NEO magazine - June/July 2019

JUN/JUL 2019

Giannis Antetokounmpo Wins NBA's MVP Award

Calamos Launches Small Cap Growth Strategy

$4.95

FAITH Introduces Community Leaders Education Program

Catsimatidis Buys WABC Radio in New York

George Mikos A Reigning Patriarch and Advocate for Greek Education

HANAC's New Senior Residence in Corona

The Members and Board of Trustees of the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Endowment Fund join all Greek Orthodox Faithful in extending warm and heartfelt congratulations to His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros on the occasion of his Enthronement as Archbishop of America.

His Eminence has served the Ecumenical Patriarchate in positions of responsibility and leadership for twenty-five years and has shown the light of guidance in our Holy Church and a light of understanding among all faiths and all peoples.

We thank God for His Paternal Leadership and pray for his good health and strength in his worthy Ministry.

Truly, God has given us a guiding light for our times.

Leadership 100 conveys its deepest respect and appreciation to His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for his loving care of the Church in America.

Axios!

Argyris Vassiliou, Chairman Demetrios G. Logothetis, Vice Chairman Kassandra L. Romas, Secretary Thomas G. Jordan, Treasurer Paulette Poulos, Executive Director

FROM THE EDITOR

:: magazine FOUNDED IN 2005 BY Demetrios Rhompotis Dimitri Michalakis Kyprianos Bazenikas Publishing Committee Chairman Demetrios Rhompotis (718) 554-0308 dondemetrio@neomagazine.com Director of Operations Kyprianos Bazenikas info@neomagazine.com Marketing & Advertising Director Tommy Harmantzis (347) 613-4163 th@radioneo.us ATHENS - GREECE Public Relations & Marketing Director Rita Despotidis rdespotis@gmail.com NEO Magazine is published monthly by Neocorp Media Inc. P.O. Box 560105 College Point, NY 11356 Phone: (718) 554-0308 e-Fax: (718) 878-4448 info@neomagazine.com Check our website neomagazine.com Cover photo by

Valantis Skoufris

A New Lease on Life

My d au g hte r and he r husband were recently in Greece, visiting Athens, Santorini and Crete and with the marvels of the age sending us photos of their travels on their phones and Facetiming with us one night while they sat in Plaka at on e of t h e out d o or eateries under the grape vines in the moonlight and I got to talk to the waiter, Kosta, who peeked down at me through the phone like a window. “How are you, Kyr Dimitri?” he said. “Where are you?”

“Brooklyn,” I said. Next thing I expected him to say he had once lived in Brooklyn: but he was the one Greek who hadn’t visited America. “Well, kali sperasas,” he said to me, as he put down their kataifi and coffee. “And I’ll have a coffee, too,” I joked with him. I joked with the kids afterwards and said our goodbyes, them to enjoy the rest of the night under the stars in Plaka with the view of the Acropolis lit up in the sky and me in Brooklyn, ready to take out the garbage for the pickup tomorrow.

never-ending supply of feta cheese to put over every salad that is served with the squid that was drying on the line just before.

It’s hard to believe in Crete you can have wine from vineyards that have been cultivated for centuries and locals have rusks in their salad that might break your teeth if you don’t learn the trick of letting them soak with the juices of the salad and then the combination makes for a salad that is the meatiest anywhere.

It’s hard to believe that the palace at Cnossus still has paintings on the walls still vivid after 4,000 years ago. When was the last time you had to paint your house?

The kids Facetimed us from Crete, as well, at another outdoor café, also at night, under the stars, under the lattice of grapevines, practically close to midnight, but with the place full, and the streets buzzing. And they did it again back in Plaka on the night before they left Greece, at a taverna somewhere, where the old men were singing “Margarita Margaro” in broken voices that sounded perfect for it and it was well past midnight, but nobody seemed to be in a hurry to go home, because I think the eternal glory of Greece and Cyprus is not just the beautiful scenery and great food, but the company of people who know how to live life with simple means but to the fullest and every time we go to Greece we get a reminder of what it means to be fully human and fully alive.

It’s hard to believe that people live like that in that part of the world (under beautiful skies, with beautiful seas, great food, laughter and good company and music and dancing under the stars) while we sit in front of our television sets. It’s hard to believe that in Santorini people live on the rim of a volcano in houses and churches as white as coral and have their late night ouzo and meze with a backdrop of skies every shade of orange and pink If you can manage it don’t forget to visit Greece and and blue.

Cyprus this summer and get a new lease on life and kales diakopes!

It’s hard to believe the tomatoes there are twice as big and actually taste like tomatoes and there is a DIMITRI C. MICHALAKIS

:: magazine PUBLISHED MONTHLY IN NEW YORK Editor in Chief: Dimitri C. Michalakis info@neomagazine.com Western Region Desk - Los Angeles Alexander Mizan director@americanhellenic.org West Palm Beach, Florida Desk Vassilios Kukorinis skopelitis@hotmail.com Baltimore Desk Georgia Vavas gvavas@comcast.net Photo/Fashion New York: ETA Press fpapagermanos@yahoo.com Los Angeles: Nick Dimitrokalis (951) 764-5737 photobynikos@hotmail.com Graphic Design NEOgraphix.us Adrian Salescu Athens Desk Konstantinos Rhompotis (01130) 210 51 42 446 (01130) 6937 02 39 94 k.rhompotis@neomagazine.com

Archbishop Elpidophoros of America Enthroned 1996-1997 he studied at the Theological School of St. John the Damascene in Balamand, Lebanon, where he improved his knowledge of the Arabic language. In 2001, he presented a doctoral dissertation at the Theological School of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki under the title: “Severus of Antioch and the Council of Chalcedon,” proclaiming him a Doctorate of Theology with highest distinction. In 2004, he was invited to Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Boston, where he taught as a visiting professor for one semester.

Archbishop Elpidophoros addressing the luncheon. On his left are Mike Emanuel who presented the program, and Archbishop Demetrios, former of America.

Archbishop Elpidophoros of America was enthroned as the 7th Archbishop, succeeding Archbishop Demetrios who resigned in April, of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America on Saturday June 22, at the

Archbishop at the Hierarchal concelebration of the Divine Liturg y with all the Metropolitans that are members of the Holy Eparchial Synod. It was followed by an Agape reception at the Cathedral Center.

First Blessing by Elpidoforos as archbishop

Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity.

He was elected unanimously by the Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople this past May. Metropolitan Augoustinos of Germany represented Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and he officiated at the enthronement ceremony.

The enthronement of Archbishop Elpidophoros was attended by many dignitaries from the political, diplomatic, academic and the business world, as well as religious leaders, community and organization representatives, and clergy and laity from around the country and around the world. Alexander Azar, Secretary of Health and Human Services, himself an Orthodox Christian, represented President Trump.

The enthronement ceremony was followed by an luncheon at at the New York Hilton Hotel and it was attended by 1500 people.

O n S u n d ay, Ju n e 2 3 , t h e d ay a f t e r, Elpidophoros presided for the first time as 16

JUNE/JULY 2019 NEWS & NOTES

In March 2005, at the proposal of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, he was promoted by the Holy and Sacred Synod to the position of Chief Secretary and was ordained to the priesthood by the Ecumenical Patriarch in the Patriarchal Cathedral. In 2009, he submitted two dissertations to the Theological School of Thessaloniki and was unanimously elected Assistant Professor of Symbolics, Inter-

The Family of Archbishop Elpidophoros.

