, it is impossible to live anywhere without experiencing diversity. This diversity, rather than a difference is now appreciated by the people who think that we can live in a world where people do have much more in common then separates them. In order for everyone to live peacefully together it is important for individuals to rise above differences that drive us apart or against each other. Adopting the dialogue and understanding Turkish Cultural Center aims to introduce commonalities and foster friendships between these two nations by setting up platforms where cultures express themselves.
General Information
Turkish Cultural Center Organizes:
Friendship Dinners
The Friendship Dinner has now become the Turkish Cultural Center’s single most important social outreach event of the year. The Center is dedicated to bringing together people from diverse backgrounds. At this event, people with vastly different upbringings, heritages, cultures and histories come together and share in the common hope and faith that people can understand, accept and learn from each other. This event is a prime example of how, despite differences, people will come together when there is a common goal at hand.
Turkey Trips
The Turkish Cultural Center organizes cultural trips to Turkiye as yet another means of building bridges and strengthening friendships between Turkish-Americans and their neighbors. Though hailing from different cultural backgrounds, we find common ground in travel. Americans are invited to share meals, meet families, and see historic sites throughout Turkiye, hopefully giving them an opportunity to make new lifelong friends. We hope that these trips will further our vision of a future driven by a culture of dialogue and mutual understanding.
The programs organized by the Turkish Cultural Center are not just touristic trips, but instead meant to be intense cultural immersions. During their stay in Turkiye, which will last between seven to ten days, guests will not only see major historic and touristic sites throughout the country, but also be exposed to the rich hospitality of domestic environments that is pervasive in all of Turkiye.
Turkish Classes
You can learn the Turkish Language in our branches in the most enjoyable way. Experienced teachers offer Turkish Language Classes that make interactive learning the core of their practices. If you are looking for a Turkish course in Maine, the Center is the right place to begin. There are two terms a year. Each term lasts twelve weeks.
Luncheon Forums
Serve as a platform for intercultural, non-political forums to exchange ideas and discuss vital issues. Distinguished speakers are invited to share viewpoints and experiences on any important issues that concern our community.
Cultural Day at the State House
The Turkish Cultural Center and the Turkish American Community in Maine organizes an Annual Turkish Cultural Day at the Maine State House in order to strengthen ties between America and Turkey and celebrate the rich heritage of friendship and cooperation between the two countries. Senators and Representatives of Maine attend the event and meet leaders and members of the Turkish American Community.
Family Matching Project
Family Matching Project is a grass root project initiated by TCC Members of Turkish American community invite people of different faiths and cultures to a dinner party at their homes. The aim of the project is to improve the interactions among various communities with different ethnic backgrounds and kindle long lasting friendships.
Book Signing & Discussion
Book discussion feature publications that present genuine work and contributions to diversity and intercultural understanding in the American society. Each program begins with a 20-minute reading from the book by the author followed by a Q&A session.
Award Ceremony
TCC Awards publicly recognize the outstanding achievements of those who have distinguished themselves in their profession, community and service to humanity in US. The awards are based on a variety of criteria, including intercultural/ interfaith involvement, community service, community educational involvements, and business and professional leadership.
Conferences & Panels
The main goal of the conferences and panels is to bring together the experts, academicians from all over the US, and to provide a forum for exchange of ideas in a number of related fields that interact. We try to bring people from different fields, and to create a setting in which they can interact synergistically and discuss the social problems, issues about US and Turkey alike.
Interpreter & Translation Services
Turkish Cultural Center Maine offers Turkish – English, English – Turkish interpreter and translation services.
For interpreter services please email us at info@tccme.org