A Bridge of Friendship Between the United States and Turkey
According to conservative estimates, there are approximately 350,000 Americans of Turkish descent living across the United States. All major US cities are home to thousands of Turkish Americans. The largest concentration of Turkish Americans is in New York/New Jersey and in California. The Turkish American community has been identified as a "Key Heritage Community" by US authorities and Turkish has been designated a "critical language" by the US State Department.
Turkish Americans excel in all walks of life. Some of the most notable Turkish Americans include Mehmet Oz, "America's Doctor"; Muhtar Kent, the CEO of Coca-Cola Company; Cenk Uygur, the found and host of "The Young Turks," the most popular online news show in the world; Yalcin Ayasli, philanthropist and founder of Hittite Microwave; and Kenan Sahin, founder of Kenan Systems, a division of Lucent Technologies and vice president at Bell Labs.
The Turkish American community's presence is further compounded by over 500,000 Americans of "Turkic" descent, which includes Americans of Azerbaijani (hailing from Azerbaijan and Iran), Turkmen, Uzbek, Kazakh, Kirgiz, Turkish Cypriot descent, as well as Uighur Turks from China, the Turkmen of Iraq, and the Turkic communities hailing from the territories of the former Soviet Union, especially the Crimean Tatar and the newest Turkic immigrant community, the Ahiska Turks. The Turkish American community shares significant ethnic, linguistic, cultural, religious and historical ties with these Turkic communities. Together, the Turkic American community is estimated to number nearly 1 million.
Turkish Americans are organized under 300 social, professional and cultural associations across the United States. These local groups are members of three national Turkish American umbrella organizations: Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA, headquartered in Washington, DC); Federation of Turkish American Associations (FTAA, headquartered in New York); and the Turkic American Alliance (TAA, headquartered in Washington, DC). Together they represent the voice of a growing and diverse community.
Turkish Americans proudly celebrate their heritage and share it with their fellow Americans. Turkish cultural festivals in major cities across the United States bring a taste of Turkey annually to tens of thousands of Americans. The Turkish Day Parade in New York, organized by the Federation of Turkish American Associations, is a staple of New York's famous parades, and a yearly celebration of Turkish American heritage.
Turkish Americans are model immigrants. Just like so many immigrants before them who have made the United States their home, their talent, creativity and hard work strengthens and enriches our nation. They are a pillar of friendship between the Turkish and American nations.