From left, his mother Eleni and the two brothers, Paul and Xenofon

Archbishop Elpidophoros (Lambriniadis) of Orthodox Relations and the Ecumenical America, Most Honorable Exarch of the Movement. The dissertations are entitled: “ T h e S y n a x i s’s o f t h e Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Hierarchy of the Ecumenical as his full title is was born in Throne (1951-2004)” and 1 9 6 7 i n B a k i r köy, “Luther’s Ninety-five Thesis.

Constantinople. He studied at Historical and Theological the Department of Pastoral aspects. Text - Translation – Theology, Thelogical School Commentary.” of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, from which he In March 2011, he was graduated in 1991. In 1993, he elected Metropolitan of finished his postgraduate Bursa and in August of the studies at the Philosophical same year was appointed School of the University of Abbot of the Holy Bonn, Germany submitting a Patriarchal and Stavropegial dissertation entitled “The Monaster y of the Holy Brothers Nicholas and John Trinity on the island of Mesarites.” He was ordained a Chalki. He has served as the Deacon in 1994 at the Orthodox Secretary of the Patriarchal Cathedral and Joint International was appointed as the C ommission for the Codecographer of the Holy Dean Metropoulos spoke Theological Dialogue and Sacred Synod. In 1995, he at the luncheon on behalf was appointed Deputy of the Faith Endownment b e t we e n t he O r t ho d ox Church and the Lutheran Secretary of the Synod. From

PHOTOS: ETA PRESS

Archbishop Elpidophoros blessing the food at the luncheon

L100 Chairman Argyris Vassiliou addressing the event

World Federation and as a member of the Patriarchal delegations to the General Assemblies of the C onference of European Churches and the World Council of Churches. He was the Secretary of the Pan-Orthodox Synods in Sofia (1998), Constantinople (2005 and 2008), and Geneva (2006). He has been a me mb e r of t he Fait h and O rd e r Commission of the World Council of Churches since 1996.

John & Mary Payiavlas, John & Margo Catsimatidis

Mayor of Thessaloniki Konstantinos Zervas

The First Cypriot Youth Internship Program in Washington D.C.

experience extremely beneficial to p a r t i c i p a n t s ,” UNYSA said in a press release.

Students ad the office of the Chairman of the Hellenic Caucus, Congressman Gus Bilirakis UNYSA (United Nations Youth and Stu d e nt As s o c i at i on ) Cy pr u s announced the launch of the first e ve r for- by yout h i nte r ns h ip program in Wasthington D.C. It is officially called the “Public Policy Program” and will take place in U.S. capital in September 2019 for the first time. An open call for applications is open until June 30. Links to the application form can be found on facebook.com/UNYSACYPRUS/

Furthermore, the program aims to address two of the primary needs of the youth: to deliver quality vocational opportunities and offer competence-building activities. In addition, the participants will garner skills which they will later use to bolster the public policy capabilities of Cyprus, in their respective fields of interest within the context of public policy.

“As we seek to maximise the benefits of this opportunity, we will emphasize on outreach and will count on our participants to become Program Ambassadors,” UNYSA said.

Funding will be offered for travelling “UNYSA Cyprus is extremely thankful to Mr. Bilirakis and the AHI President and living expenses, it said.

Mr. Larigakis for creating such an The program will take young Cypriot unprecedented opportunity for young public policy practitioners and Cypriots. We are certain that this enthusiasts to Washington for a program will gradually help to reinforce month of internships, workshops their efforts to strengthen the relations and training in the field of public between the American and Cypriot people for their mutual benefit, by giving policy. rise to additional interpersonal ties,” it T h i s ye ar’s pro g r am w i l l s e e said. participants placed in the Capitol Hill, the office of the Chairman of the UNYSA Cyprus is a not-for-profit Hellenic Caucus, Congressman Gus organisation based in the Republic of Bilirakis, and the American Hellenic Cyprus. Its core aim is to provide opportunities for and strengthen the Institute (AHI), a D.C. based lobby.

Cypriot youth in the fields of public Within this month, the young leaders policy, diplomacy, and international will have the opportunity to interact relations, in accordance to the UN with the American political system Sustainable Development Goals. and understand its processes in Additionally, the organization promotes the work of the United Nations, and its further depth. elements in Cyprus, and represents “The American political system is Cyprus in relevant youth fora. one of the oldest and largest examples of a functional liberal Story and photo first published at indemo crac y, t hus ma k ing t his cyprus.com 18

JUNE/JULY 2019 NEWS & NOTES

FAITH Endowment Announces “Greek Orthodox Executive Education Program in Strategic Leadership and Transformative Action” FA I T H : A n E n d ow m e nt for Or thodoxy and Hellenism (FAITH) announced the launch of a new leadership training program, the “Executive Education Program in St rateg ic L e adership and Transformative Action” (SLTA), for members of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese at the prestigious Fletcher School of Tufts University.

The curriculum for this SLTA is an intensive executive program was developed leadership training program

by Professor Elizabeth designed to give clergy and laity a Prodromou, Fletcher foundational set of technical, School of Tufts intellectual, and spiritual tools and University ideas for strategic management and leadership that can produce transformative action in the Church and community. The pilot program will launch in the Metropolis of Chicago and is scheduled for January 2020.

Funded by FAITH, the program is the first of its kind for the Greek Orthodox community of America. The curriculum was developed by Professor Elizabeth Prodromou and will include lectures by leading experts in related disciplines of faith-based and non-profit organizations covering topics such as strategic planning and management, financial planning for non-profits, leadership, communication strategies, and religious literacy. Dr. Prodromou and the Fletcher School have hosted similar type leadership training programs for other community and church/faith-based institutions.

Participants will be selected from clergy and laity, for their desire and potential to learn and incorporate their new knowledge to further develop a strong, vital, and active Church built upon institutional sustainability and adaptability. Then, they are expected to return to their parishes and communities where they will implement the organizing principles of this program; awareness, action and impact to build stronger communities within their Parish, Metropolises and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.

“The Metropolis truly is grateful to FAITH to be selected as the pilot program group for the opportunity to learn from the faculty in a world-class university setting like Tufts’ Fletcher School,” said Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago.

“It presents a unique setting for active engagement in workshops focused on teaching the best practices of nonprofit management, collaboration, and accountability that will help empower our Metropolis and community.

Leadership must be the unbroken thread through everything we do as a Church and community from both clergy and laity perspective.”

Since 2004, FAITH has supported and promoted excellence and leadership among young people within the Greek and Hellenic community through sponsoring college scholarship programs, St.. John Chrysostom Awards, financial aid travel grants to Ionian Village, and various educational resources for the Greek language and culture programs at parishes. More information and applications for this program will be posted at thefaithendowment.org later this summer.

CALAMOS LAUNCHES SMALL CAP GROWTH STRATEGY - Firm acquires Timpani Capital Management Calamos Investments, a global investment management firm, announced the launch of the Calamos Timpani Small Cap Growth Fund (CTSIX) and the related completion of the firm’s acquisition of Timpani Capital Management, a boutique small- and smid-cap investment manager based in Milwaukee.

The previously announced transaction has c l o s e d following the fulfilment of applicable regulatory and customary c l o s i n g conditions, including mutu a l f u n d shareholder approvals. The newly named Timpani co-founder C a l a m o s Brandon M. Nelson Timpani Small C ap Grow t h Fu n d w i l l m ai nt ai n it s investment team and track record of more than eight years, alongside the Calamos Timpani Small Cap Growth Strategy, a separately managed account offering with a track record of more than 11 years.

