Turkish Women’s League of America (TWLA)
Established on September 17, 1958 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in New York, Turkish Women’s League of America (TWLA) aims to preserve and teach Turkish language and culture to the future generations. The association is one of the oldest active Turkish-American organizations in the USA and it also hosts the New York TWLA Atatürk School, which has been a pride since 1971.
TWLA’s mission is to promote friendship and understanding between American and Turkish women and to support the work of other similar community organizations.
Various social and cultural meetings, conferences, seminars, art exhibitions, concerts, theater events, and book signings are organized for the benefit of the Turkish community living in the New York area.
Atatürk mentioning Turkish women who wrote history in the War of Independence, once said, “Oh the hero Turkish woman! You are worthy not to crawl on the ground, but to rise to the skies on the shoulders!”
With this awareness, Turkish Women’s League of America works devotedly with institutions and non-governmental organization to achieve and preserve the deserved respected place of women in the society.
TWLA Mission Statement
TWLA Board of Directors
TWLA Board of Directors, 2021-2023
Berna Gurdal-President
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.
Esra Dogru -Vice President
Mine Yenigun-General Secretary
Mrs Mine Yenigun joined the Turkish National Police under the Ministry of Interior in 1992 as Civilian Staff Assistant for human resource management of the Turkish National Police constituted 200,00 police personnel in 81 provinces within Turkey. She is a first degree graduate from Eskişehir Açıköğretim İktisat Fakültesi. In 1995, she was posted as Staff Assistant, within the Department of Police Personnel for management health records and welfare provision of the Turkish National Police deployed around the country. In addition, she had the responsibilities to manage duty shift record for personnel to manage safety and security of the National Police Headquarter. She has obtained excellent performance during her service is currently retired from the Ministry of Interior. Mrs. Yenigun is married for 25 years and has two children whom of which are both graduates of Ataturk School .
Belgin Ekinciler-Board Member
Burçin Rutherford-Board member
Filiz Pınar-Treasure
Gülcan Demiroz-Board Member
Işılay Baran-Board Member
Kubra Karalok-Board member
Devrim Alparslan-Board member
Demet Gorur-Board Member
Nevin Sari-Board Member
TWLA Presidents Historically
1958-1971
Ismet KUR
Semahat ANLI
Nermin MENEMENCIOGLU
Ulker KUNTER
Jale ERALP
Emine Guntekin TURKKAN
Cahide Bengisu
Vahide BAYULKEN
1971-1972 Ayla ERDAMAR
1972-1973 Nezahat NEZIROGLU
1973-1974 Suna SONGUR
1974-1975 Turkan N SUVAK
1975-1976 Mukerrem SEKENDUR
1976-1978 Guner SURMELI
1978-1979 Sevim OMAY
1979-1980 Lalehan DIKENGIL
1980-1982 Munevver OZDIL
1982-1984 Aliye AK
1984-1986 Ismet SANLI
1986-1988 Canan DANISMAN
1988-1989 Emel VERAL
1989-1993 Ayten SANDIKCIOGLU
1993-1995 Lalehan DIKENGIL
1995-1998 Belkis CIVELEK
1998-2001 Feray GIRGIN
2001-2003 Bahar YUCEL
2003-2007 Aysu BIL
2007-2009 Begum DINLENC
2009-2022 Sermin OZCILINGIR
2022- Berna GURDAL