The Institute of Interfaith Dialog , with sponsorships of Raindrop Turkish House , The Gulen Institute and University of Missouri-Kansas City, has organized its 6th Annual Dialog and Friendship Dinner on September 24th, 2009 at UMKC Pierson Auditorium. Around 250 distinguished guests consisted of Senators, State Representatives, Police Chiefs, Fire Chiefs, City Prosecutors, Academicians, Pastors and Mayors participated to the dinner and shared their tables with one another. It was a successful event where everybody could get to know each other, start new friendships and break down the barriers of stereotypes and misunderstandings.  (September 24, 2009 Kansas City, MO)

Raindrop Turkish House Kansas City had a wonderful chance to warmly welcome the employees and director of the FBI Field Office Kansas City. On October 15th, Raindrop Turkish House hosted an appreciation breakfast for the local FBI employees, thanking them for their hard work and selfless dedication to keeping the Kansas City area safe.

Special Agent in Charge of Kansas City Division Mr. Brain and 14 local FBI field office employees were welcomed by Raindrop Turkish House staff members. After touring the Turkish House, guests were treated to a traditional Turkish breakfast of borek, Mediterranean olives, Turkish cheeses, stuffed grape leaves and many more delicious homemade Turkish items. Conversation was shared along with the meal, and friendships were formed. (October 15, 2009 Lenexa,KS)

Raindrop Turkish House Kansas City had the pleasure of hosting the Fire Chief Dan Rhodus and Division Chiefs from the city of Lenexa Fire Department for a lunch. Guests were very kind to accept the invitation. At the program, Turkish house director Mr. Murat Tatli gave an informative talk on Raindrop Turkish house’s activities and its services to the community in Kansas City and other cities. Friends of Turkish house thanked to Lenexa Fire Department for their wonderful services to our city. At the lunch delicious meal of traditional Turkish cooking was served. Chief Dan thanked to Turkish house executives for the invitation and their service to the community.  (September 28, 2009 Lenexa, KS)

Picnics are  fun way for people and families to enjoy the outdoors and spend time together. Kids always love being outside especially when they are with their families and friends. On Sunday August 16th a group of Turkish-Americans living in the Greater Kansas City area, American Families and their kids picnicked at Windsor Park in Prairie Village. The smell of grilling meat, children running and playing in the open spaces, summer sounds from insect and bird, people laughing over stories of their lives; all of this brought back memories of other times in other villages. (August16, 2009 Prairie Village, KS)

In A Dialogue of Civilizations, Dr. Jill Carroll makes a comparison between the Islamic Ideals of Turkish intellectual and philosopher Fethullah Gulen with the thoughts of well-known philosophers-Kant, Confucius, Plato, Sartre and John Stuart Mill - creating a discussion on basic humanistic subjects, such as freedom, education and inherent human dignity. She will be at University of Kansas at Lawrence Campus for the book signing day on September 24th, 2009 at 2:30 – 4:30 pm.  In A Dialogue of Civilizations, Dr. Jill Carroll provides a forum for interfaith dialogue through the progressive Islamic ideals of Turkish intellectual and philosopher Fethullah Gulen. Gulen, who is renowned worldwide for his work promoting education, cross-cultural dialogue and the reconciliation of science and faith, has spent his life thriving to solve societal and spiritual ills. (September 24, 2009 University of Kansas)

The Institute of Interfaith Dialog (IID) and Raindrop Turkish House in collaboration with the Gulen Institute, and UMKC is hosting the 6th Annual Intercultural Friendship and Dialog dinner on Thursday, September 24th at 06:30 p.m. The event will be at UMKC Pierson Auditorium.

UMKC University Center

Pierson Auditorium

5100 Rockhill Road Kansas City, MO 64110

Please RSVP by September 15th, 2009

RSVP at www.interfaithdialog.org/rsvp

at (913) 894-6700

or email at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

This summer’s tour group included teachers, university professors and administrators, a seminary librarian and research director, legislators, a student, a diplomat, and an orthodontist. (See the complete list at the end of this article.) The group visited ancient cities; met with professional organizations, businesspeople, teachers, and students; laughed and chatted with Turkish families; and enjoyed the intriguing and delicious Turkish cuisine.

The starting and ending place was Istanbul, one of the world’s great international cities. Built on countless layers of history, the city’s skyline is punctuated by minarets as well as sky-scrapers and apartment buildings (each with its solar water heaters). On its streets, the group saw every kind of dress, from the most conservative to the most daring, and people doing business, shopping, enjoying the nightlife, and taking the family for an outing. (May 29 - June 12 , 2009)