Timpani co-founder Brandon M. Nelson and his investment team joined Calamos Investments upon the transaction’s close.

Nelson, with more than 22 years of investment experience, will along with his team employ the same investment approach, combining

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JUNE/JULY 2019 NEWS & NOTES

fundamental analysis with a value-added sell discipline based on behavioral finance concepts, an approach deployed by Timpani since its founding. The team will remain based in Milwaukee.

Calamos Timpani Small Cap Growth Fund will be an outstanding extension of our growth equity platform.”

John Koudounis, Chief Executive Officer of Calamos Investments, stated, “With more than 30% growth in AUM since 2017, our strategic growth plan continues to show results, centering on innovative active management and a commitment to deliver results for clients. Our growth is founded on investors’ recognizing the potential benefits of active management in navigating difficult markets and, as the Calamos Timpani Small Cap Growth Fund’s track record bears out, identifying outperformance.”

John Koudounis, Chief Executive Officer of Calamos Investments opportunities for

Nelson said, “The resources, expertise and renown of a firm such as Calamos will enhance our ability to serve clients while our investment team remains focused on “Given our legacy as active growth managers, managing assets. We are proud to be part of we are thrilled to welcome Brandon and his Calamos’ heritage of high-conviction growth team,” said John P. Calamos, Sr., Founder and investing and putting clients first.”

Global Chief Investment Officer of Calamos Investments. “With its track record and tenured investment team, we believe the John P. Calamos, Sr., Founder and Global Chief Investment Officer of Calamos Investments

construction of new senior housing has increased to unprecedented levels. Thanks to dedicated partners like HANAC, 67 extremely low-income seniors now have the security of an af ford abl e home i n a supp or t ive community. I want to congratulate our development partners and local elected officials for working with us to provide the high quality affordable housing that our city’s seniors need and deser ve,” said HDP Commissioner Louise Carroll.

Grand Opening of HANAC's Environmentally Friendly Affordable Senior Residence in Corona, Queens U.S. Representative Alexandria OcasioCortez, Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, City Council Member Francisco Moya, and senior de Blasio administration officials j oi n e d HA NAC ( He l l e n i c A m e r i c a n Ne i g h b o r h o o d Ac t i o n C o m m i t t e e ) , Enterprise Community Partners (Enterprise), Chase and community stakeholders to celebrate the completion and grand opening of HANAC’s Corona Senior Residence in Corona, Queens. Located at 54-17 101st Street, the newly constructed 8-stor y development includes a mix of 67 affordable studios and one-bedroom apartments, 21 of which are set aside for formerly homeless seniors. The development will also include an onsite preschool administered by the New York City School Construction Authority that currently serves nearly 60 children.

Speaking to NEO magazine, HANAC's cofounder, with her late husband George Douris, and Chairman of the Board Evangeline P. Douris pointed out that “the development has had a significant impact on the community by adding substantially to the affordable housing stock of the Corona neighborhood. The 67 units of affordable housing were built to high quality standards and represent the first new senior housing development in Corona, Queens in over 30 years. The project provides permanent housing for low-income seniors, including 21 units for formerly homeless 22

JUNE/JULY 2019 NEWS & NOTES

“HANAC is extremely proud to develop a unique project for low-income seniors with a pre-k facility on the ground floor and to be Passive House Certified. In addition, social services are provided onsite to our tenants to help them age in place in a stable living environment by achieving high energy efficiency standards through Passive House design,” said Paola Duran, HANAC's Director of Housing Development. “HANAC applauds all of its partners for making HANAC Corona a reality to serve our older and younger New Yorkers.”

The residence was one of the first properties to receive funding under HPD’s S enior Affordable Rental Apartments (SARA) program and offers supportive services to residents through a HANAC Corona Social Worker, who is onsite every day. The Social Worker provides tenants with chronic disease management and prevention education, as well as community-building activities to encourage the formation of informal support networks and decrease social isolation.

Residents also have the opportunity to access medical care coordination and mental health seniors. Additionally, the project provides 54 assessments. Together, these services prevent slots for Pre-K students in the area. The avoidable hospitalizations and boost health project sets a new standard of how an outcomes for all tenants. af fordable housing development can incorporate rigorous s u s t ai n abl e d e s i g n criteria in a way that reduces energy consumption and increases overall affordability and comfort for tenants and management.”

The residence is one of the largest low-income senior housing developments in the nation to meet Passive Housing Institute From left, Father Nicholas Anctil, Paola Duran, Director of Housing D e s i g n St a n d a r d s , Development, HANAC, Amelia Visnauskas, Project Manager, HANAC, which cut energy Nikitas Drakotos, HANAC's Board Member, Evangeline Douris, Chairman consumption by up to of HANAC's Board, and Stacy Bliagos, Executive Director, HANAC 90 percent, resulting in lower utility bills for “Now is the time to invest in healthy, tenants and lower operating costs for owners. affordable housing for seniors who are The building also meets the NYSERDA vulnerable to losing their homes due to rising Multifamily Performance Standards for costs of both rent and medical care,” said Judi Energy Star Certification as well as the Kende, Vice President and New York market Enterprise Green Communities criteria. leader, Enterprise. “Corona Senior Residence goes beyond housing alone to provide critical “Under the Mayor’s Housing New York plan,

programs and services, this is precisely the kind of development our borough needs. I am thrilled to join HANAC on this important occasion as we fight to keep Queens affordable for all,” said U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

“New York City is struggling with a true crisis in affordable housing,” said New York State Attorney General Letitia James. “Far too many seniors have been forced out of their homes and are struggling to find affordable alternatives. I thank HANAC for their work to provide our seniors with the affordable, quality housing they need and deserve.”

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and HANAC Corona Senior Residents

supportive services and meet the highest green standards through Passive House Certification. We are proud to play a role in creating these homes and we congratulate HPD and HANAC for bringing these beautiful new homes to Corona.”

The $36 million Passive House project was d e v e l o p e d o u t o f t h e Wi l l e t s Po i nt Community Benefits Agreement. Funding included over $14 million in City subsidy, including $9.7 million from HPD’s SARA Program, $3.6 million in Reso A funding from the City Council and Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, and $1 million in settlement funds from the New York State Attorney General’s office, Chase and New York City Retirement System (NYCRS) also provided funding for the project. Enterprise syndicated $12.8 million in equity through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. Bruno Frustaci Contracting Inc. as the General Contractor, think! Architecture and Design as the architect, the Association for Energy Affordability (AEA) as sustainability consultant, Goldstein Hall PLLC as counsel, and James Mitchell as housing consultant.

“Affordable housing is critical for our most vulnerable New Yorkers, especially our seniors. I am proud to support an organization that strives to provide community-centered, innovative, energy efficient housing. With a pre-K on the ground floor and additional

“In a time when there is such a high demand for senior housing across the borough, accommodating seniors at an affordable cost is essential if our neighborhoods are to truly flourish,” commented Queens Borough President Melinda Katz. “The innovative, energy-efficient HANAC Corona Senior Residence will provide seniors not only with new and modern homes, including nearly two dozen set aside for those who are formerly homeless, but also with the on-site supportive services necessary to help them age with grace and dignity.” “ T h e C oron a S e n i or R e s i d e n c e i s a phenomenal example of dynamic planning to meet this city’s greatest needs. Not only does it create truly affordable housing for senior New Yorkers, but it does so in an environmentally responsible way while also addressing the city’s need for more childcare centers. There are few endeavors more worthy of our efforts than confronting the housing crisis, climate change and the next generation of New Yorkers. I applaud HANAC for its commitment to meeting these issues head-on and thank the Department of City Planning and all our partners for making this project possible,” said NYC Council Member Francisco Moya.

