ATAA UN Related Announcement# 43
In Support of “International Mother Language Day (A/RES/56/262)”
Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA),
Turkish Women’s League of America (TWLA) , and
New York Atatürk School
Jointly Present a Webinar on
Power of Mother Language and Multilingualism
**Sunday, February 22, 2026
**12 pm ET, 11 am CT, 9 am PT
About
This event aims to explore the power of the mother tongue in shaping individual identity, academic achievement, and cultural continuity through a multi-voiced perspective ranging from children and youth to academics and parents. In the context of the diaspora, the preservation and development of Turkish, along with the opportunities offered by multilingualism, will be discussed through academic, artistic, and field-based experiences.
Program
Opening Remarks and Introduction by
**Alev Wieland
**President, Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA)
&
**Berna Gürdal
**President, Turkish Women’s League of America (TWLA)
Moderator
**Ece Yenigün
**M.S. in Global Affairs, New York University
Video Presentation by NY Atatürk School
What has speaking Turkish given me?
What is my favorite Turkish word?
Academic Presentations by
**Elanur Sönmez
**PhD Candidate, Pennsylvania State University
**Emre Murat Bozer
**PhD Candidate, University of Wisconsin–Madison
Parent Experience by
**Deniz Seçilmiş
**Associate, Dattner Architects
Field Experience – School Perspective by
Ayça Ergisi
Principal, New York Atatürk School
Academic & Artistic Perspective by
**Dr. Nâlân Erbil
**Teaching Assistant Professor,
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Youth Discussion
Why speaking Turkish in the diaspora is important
How does multilingualism affect identity perception?
Youth Speakers:
**Sean Özalpaşan
**ATAA UN Representative &
Freshman, Tufts University,
Computer Engineering Program
**Sımla Özçilingir
**Junior Biochemistry Major
Binghamton University
**Gözde Pınar
**Second-year Student
Binghamton University
Next Program Announcement
Yücel Burdurlu
Closing Remarks by
**Alev Wieland
**President, ATAA
Biographies
Elanur Sönmez
PhD Candidate, Pennsylvania State University
Elanur is a PhD candidate in Applied Linguistics at The Pennsylvania State University. She completed her BA and MA in English Language Education at Boğaziçi University.
Her research interests include multilingualism, language education, and identity construction in contexts of migration. More specifically, she draws on qualitative and linguistic ethnographic approaches to explore migrant women’s lived experiences in Turkey and the United States, as well as issues related to the learning and teaching of English in second and foreign language settings.
Alongside her research, Elanur is a language educator who has taught learners of diverse ages and backgrounds, with a particular interest in inclusive, student-centered, and culturally responsive language education.
Emre Murat Bozer
PhD Candidate, University of Wisconsin–Madison
Emre is a PhD candidate in Second Language Acquisition at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. His research focuses on language education in multilingual contexts, with a particular emphasis on Turkish as a heritage language education in community-based schools.
His dissertation is a linguistic ethnographic study that takes an ecological approach to examining language ideologies and language socialization practices at a Turkish heritage school in the United States.
Emre also holds a minor in Japanese Linguistics and has taught Japanese and Turkish courses at UW–Madison
Deniz Seçilmiş
Associate, Dattner Architects
Deniz is an architect committed to bringing sustainability, design, and economy to the forefront of her work. A Turkish American, and working mother of two, she brings both a global perspective and a practical approach to each project.
She enjoys guiding projects from concept through construction and has experience across a range of project types, with a focus on high-performance and Passive House buildings.
Ayça Ergisi
Principal, New York Atatürk School
Ayça graduated from Ankara Gazi University Faculty of Communication. She worked as an elementary school teacher and assistant principal in Şanlıurfa and Istanbul in Turkiye for many years.
She was certified as an expert teacher by the Ministry of National Education in Türkiye. She studied languages at Baruch and La Guardia in New York. She has been the principal of New York Atatürk School since September 2021.
She has created the New York Ataturk School curriculum that combines the teaching of Turkish language (in accordance with ınternational standards of foreign language education) with the teaching of Turkish culture and Turkish history for Turkish children growing up abroad with Atatürk School teachers.
The New York State Seal of Biliteracy and World Languages department recognized the Atatürk School with this curriculum. She is currently working on the recognition of New York Atatürk School in other states.
Dr. Nâlân Erbil
Teaching Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Nâlân Erbil is an interdisciplinary teacher-scholar whose work spans literature, migration, and Turkish language and culture.
Her research theorizes Ottoman and Turkish literary ethics through edeb(iyat) and examines Germanness and Turkishness in Turkish and Turkish German literary production.
She served as Pedagogy Director of the Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Language Institute and the Turkish Flagship Language Initiative from 2020 to 2024. Raised in rural southwestern Turkey, she is a first-generation college graduate and academic.
Sean Özalpaşan
_ATAA UN Representative
_Freshman at Tufts University, Computer Engineering Program
Sean is a graduate of Harvard Westlake School in Los Angeles, California. Sean is a proud member of the Turkish American community, and takes pride in participating in ATASC events around LA.
