National Holidays

This year, we celebrated National Sovereignty and Children’s Day on April 21, 2024, at Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Park in Katy. The event was filled with food, drinks, face painting, games, music, and fun performances, creating an unforgettable day for the children. It was a wonderful day of celebration, and we were thrilled to come together with our community! We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who contributed to making this event a resounding success – our enthusiastic volunteers, our dedicated staff, and, most importantly, you, our members, who continue to support and enrich our community.

This year’s Ramadan Iftar was a deeply meaningful gathering, bringing together members of the ATA-Houston community for an evening of reflection, gratitude, and unity. We were honored to have the Honorable Consul General Ahmet Akıntı join us, which made the occasion even more special. It was a time to celebrate the spirit of Ramadan, rooted in compassion, generosity, and togetherness. The event fostered a strong sense of connection, as attendees shared a delicious meal, exchanged stories, and reflected on the values that bind us as a community. We are grateful to everyone who joined us for this special evening and look forward to many more meaningful gatherings in the future.

April 23rd, Children’s Day Festival is not only symbolized the vibrancy and diversity of our community, but also reinforced our dedication to fostering an environment where our youngest members can thrive and embrace their roots with pride. The smiles, laughter, and learning that filled the air during the festival are testaments to the strength and unity of our community.

We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who contributed to making this event a resounding success – our enthusiastic volunteers, our dedicated staff, and, most importantly, you, our members, who continue to support and enrich our community.

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ATA Houston Board members Dogan Baysal and Judge Jay Karahan, President Ebru Ak, Secretary Michelle Haskin, and Prof. Dr. Cengiz Sisman spoke before Mayor Turner and Houston City Council at the invitation of Zafar Tahir, Commissioner for Houston Planning and Airports. We shared an update on fundraising efforts, Centennial celebrations, and the Turkish Festival with the Council. We are grateful for the great support we have received thus far from the City in all of our efforts.

April 23rd marks the day that the foundation of a new, independent, secular, and modern Turkish Republic was laid, with the opening of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. The founder and first president of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, devoted this day to all children of the world to recognize and emphasize that children are the future of a nation. We received a proclamation signed by the Honorable Mayor of Houston Sylvester Turner, recognizing April 23rd as the Turkish Heritage and Children’s Day. We have presented it to Consul General of Turkey, Mr. Akil Oktem during the Children’s Day Celebrations. This proclamation also signposts another vital step for fostering the significant contributions of the Turkish American community in the greater Houston area.

We would like to thank all of the attendees for the signature event of the year, Republic Day Gala and sharing the excitement with us on that special evening. We extend our thanks to the ones who have supported us even if they weren’t able to be there.

Gala Program:

• Mrs. Ozlem Adra, ATA-Houston Board Chairperson
• Ms. Ebru Ak, ATA-Houston President
• Mr. Akil Oktem, Consul General of Turkey
• Mr. George Gawrych, professor emeritus of history at Baylor University

We hope each one of our guests left with great memories. We feel grateful for the commitment of our community!

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The youngest members of ATA-Houston Family worked on selected repertoire of Turkish songs. Numerous rehearsals were held during 2021 and ATA-Houston Children’s Choir performed at several activities like Children’s Day.

We listened to an amazing and engaging speech by Dr. Cemal Necip Gurel General Manager of Usakizade Mansion, who joined our zoom meeting for Commemoration of Ataturk, Youth and Sports Day from Izmir, Turkey. Consul General of Turkey Mr. Akil Oktem has also joined us during this event.

ATA- Houston organized its first camping experience with our members and community! The place and people were awesome! We had an amazing ATA Houston family camping adventure at Lake Houston Wilderness Park. Events included tubing and kayaking the river, hiking, games, a campfire dinner, music, and outdoor movie, and more. Participants left with very positive feedback. We had great time and now looking forward to the next one!