“Chase is committed to supporting vibrant and diverse communities through affordable housing, including in Queens where access for lowincome seniors is vital to sustaining an inclusive community,” said Dave

Walsh, Chase's Northeast Regional Manager for Community Development Banking.

“As we address the citywide challenge of homelessness, innovative affordable housing projects are essential to assisting New Yorkers facing housing instability,” pointed out Department of Social Services Commissioner Steven Banks. “This building will provide seniors in need with high quality, affordable housing, access to social services, as well as the opportunity to be part of a community within the community. We are proud to collaborate with organizations like HANAC and City Agency partners to improve New Yorkers’ lives through successful initiatives like this one.”

“We are thrilled to have been able to provide a brand new Pre-Kindergarten Center for families in Corona as part of this publicprivate partnership that benefits children and seniors alike” said Lorraine Grillo, President and Chief Executive Officer of the NYC School Construction Authority. “As part of Mayor de Blasio’s Pre-Kindergarten for All Initiative, District 24 families now have access to a beautiful, modern Pre-Kindergarten facility providing the learning environment for children to grow and thrive.”

Founded in Astoria, Queens in 1972, HANAC, Inc. is a multi-faceted social services and housing organization that provides a broad array of services to immigrants, seniors, families, and youth. In addition to serving over 35,000 New Yorkers annually, HANAC has built and owns 650 units of affordable housing in New York.

From left, Evangeline Douris, Chairman of HANAC's Board.

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Paola Duran, Director of Housing Development, HANAC, and Stacy Bliagos, Executive Director, HANAC

NEWS & NOTES JUNE/JULY 2019

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Catsimaditis buys legendary WABC Radio For $12.5 Million Red Apple Media, a subsidiary of Red Apple Group, bought WABC-AM in New York City for $12.5 million in cash.

Red Appole CEO John Catsimatidis said, “I am very pleased that Red Apple Media Inc. has agreed to acquire 77 WABC (AM) Radio. The station is a real New York legend with a rich history in broadcasting. I started a radio show five years ago which is now available in 14 states and on the internet; it has gained a large and loyal audience. Our purchase of 77 WABC (AM) Radio is the next step in building a new broadcasting business, and we look forward to considering the acquisition of more broadcasting assets. We plan to retain the excellent staff and talent working at the station now and look forward to working with them.�

John Catsimatidis and John Catsimatidis, Jr. at the station's office

A2A Pharmaceuticals Appoints Dr. Sotirios Stergiopoulos Chief Executive Officer A 2 A P h ar m a c e ut i c a l s In c . ( A 2 A ) , a biotechnology company committed to the advancement of innovative scientific research and new therapeutic agents, announced the appointment of Dr. Sotirios G. Stergiopoulos as President and Chief Executive Officer. He has held the position as Founder and Chairman of the Board since 2016. He will also maintain a seat on the Board of Directors.

Dr. Stergiopoulos joins A2A from Ipsen where he served as the Chief Medical Officer, SVP and Head of Global Medical Affairs since January 2017. In this role, he was responsible for t he overa l l me dic a l and clinic a l governance of the company, as well as the c re at i on of a g l ob a l me d i c a l af f ai rs organization. He played a key role in Ipsen's oncology TA strategy and held numerous leadership positions in the pharmaceutical industry with companies including Novartis, Bayer, and Celgene.

Dr. Stergiopoulos is a physician executive with a B.S. from Stony Brook University, an M.D. from Poznan University of Medical Sciences, and an M.B.E.E. from the Johns Hopkins University. He has trained at the National Institutes of Health, the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and Harvard University.

Edward Painter, who has served as CEO of A2A since 2016, will take the role of Chief Investment Officer and Chairman of the Dr. Sotirios G. Stergiopoulos Board. Edward will work with Sotirios to optimize the allocation of capital across A2A's programs and build the management team.

Dr. Stergiopoulos explained, "A2A's novel approach to drug development has the Mr. Painter remarked, "I am delighted to have potential to bring true best in class therapies to succeeded in recruiting Sotirios to the CEO patients suffering with cancer and other r o l e a t A 2 A . H i s l e a d e r s h i p i n t h e difficult to treat diseases. I am encouraged by pharmaceutical industry, as well as experience the platform utilized by A2A to pursue in clinical medicine and Oncology drug difficult targets and look forward to working development, will be critical to A2A's alongside Edward and the team at A2A to advancement of therapeutics for Oncology translate the technology into therapies for and other life-threatening diseases into the patients." clinic for the patients that need them."

This story was first published at prnewswire.com

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The Hellenic Initiative's 5th Annual Venture Fair The Hellenic Initiative, consistent with its vision to bring investment to Greece and support youth Greek entrepreneurship in this critical economic period, organized the 5th Annual Venture Fair, which was held at Hilton Athens Hotel on July 1st.

Recognizing that empowering entrepreneurs to succeed in Greece is vital to rebuilding the Greek economy, stimulating job creation, and promoting positive social change, THI succeeded in attracting even more investors this year.

opportunity for young Greek entrepreneurs wishing to connect with prominent members of the international business scene, to pitch their ideas, share their successes, and present their business plans in front of investors from the United States, Europe, Australia, and The Annual Venture Fair is one of THI’s key Canada. efforts in Greece, focused on bringing growth and seed capital to the country’s most dynamic George P. Stamas, THI’s Board President, and effective young innovators. Launched in stated: “In THI we focus our efforts on helping 2015, the Venture Fair offers a unique Greece to bring out its best qualities and

energies. Our experience with Venture Fair these past five years has shown us that there is tremendous talent among Greek youth. By supporting noteworthy efforts such as those of the Venture Fair startups, the Greek Diaspora proves its commitment to help reversing the brain drain, a vital element in building the country’s future.”

For more information, THI's website is thehellenicinitiative.org

Annual PSEKA Conference Results in Increasing Support in the US Congress for The Eastern Mediterranean Partnership Act State's presence at the sixth trilateral summit between Cyprus, Greece, and Israel, and supports the joint declaration made to increase regional cooperation, support energy independence, and to defend against external malign influences in the region. The Committee directs the Secretary of State to report to the Committees on Appropriations not later than 45 days after the enactment of this Act on available Department of State programs and mechanisms to support further cooperation between the United States and partners in the eastern Mediterranean, and encourages the Secretary of State to provide resources to support annual joint dialogues with officials, including career government personnel, of the Departments of State, Defense and Energy and their counterparts in the Governments of Greece, Cyprus, and Israel.�

On July 20, 1974, Turkey invaded the Republic of Cyprus in violation of the UN Charter and the Fundamental Principles of Internaonal Law. For 44, years, Cyprus and its people remain divided by force. About 37% of the sovereign territory of the Republic of Cyprus senators who came and spoke at the is sll under illegal occupation by Turkey with conference have cosponsored. the presence of 40,000, heavily armed Turkish troops.