Because of his diligent work with ATAA, Sean was selected to represent all Turkish-American Youth at the Turkish World Youth Forum, held in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Sean also enjoys creating his own coding projects, leading his school’s sailing team, and leading his school’s Turkish Club. Furthermore, Sean enjoys traveling and whenever he and his family go to Turkey, they make sure to visit UNESCO recognized ancient historical sites as well as important hallmarks of Atatürk’s legacy on Türkiye.
Simla Özçilingir
Junior Biochemistry Major, Binghamton University
Simla is a junior Biochemistry major at Binghamton University and President of the Turkish Culture Association (TURCA) on campus.
Through her leadership, TURCA supports students transitioning from Türkiye to the United States while promoting Turkish language, culture, and a strong sense of belonging among students from diverse backgrounds.
She is also an undergraduate researcher in chemistry and physics, and graduated from the Turkish Women’s League of America’s (TWLA) New York Atatürk School in 2016
Gözde Pınar
Second-year Student, Binghamton University
Gözde is a second-year student at Binghamton University’s Harpur College of Arts and Sciences, where she is pursuing a degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Law with a concentration in Global Affairs & International Law.
She attended the Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics, where she earned an Advanced Regents Diploma along with a National Honor Society award. As a first-generation U.S. citizen, her family encouraged her to attend the Turkish Women’s League of America’s (TWLA) New York Atatürk School, where she graduated in 2018. Her love for the community in which she grew up led her to volunteer as a student aide in the kindergarten class the following year.
Currently, Gözde works as an intern at her university’s Pre-Law Educational Organization and the Arts and Culture section of the official school newspaper. Upon completing her undergraduate studies, she intends to apply to law school to further her education in the field.
Ece Yenigün – Moderator
M.S. in Global Affairs, New York University
Ece was born in New York, New York, as the first-generation U.S. citizen in her family. She attended the United Nations International School, where she completed the International Baccalaureate Programme and earned her IB Diploma. In 2015, she graduated from the Turkish Women’s League of America’s (TWLA) New York Atatürk School and now serves on the TWLA United Nations Committee.
Fluent in English, Turkish, French, and Spanish, she has grown into the aspiring communicator she is today. Ece earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and French & Francophone Studies at Union College, where she studied abroad in both Italy and France and was inducted into Pi Delta Phi, the National French Honor Society. She has also pursued her interest in humanitarian work through internship opportunities with The New Neighbors Partnership at Columbia University and volunteer service with the Turkish Red Crescent Community (Türk Kızılay) in Türkiye, mentoring and teaching Syrian refugee children.
Ece is currently pursuing an M.S. in Global Affairs at New York University, with concentrations in Global Gender Studies and Human Rights & International Law, and a specialization in the United Nations.
Project Team
Alev Wieland
President, Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA)
Alev Wieland has Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from University of Cincinnati, OH. Worked for Balcan Engineering at Proctor of Gamble as Project Engineer for 7 years. She retired from PepsiCo, Inc-AMEA Capability Director in 2012.
Alev has extensive experience in Lean Manufacturing, Lean Product Life Cycle Management, Equipment and Processes Development. Project Management, Construction Management, Food Manufacturing, Paper Converting, Cosmetics and Laundry Soap Industries. She has solid understanding of Engineering, Manufacturing and Operations Processes. She is an expert in ISO 9001 and GMP Certifications and Standards. Alev is the CEO of Manufacturing Excellence Technical Services and Alev Cosmetics.
Alev has been serving as the President-Elect of ATAA since May 2024. She served on the ATAA Board of Directors as the Southwest Region Vice President from 2020 to 2024 and as First Vice President from October 2023 to May 2024. Alev also serves as the co-Chair of the ATAA UN Relations Committee and Chair of the ATAA Newsletter Committee.
She is the Secretary General and NGO Relations Director Contemporary Education Foundation (COEDFO) since 2013, has been responsible for organizational communication, meetings management, documentation, website management. As the Trustee and active member of the Turkish American Association of Northern Texas (TURANT), she has been providing organizational operations support to its elected board members and helping with executions of projects since 2000.
Since 2008, Alev takes active role at her local Main Street Organization and International Community, helps with organizations of the major festivals that is proven to become the key events that provides income to the city. She served as President of Cincinnati Turkish American Association (CTAA) from 1994 to 1996.
Since March 2024, Alev is serving Dallas Turkish Businesswomen’s Network as the Advisor.
Association of Northern Texas (TURANT), she has been providing organizational operations support to its elected board members and helping with executions of projects since 2000.
Since 2008, Alev takes active role at her local Main Street Organization and International Community, helps with organizations of the major festivals that is proven to become the key events that provides income to the city. She served as President of Cincinnati Turkish American Association (CTAA) from 1994 to 1996.
Since 2023 Alev serves as the Trustee of the Turkish American Visual and Performing Arts (TAVPA).
Since March 2024, Alev is serving Dallas Turkish Businesswomen’s Network as the Advisor.
