The Turkish Cultural Center Long Island (TCCLI) has organized another Cross Cultural Night where we had the privilege to host the Salvadoran Community. We had the honor to host Vice Consul Miguel Alas from the Salvador Embassy located in Brentwood. The Consul General Dagoberto Torres who was planning to attend, but had a last-minute change in his schedule, sent his greetings to the night.
The event started with a short introduction made by the host and constant volunteer for the Turkish Community, Aiman Salih.
After having dinner with delicious Turkish food, TCCLI President Sadri Altinok made his speech where he emphasized that this was a groundbreaking event between the Turkish and the Salvadoran community. He also has expressed his surprise to hear that there are more than 200,000 documented people from Salvadoran background living here on Long Island.
Vice Consul Miguel Alas shared that back in his country people are calling the businessman from the Middle East "Turko." He continued his speech with history and culture about Salvador. He defined El Salvador as “The Country of Smiling People.”
Mr. Miguel said that he is very eager to host the Turkish community in one of their upcoming events and that he is looking forward to building close relationships with the Turkish community.
Herb Flores from the Nassau County Minority Office talked about his feelings and observations from visiting Turkey last year in 2011 with a trip organized by TCCLI. He said that he is giving TCCLI as an example to other minority communities coming to the county office.
Before the closing the event, TCCLI President Sadri Altinok presented a gift to the Vice Consul Miguel Alas on behalf of the Turkish community.