In addition, a few days after, the full US House of Representatives passed the following More than 200,000 Greek Cypriots, who were l a n g u a g e c a l l i n g f or U S f u n d i n g t o forcibly expelled from the occupied northern institutionalize the Eastern Mediterranean part are still deprived the right to return to Partnership: their homes and properties. Not only that, but 1,020 persons are still missing and the Turkish "The Committee appreciates the Secretary of military refuses to cooperate in ascertaining

Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Bob Menendez with (L-R) Philip Christopher, former Chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Andy Manatos

A major increase in support in the US Congress for the Eastern Mediterranean Partnership - of Greece, Cyprus, Israel and the US - has followed the high-level lobbying at the 35th Annual PSEKA Cyprus Conference June 4-6 in Washington, DC. Forty one influential US Senators and Members met with conference participants who urged each to support the Eastern Mediterranean Partnership legislation in the House and Senate. Senators Bob Menendez and Marco Rubio introduced S 1102, the "Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act,� in the US Senate on April 10.

This bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on May 22 as HR 2913 by Congressmen Ted Deutch, Gus Bilirakis and David Cicilline.

This conference was hosted by PSEKA and C o - Ho s t e d by t h e A m e r i c an Je w i s h Committee (AJC), HALC, CEH, FCAO, AHEPA, AHI, the Cyprus-US Chamber of Commerce and HANC. The Presidential Commissioner for Cypriots Abroad and the Missing Persons, Photis Photiou, represented the government of Cyprus and informed the delegates on the latest developments. Defense Minister Evangelos Apostolakis, represented the Government of Greece.

When the conference began, the House bill had 4 cosponsors and the Senate bill had 2.

Since then more that 23 members and and 2

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(L-R) House Middle East Subc. Chairman Ted Deutch, Philip Christopher, Mike Manatos

Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Eliot Engel with (L-R) Philip Christopher, Kyriakos Papastylianou, Presidential Commissioner Photis Photiou (L-R) Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee Nita Lowey, Dennis Mehiel, Andy Manatos

their fate. Mass settlers from Anatolia, people who have nothing to do with Cyprus in terms of mentality and culture, have been illegally transferred in the occupied areas with the express intention to change the demographics.

About 500 Greek Orthodox churches have been destroyed and priceless archaeological icons and treasures have been sold in the black market.

Usurpation of Greek Cypriot properties continues through illegal construction. A series of UN resolutions and other international organizations condemning the Turkish invasion and calling for the withdrawal of the occupied troops have been ignored by Turkey.

Senator Kamala Harris with (L-R) Colonel Vamvakias, Savas Tsivicos, Philip Christopher, Dennis Mehiel, Andy Manatos, Andreas Papaevripides, Nick Larigakis

George Mikos

would jump out at any minute to unleash its terror on us, making its way into the furrowed brows and pursed lips of our Greek teacher’s great dismay and disappointment. It’s that fuzzy mumble jumble of a word we couldn’t pronounce or read. It’s that word that would get Mrs. Popolopolopolopoulos, or something like that, to put the pep in her step as she proceeded to stomp her feet toward you like a drill sergeant carrying a book on Draconian law. Yes, that word. It’s that long Greek word, so deeply personal and unique to any first or second generation Greek-American student learning Greek, which has become the need to be revised, but not in methodology. Achilles Heel that many of us still drag along, The revision can be done in vocabulary. The like some kind of torture device inflicted upon amount of words being taught can be reduced us by our strictest Greek School teacher. from 3500 to 2500 or 2000 words according to Dr. Melikokis. Many of these words are not It could be any word in Greek, but surely we all used in the everyday vocabulary of Greek- had that word that we are still trying to learn American culture. Is this considered a and pronounce, let alone spell, on our journey “dumbing down” of Greek language? Surely I into bilingual proficiency. If taught correctly had to ask that question, but it’s happening words can become more “user friendly”. Dr. even in Greece. The language is becoming, for Melikokis wants to see to it that the Rassias lack of a better word, more simplified. The Method of instruction is brought into all variety of accents over vowels to distinguish Greek-American day and afternoon schools. intonation are now reduced to one symbol. Is As a grandfather of a second generation child, this considered progressive Greek? Or can we who is of partial Greek heritage, it’s important still call it Modern Greek? As an educator, Dr. to him to see that Greek is not lost on his Melikokis agrees you have to go with the times generation. With the Rassias Method of and also make the language more accessible. instruction, he agrees that learning Greek can I’m not sure how the Chinese would feel about be fun and engaging. that. Have they cut the symbols in their language to make Mandarin, one of the hardest languages to learn, more accessible?

Regardless Dr. Melikokis emphasized that “students learn best when they start out with language they can use and relate to in everyday life.”

A Reigning Patriarch and Advocate for Greek Education

by Athena Efter

Born in Evrytania in Central Greece, George Melikokis is a man of few words and many degrees, but as a champion of Greek education, his voice remains outspoken. For over forty years, George has been a strong supporter and advocate of Greek language and culture, and effective pedagogy for Greek Paideia.

A graduate of the Teachers’ College in Greece, he taught grades one through six in the Greek elementary school system, before emigrating to the United States in 1966 to continue his studies. He received a B.A. in sociology with a minor in psychology from Hunter College, and a second B.A. in education with a minor in philosophy. He then went on to graduate school at Fairfield University in Connecticut where he received an M.A. in comparative education and administration. His studies did not stop there. To be an advocate of education you don’t necessarily have to reach for the highest degree, but it helps to know your stuff, and know it well, so he had one more tier to go before he would step up to build a curriculum, and step down to build his next step.

With one more degree to go, Dr. Melikokis received his Ph.D in curriculum development and educational research from New York University. This degree and his experience would lead him to create a curriculum for students learning Greek. With a team of three educators from Greece, and one being a wellknown published children’s author, he created the curriculum and topics for the books “Mathaino Ellinika” or “I learn Greek”. The publication of these books has become one of his greatest contributions to Greek education.

They included input from Emmanuel Vasilakis who served as an advisor in the Consulate General’s Office in New York, Emmanuel Hatziemmanuel who served a Director of Education in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, and Zoe Kavvalaki from Greece.

On that note, he is a strong proponent of the Rassias Method or the Dartmouth Intensive Language Model, an innovative method developed by John Rassias of Dartmouth College on how to teach languages effectively, and within a short period of time. This method involves a creative approach to teaching language. It uses dramatic technique and specific teaching procedures to help students feel a sense of freedom from the very first class. The emphasis is on the everyday spoken language and the culture of the language being studied. Through the Rassias Method students gain a profound The goal of these books was to create effective sense of understanding and familiarity learning material for the acquisition of Greek through imagination, creativity and positive language skills that could be used in all Greek- reinforcement.

American day and afternoon schools. These books are still used in most Greek schools in Long gone are the days where your Greek America for almost 21 years now. In 2000, Dr. school teacher pulled you by the ear, tapped Melikokis wanted to revise them, but The you with a ruler, or scolded you because you Education Department of The Greek couldn’t pronounce or understand a specific Orthodox Archdiocese wanted to write and word…yes that word. That Greek word that publish their own books “Ta Ellinika Mou” or many of us have buried so deeply into our “My Greek”. After 20 years of publication, he subconscious mind. That word we hid in the admits the books he created with his team dark corners of our flip top desks, fearing it 30

JUNE/JULY 2019 COVER STORY

Dr. Melikokis , a certified administrator in NYC, NY State, and Connecticut, started out his tenure under the appointment of Archbishop Iakovos. In 1980, he was hired to be the assistant principal of Sotirios Ellinas Parochial School, now the seat of the Hellenic Classical Charter School. It ran from pre-k through eighth grade. He served for two years as an assistant principal, and then quickly got promoted to principal.