Berna Gürdal
President, Turkish Women’s League of America (TWLA)
Berna Gurdal graduated from Hacettepe University Faculty of Nutrition and Dietetics in 1997 and worked as a corporate dietitian at Panorama Food Company between 1997-1999. Between 1998-2005, she worked as a clinical dietitian at Internal Medicine Department of Uludağ University and made presentations at various congresses.
Her work on the treatment of diabetes was published in the book Diabetes Mellitus in 2006 Berna Gürdal who has been living in New York since 2005, received the Child Nutrition and Cooking Program Certificate from Stanford University. She is married and has two children.
Her son graduated from New York Atatürk School since 2017. She has been serving on the Board of Directors of TWLA since 2017.
Yücel Burdurlu
ATAA Secretary & UN Committee Co-Chair
Yücel Burdurlu was born and raised in Istanbul Türkiye. After receiving her Bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Hacettepe University Ankara Türkiye, she continued her graduate studies at California State University Long Beach.
After graduating, she started a career in private industry working on applied and theoretical research on coatings and coating raw materials. Yucel worked for Imperial Chemical Industries formerly known as ICI Paints North America in their Strongsville Research Center most of her career in the international innovation team where she was involved variety of interesting projects in collaboration with their Slough Laboratory in Slough, England, ICI France in Rouge, France and ICI South America Research Center in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Next, Yucel worked for BUNGE Oils North America where, she worked with inorganic synthesis of anticorrosive pigments and tested them in collaboration with Batelle Laboratories in Columbus Ohio, University of Southern Mississippi and Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas.
Presently, Yucel is with True Value Manufacturing in Cary Illinois as a Research Chemist. Yucel lives in the suburbs of Chicago. She joined TACA’s Board of Directors in 2013-2015 and she was the Director of the Ataturk School and the Adult Turkish School 2014-2015.
Yucel also has been a member of the Chicago Turkish Festival Planning Committee and a volunteer in the festival since 2013 and has served as the Volunteer Coordinator for the Chicago Turkish festivals in 2016 and 2018. Yucel is planning to continue working on bringing Turkish and American groups together using her organization skills, people skills, education skills and her passion for harmony and peace.
Turkish Women’s League of America
Turkish Women’s League of America (TWLA) organization, which represents Turkish women who adhere to the principles of Atatürk and the values of the Republic of Turkey, aims to create a strong, united community among Turkish women living in America.
Preserve and promote Turkish language and culture: This includes educating Turkish American kids about Turkish languge, history, traditions, and folk arts while raising awareness to the global issues, such as climate change, education equality and peace.
Promote gender equality : The TWLA seeks to advocate for women’s rights and combat gender-based discrimination within the Turkish-American community and beyond.
Create a supportive network for Turkish women : This involves providing a platform for women to connect, share experiences, and offer mutual support.
Support the Turkish-American community by providing assistance to members and engaging in community outreach programs. TWLA mission is to provide solidarity and empowerment, building a network of support to strengthen our cultural identity and to represent our shared values in the broader society.
Since joining UNDGC in 2021, we have embraced key UN SDGs, focusing on quality education, climate action, and gender equality. Our activities reflect these goals as we actively educate our community, celebrate global milestones, and encourage informed discussions on how we can contribute to a more sustainable and equal world. We aim to raise awareness of these issues and engage with our local and global communities to foster positive change.
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New York Atatürk School
Founded and sponsored by Turkish Women’s League of America (TWLA) since 1971, New York Atatürk School has hundreds of alumni and is the oldest established weekend Turkish educational institution in New York.
As a forerunner institution promoting the educational ideals of Atatürk, New York Atatürk School was founded in 1971 with President Ayla Erdamar’s diligent work and endeavor and with the support of Consul General Sait Sahipoğlu. At the time, the classes were held at the Turkish Consulate at Rockefeller Center in New York and the school had only 30 students. With the increase in number of students the following year, the classes were held at the leased classrooms in New York Theological Seminary Building.
Between 1974 1977, education continued at the United Nations International School. With the support of Permanent Representative of Turkey to the United Nations İlter Türkmen and Consul General Sıtkı Coşkun, Atatürk School moved to New York Turkish Center after its acquisition in 1977.
During the renovation of the Turkish Consulate Building in New York, Atatürk School continued to provide education by leasing classrooms from public schools in the Manhattan area. Since 2022, we accept students from all the United States and Canada through online and in person education.
Our program beginning of October and including the second week of June is implemented for a total of 37 weeks. Every Saturday between 11:00-14:00, education-training, cultural and social activities continue successfully without interruption. Our in-person educational address is: Eleanor Roosevelt High School 411 East 76th Street New York 10021.
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For further inquiries, please e-mail uncommittee@ataa.org, president@ataa.org (Alev Wieland, ATAA President) or berna_gurdal@yahoo.com (Berna Gürdal, TWLA President).
Websites: www.ataa.org | www.ataa.org/u-n | atkb.org | ataturkokulu.atkb.org
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