
Mission Statement
ATA-Houston, founded in 1979, is a non-profit organization created to promote better understanding and friendship between the people of the United States and Turkey through social, educational, cultural and charitable activities. It also aims to provide assistance to Turkish citizens living in Houston.
ATA-Houston is an IRS Section 501(C) 3 tax-exempt, charitable, educational and cultural organization.
History
ATA-Houston contributes to the society by organizing, sponsoring and hosting cultural and social events such as Turkish classes, seminars, picnics, music nights, concerts, and many other activities, which help build a bridge between the two cultures. Among the year-round activities organized by ATA-Houston, Turkish Festival is the most attended, with participation around 10,000 guests.
The first Turkish Festival in Houston was held in the year 1991, which was a first in the United States and has become a tradition since then. ATA-Houston has been able to expand and enrich its festivals every year in terms of the number and scope of its activities (musical and dance performances, arts and crafts displays and workshops, children’s activities, vendors, presentations, and food selection) and number of attendees it attracted. Houstonians are a wonderful mix and there is great interest in exploring different cultures.
As a non-profit organization, ATA-Houston relies on donations and gifts to have the financial capability to carry out its activities throughout the year.
Board of Directors

Doğan Baysal
Chairperson

Cengiz Şişman
Vice Chairperson

Ebru Çimen Tarhan
Past President

Mustafa Tunç
Director

Gurur Biliciler Denktaş
Director
Executive Committee

Elif Ansari
President

Michelle Haskin
Secretary

Burak Bostancı
Treasurer

Büşra Can
VP of Cultural Affairs

Denizcan Koç
VP of Development

Nida Yılmaz
VP of Communications
Past Presidents

Ebru Çimen Tarhan
2021 – 2024

Sevgi Keskin
2019 – 2021

Özlem Adra
2015 – 2019

Ebru Erdini
2014 – 2015

Jason Williams
2013- 2014

Deniz Demirörs
2011 – 2013

Gürcan Gülen
2009 – 2011

Esen Erdemir
2008 – 2009

Oğuz Orhon
2007 – 2008

Şükran Kadıpaşaoğlu
2006- 2007

Tanju Obut
2004 – 2006

Serhan Seçmen
2002 – 2004

Coşkun Çağlar
1999 – 2002

Erhan Üsküp
1995 – 1999

Randy Burdett
1990 – 1995

Demir Karsan
1989 – 1990

Yıldırım Bayazıtoğlu
1987 – 1989

Yener Ölmez
1986 – 1987

Altan Erdil
1985 – 1986

Ahmet Gümüşer
1984 – 1985

Velit Seyfettin
1983 – 1984

Kemal Güngör Dündar
1981 – 1983