His tenure there lasted up until 1990, when he decided to switch gears and join the world of construction management. He knew nothing about the business when he started, but he found himself entering a new world, where the learning curve was equally, if not more, challenging. With the same dedication he

applied to learning “the mortar and bricks” of education and curriculum development, he applied his thirst for knowledge to help develop successful companies in the business of construction.

While building curriculum and making strides and steps in the world of Greek education might be his true passion, one also has to have a back-up plan when the state of Greek education in the Greek-American community finds itself on unstable ground with no guarantee for its future. He rose the ranks to become a top administrator in the construction industry. Still Dr. Melikokis, with his unwavering dedication and loyalty, never turned his back on his goal to make Greek education a viable system of learning for Greek-American students of the diaspora whose families want them to retain a connection to their rich culture and heritage.

In 2007 he was summoned to the call of philanthropic duty to serve as principal of St. Demetrios, Jamaica Day School, which served grades Pre-K through eighth. In his post, he did not take a salary. He was called to active duty, like a real soldier and pioneer for the future of Greek education, to save a struggling school, but a lack of funding made this a futile yet valiant attempt to save the future of GreekAmerican day schools. In 2012, it closed its doors.

One has to ask why so many schools in the Greek-American parochial school system continue to struggle with the exception of the very few that still manage to survive. Is this the failure of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese or the failure of the community? If we take the history of why these parochial schools were started, one cannot separate the religious component from Greek culture. These schools were, and still are, under the leadership of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. Are they falling victim to a greater institutional struggle or is there a lack of interest from the community?

These are deeper questions, perhaps not so philosophical, but more grounded in institutional politics that can open a forum of thought for real dialogue. There are, however, leaders in the community, like Dr. Melikokis who will not stop advocating for the future of Greek education.

Working closely with the Cordell Hull Foundation for International Education, which is a not-for-profit organization that has sponsored several teachers since 1951, Dr. Melikokis has been a driving force in getting qualified teachers to come from Greece to teach Greek and help acclimate them more comfortably into American culture. He gives various seminars on “culture shock” and supervises teachers in the classroom. As a consultant for Greek education, he serves on various boards of the Greek parochial school system including St. Demetrios School in Astoria and the Archangels Greek Afternoon school in Stamford, Connecticut where he resides. He has published over 75 articles in various Greek publications addressing

education. He is the recipient of many awards and honors for his contributions to Greek language and culture that included a plaque given to him in the US Capitol twice, once by the World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) and once by the Federation of Greek American Teachers. Other awards and honors were bestowed to him through the AHEPA Chapter of Connecticut, Hermes Expo, and the Evrytania Association. In his spare time, he enjoys gardening, planting flowers and vegetables, in the memory of his late wife Vassiliki.

It is his hope that the newly enthroned Archbishop Elpidophoros will revitalize and reorganize the Greek Education Department so that all the schools under their umbrella share one unified umbrella that educates students in both Greek-American day and afternoon schools with a unified mission. This mission would be heralded by a curriculum that includes a study of Greek language, history, religion and culture that teaches students to appreciate and effectively retain their heritage as students of the Greek diaspora, without a dogmatic and nationalistic approach, but an objective understanding and appreciation of their language and culture. With his business acumen and experience, he also knows how to create cost-effective solutions to help schools achieve the results they want within budget.

He has a plan on how schools can save money by creating a unified administration.

Dr. Melikokis will continue this advocacy. He is an unstoppable voice, but without the support of fellow educators and the leadership that is devoted to the continuation of the Greek American Parochial school system mission, he is a voice on his own. Whether its 3500 hundred words or 2500 hundred words

in high Greek that we continue to teach or reduce in an effort to teach Greek effectively, action is a universal language that requires a team of people with a vision and inspiration that can bring forth progress and tangible results.

In light of the recent resignation of the principal at The Cathedral School, the flagship school of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese that was supposed to carry the torch for academic excellency, and did for a several strong years, I have to ask why, yet again, in a span of four years, did they lose another principal? I didn’t get a chance to ask Dr. Melikokis this question, but perhaps he knows where the failure of the system lies. Without a unified administration and a unified curriculum, it is the teachers and students who pay the price.

These schools can be saved, if not through the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese then maybe through a team of qualified educators who can create or reorganize an independent system of Greek schools that can thrive for many GreekAmerican generations to come. That would be a last resort option for Dr. Melikokis. If I were to read between the lines, the Greek Education Department, which is responsible for the creation of these schools has to reclaim accountability and restructure the future of these schools, with the right guidance, or the Greek-American language and culture they sought to preserve could very well get lost. For all of his years of service and contributions to Greek education, perhaps Dr. Melikokis’ efforts to introduce the Rassias Method of language instruction in Greek-American schools could be an approach worth exploring and a great start to curriculum unification in the study of Greek language and culture.

COVER STORY JUNE/JULY 2019

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CELEBRATIONS AND THOUGHTS ABOUT OUR FUTURE

by Aris Michopoulos* among its members of the B oard, or accusations for lack of transparency or nepotism. Every year it has its books audited, its results posted, its finances appearing on its magazine, “The Leader”, and the entirety of its operations portrayed in a serious and professional manner.

Guest speaker Stellene Volandes, Editor in Chief of Town and Country magazine, with L100 Chairman Argyris Vassiliou, Executive Director Paulette Poulos, and members of the youth at the recent L100 conference. PHOTO: ETA PRESS A few months ago, the Leadership 100 celebrated its 35th Anniversar y in B oca Raton, Fl. It was a most memorable celebration as it turned an elusive dream into a Aris Michopoulos wonderful reality and made the wildest dreams of its founders come true. Established by his Eminence Archbishop Iakovos, of blessed memory, thirty five years ago, the organization originally aimed at recruiting 100 members, the leaders of the Greek American Community that would each contribute $100,000 for the needs of our Archdiocese of N. & S. America at that time. The goal of reaching 100 wealthy Greek-Americans who would donate one hundred thousand dollars each and raise $10 million to support the many institutions and affiliated organizations of the Archdiocese was a lofty one. Some naysayers did not believe that was possible.

T h e v i s i on a r i e s d i s a g re e d . A n d t h e visionaries, members of its Board of Trustees, proved the naysayers wrong! Indeed, the goal was a lofty one and not a walk in the park. The road was sometimes uphill, uneven, and unpaved. But within the first three years the goal was achieved.

And then a new loftier one was set: to reach 1,000 members! That was truly looking like an impossible dream! One thousand people donating $100,000 each for the various ministries and other needs of the Archdiocese seemed almost beyond reach. Still under the exemplary leadership of its Board of Trustees and the new Archbishop, i.e. Archbishop 34

JUNE/JULY 2019 NEWS & NOTES

Demetrios, the new dream turned also into a resounding reality in 2016 with its 1,000th member, myself, Dr. Aristotle Michopoulos, being quite appropriately a professor of Greek language and histor y at our Hellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology. Thus in that membership we had a symbolic connection of our only Greek Orthodox College in the USA with our Education and our Greek history and culture. We had also a c on ne c t i on of t he Gre ek i m m i g r ant experience of the 20th century, which sought knowledge and riches in “the land of opportunity.”

So old country values and new country dreams and aspirations merged and created the Modern Greek-American dream to serve Hellenism and Orthodoxy in the Americas and beyond. Today, the L-100 Fund has surpassed its first and second goals of 100 and 1,000 members and is racing beyond the 1,100 mark! I am sure the soul of Archbishop Iakovos and most of the original members of the Board of Trustees who have joined him in heaven, are rejoicing from above and are quite proud of their unique creation. *** Of equal value, if not more so, with the raising of over $100 million from its members and the distribution of over $51 million for the various institutions of the Archdiocese and other philanthropic organizations, is the way all these wonderful accomplishments were achieved. I do not know of any other Greek American Organization with the same length of life and the same amount of assets that has never been accused of improprieties. Indeed, L100 has never been accused of misappropriation of funds, of infighting

Besides the Archbishop and its Board of Trustees a lot of credit for its stellar performance goes to its Chairmen Emeriti, six of them, and the Executive Board. All of them demonstrated knowledge, tact and professionalism. But one could assign even more value and importance to its Executive Director and her staff, who are doing the fundraising and managing of the fund.

Indeed, Paulette Poulos, a veteran servant of our Archdiocese having served in various key positions under Archbishop Iakovos and then under Archbishop Demetrios, has been serving as Executive Director of the Fund for over 10 years and has been involved with its development for much more. She holds that “secret recipe of success” that characterizes all successful organizations. She knows that hard work and courtesy, transparency and accountability are the pillars on which you can build something strong, long-lasting and successful. And therein probably lays the great success of this unique Greek American Organization. Something that starts small but s t e a dy an d w it h t h e t i m e an d go o d management grows bigger and bigger and before you know it it eclipses many other organizations that have been around for much longer.

Besides the plethora of good deeds that the L100 has bestowed upon our Greek American Community, as well as on Greece, Cyprus and the Patriarchate, one should also add the annual conference that holds in various cities.

Each Symposium becomes a memorable event, where you meet the rich, the strong and influential. You might encounter young and not so young, people with dreams and people that have realized their dreams and their name is not only known to the Omogeneia, but has a Pan-American and Pan-Hellenic recognition.

Needless to say a large percentage of the fifty wealthiest Greek Americans, with a net worth of $50 billion, are members of the L100. And the conference concludes with a DinnerDance and a Glendi the day before. It is there that if you are a doubter of the future of the Greek- Americans your reservations melt away. In both events you will see young and old dancing all kinds of Greek dances and before you know it, the kefi goes up and you have a feeling that you are not in America, but in a Greek kentro in Athens or any other big city of Greece. It is an amazing scene that you need to experience to believe it and will stay in your memory for many years.

*** But before the happy ending of “wine and roses” you have other meetings, discussion of serious matters pertaining to the L100, its distr ibution of f unds to t he var ious Archdiocesan organizations and affiliates, etc.

I attended one such meeting where the subject of discussion was Hellenic College/Holy Cross (HCHC). There were various views expressed about enrollment, finances, administration, etc. A member of the audience raised the question, if it would be advisable for HCHC to reduce some of its majors, to cut expenses, and focus on Theology. It should be stated that this view is not something new. Personally, coming from a background of a holistic approach to education I was opposed to it and to my mind came Werner Jaeger’s monumental work “PAIDEIA” that he describes as “all rounded excellence.” A German scholar of the first order, who fell in love with the ideals of the Greek Civilization, devoted a good portion of his life to the research and writing of this monumental work.

I thought of Jaeger’s deep respect for the Greek language and culture at that moment, and on the other hand, I reflected on a potential curtailment, a potential clipping of the wings of many dreams in order to balance the HCHC budget. And while I am a strong believer in balanced budgets and economizing when needed, on the other hand, I am a strong believer in the ideals of Werner Jaeger and of all the other titans of academic scholarship, who consider the Greek civilization as the foundation of Western Civilization.

Being in a room filled with millionaires at a conferene with several billionaires, right away I thought what we could do about it. And then the other special biblical race, the Jews, came to my mind. Having being persecuted for over 2,000 years they have survived and thrived thanks to their omonoia, their solidarity, their mutual support and philanthropy. And then I pondered: here we have two of the oldest and most celebrated groups, the Greeks and the Jews. Both have contributed a lot to world civilization. But while the Jews are extremely successful and contribute their fair share to their communal goals and purposes, we, unfortunately, are wasting our time and energy in petty staff. While as “units” we achieve miracles, as “teams” we tend to disagree, to bicker and fight and sometimes to dissolve our organizations.

This is not the case with the Jews. They have created a “superstructure,” the AIPAC, where all their organizations and wealthy persons contribute a fair share of their wealth and then the AIPAC undertakes the fair distribution of this wealth to its many organizations and affiliates. The Athenians did something similar on the political scene with the creation of the DELIAN league, after the Persian Wars, some 2,500 years ago.

We d o n’ t h a v e s u c h a n u m b r e l l a organization and we sorely need one. What

good is it to have $50 billion and not be able to use a tiny portion of it to fund many vital programs and services? With one percent of fifty billion, i.e. $500 million, our Omogeneia could do a lot of things. Our Schools are living on a shoe-string, our lobbies in DC are underfunded and understaffed and many other of our institutions (Old Age Home, Museum, etc.) are feeble and suffering. While we struggle to maintain a viable College, the Jews support 15 Colleges, 5 of them dealing with Theology and 10 being secular. Their top Theology school, i.e. Yeshiva University in New York City, boasts some 3,000 students and half a billion endowment, while their top secular, i.e. BRANDEIS University has over 6,000 students with all kinds of undergraduate and graduate majors and an endowment of over $1 billion. We, on the other hand, have an endowment of less than 30 million, although we started during the same time with Brandeis and the Greek-Americans appeared as the second wealthiest group, after the Jews, in Bernard C. Rosen’s research (1970) and the most educated.

Actually the difference in wealth between the two groups is not so much in their earnings, as is in their approach to philanthropy. While the Jews consider it natural to give their “tithe” (10%) for the good of the Community, we pay l ip s e r v i c e t o ou r f i l ot i m o an d ou r philanthropy. If someone is a true believer in f i l o t i m o a n d p h i l a n t h r o p y, h e i s automatically involved in giving and contributing for the “common go o d”.

Unfortunately, we have turned too much to our inner circle and overlooked the bigger picture, which is the wider world of p h i l a n t h r o p y, patriotism, and g i v i n g . It i s n o t enough to extend your filotimo and philanthropy to your family and friends and to a church or school here or in Greece. We have to rise above that. We have to embrace a wider and more philanthropic world. It is good to enjoy your souvlaki and sy r ta k i, but equally good if not more so, to try to fly high and soar like an eagle supported by the spirit of “aien aristevein” and your service to the Hellenic ideals and culture!

These then are some

of the crucial questions that we have to deal with in the near future, if we truly are concerned about the long-term future and viability of our Greek American Community and our moral obligation towards Greece and Cyprus. The AIPAC has already shown us the way. It is time to learn from them and emulate them.

Dr. Aristotle Michopoulos (B.A. University of Athens, M.A. Graduate Center of C.U.N.Y., Ph.D. Florida State University) devotes his time to teaching and researching in the area of Greek Studies. Before his appointment at Hellenic College, he was the Associate Director of the Center for Greek Studies at the University of Florida. At Hellenic College he served as Dean for six years and as Greek Studies Director for over twenty years. Additionally, for a number of years, he served as the representative of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese to the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, DC and as the U.S. coordinator for the Paideia Omogenon project of the University of Crete.

Dr. Michopoulos has translated extensively from Greek into English and vice versa and has authored an array of publications (books, book chapters, articles in Journals, etc.) Currently, he is engaged in research in the area of Education, Immigration, Wealth and Philanthropy in Greek America.

2019 PanHellenic Scholarship Recipients

mentors and an internship start to their professional careers, we are truly going beyond a scholarship. We would like to thank our inaugural corporate leaders interested in helping the PanHellenic with internships.”

The PanHellenic Scholarship Foundation Hosts Exceptional Alumni Weekend The PanHellenic Scholarship Foundation (PHSF) celebrated its annual Alumni Weekend from June 14 – June 16, 2019, awarding 40 exceptional students over $ 2 5 0 , 0 0 0 i n s ch ol ars h ip s , h o s t i ng a mentorship luncheon and announcing a new internship initiative, which will enable the PHSF to continue their mission of going beyond a scholarship.

Buhler also announced several extraordinary transformations that will position the PHSF for continued growth.

1. New Beyond a Scholarship Internship Initiative: The PHSF is now working with 15 inaugural companies to provide scholars and alumni with internships. Buhler noted that they hope to have an expanded offering next s p r i n g w i t h nu m e r o u s 2019 PanHellenic Scholarship Recipients with Paradigm Award companies from across the Recipient Matina Kolokotronis, Board of Directors, Academic nation.

Committee & His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago

At the Gala, the PHSF also honored the success and accomplishments of its 2019 P a r a d i g m Aw a r d H o n o r e e , M a t i n a Kolokotronis. She serves as Chief Operating Officer of the Sacramento Kings. Bringing decades of exp erience in sp or ts and government law, community affairs and cont rac t negot i at ions, Kolokot ronis’ l e a d e r s h ip h a s b e e n i nt e g r a l t o t h e development of the award winning Golden 1 Center. The Paradigm Award is given annually to a distinguished Greek American whose career and accomplishments are a testimony to the Foundation’s mission and who the scholars can strive to emulate.

"Ms. Kolokotronis possesses all of the attributes of a Paradigm." said Trustee and Board Member, Tom Sotos. "Her impressive career, dedication to her community and respect for her Hellenic roots will certainly inspire our recipients to also become trailblazers and the next generation of leaders in America."

Dedicated to promoting education and leadership, the PanHellenic Scholarship Foundation recognizes and honors exceptional undergraduate students of Hellenic descent, supporting their efforts with significant monetary awards based on academic merit and financial need. Annually, the Foundation provides $250,000 in scholarships to 40 of the best Greek American undergraduates in the nation.

2. Going National: This year's scholars came from all parts the country, and a growing number increasingly come from o u t s i d e t h e M i d w e s t . Applicants came from nearly all 50 states, and F u r t h e r m o r e , m a n y a total of 20 received the need-based $10,000 Advisory Board and Board award, while 20 received the merit-based members also hail from $2,500 award. Scholarship awards are offered This year's Alumni Weekend began with a Welcome Reception Friday evening with outside Illinois, demonstrating how the PHSF annually to recognize and reward students who have demonstrated exceptional academic Corporate Sponsors, Holland & Knight and is expanding its national profile. performance, as well as to provide meaningful College Year in Athens. Additionally, on Saturday, The Hellenic Initiative sponsored 3. Building a Sustainable Donor Base: The support to those with great financial need. By the 3rd Mentorship Luncheon where inaugural Scholarship recipients had the exclusive opportunity to Society 50 and 100 gain career insight from fourteen exceptional d o n o r p r o g r a m expanded from 19 mentors. donors in the first year The weekend culminated with the Annual to 24 donors this year.

Scholarship Awards & Gala, where in front of This now includes the approximately 600 attendees, 40 of the best new “200” level, where and brightest students from across the U.S. d o n o r s w h o h a v e fulfilled their “100” received their scholarships. commitment will "Our 2019 award recipients are a group of generously continue to extraordinary scholars who are flourishing p r o v i d e a $ 1 0 , 0 0 0 academically, and we are excited to provide Scholarship to 10 more continual support through our mentorship exceptional scholars. program and internship initiative," said PHSF Chairman of the Board of Directors, Robert A. "We believe that by 2019 Paradigm Award Recipient Matina Kolokotronis Buhler. "The PanHellenic Scholarship s e c u r i n g g o o d with PanHellenic Trustees Robert Buhler, Tom Sotos & John Manos Foundation has the incredible opportunity to internships for our make a historic impact in the lives of these scholars, it will greatly recognizing the achievements of outstanding recipients. Congratulations to all the help them land their first job,” said Buhler. “By students, the PanHellenic Scholarship connecting our recipients and alumni with scholars!"

Foundation encourages the Hellenic students 36

JUNE/JULY 2019 NEWS & NOTES

Previous PanHellenic Scholarship Recipients Tim Gianitsos & Christina Moniodis served as Master & Mistress of Ceremonies

2019 Mentorship Luncheon His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago, 2019 Paradigm with the Hellenic Initiative Award Recipient Matina Kolokotronis & her husband Sotiris, Chairman of the PanHellenic Robert Buhler & Violetta Kapsalis Buhler

Members of the Board of Directors College Year in Athens Trustee Endy Zemenides addressing the Welcome Reception attendees

2019 Welcome Reception Sponsored by Holland & Knight and College Year in Athens

Stephen Livaditis, John Koudounis, and Mentorship Luncheon Sponsor Nick Alexos

to continue their scholarly pursuit and strive to accomplish their highest goals. The annual selection of Scholarship Award Recipients is conducted by an Academic Committee appointed by the Board of Directors.

2019 Welcome Reception Sponsored by Holland & Knight and College Year in Athens

“The PHSF would like to thank our Academic Committee, in particular Chairwoman Anita Skarpathiotis, who stepped in and led the entire Committee in working hard to select this year’s scholarship recipients. They had to make many difficult decisions from among an increasing number of exceptional applications received from throughout the U.S.,” said Trustee and Board Member, John Manos.

“Lastly, but with our highest appreciation, we thank all of our generous supporters. It is your belief in educational excellence, coupled with Some 2019 Scholarship recipients strong Hellenic values, that drives our cause.

You make the PanHellenic Scholarship America through Education and Hellenism.

Foundation thrive.”

Every year, The Foundation hosts its Awards Ceremony & Gala to distribute the scholarship The PanHellenic Scholarship Foundation is a awards. It is administered by Trustees, a Board public 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization of Directors, and a Board of Advisors dedicated to honoring and rewarding representing a broad range of professional exceptional undergraduate students of disciplines, as well as an active Alumni Board Hellenic descent. The organization was c o mp r i s e d o f p r e v i o u s Pa n He l l e n i c established in 2002 by Chris P. Tomaras (1937- Scholarship recipients. The selection of 2015) with the goal of building a better recipients is made by an Academic Committee PHOTO: ELIOS PHOTOGRAPHY

2019 recipients and guests enjoying Mylos Entertainment of New York

Over 600 guests enjoying dinner at the Hilton Chicago’s Grand Ballroom

who works independently and makes its decisions based on established criteria set forth in the organization’s policies, procedures and bylaws. The Foundation is only able to accomplish its mission through its dedicated Boards, Committees, staff, volunteers, and interns.

For more information about The PanHellenic S cholarship Foundation and Alumni Weekend, their website is panhellenicsf.org.

NEWS & NOTES JUNE/JULY 2019

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Turkey's False Promises on Halki

By Endy Zemenides During a recent press conference on international religious freedom, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called for the “ immediate reop ening” of t he Halki Seminary, a seminary Turkey ordered closed in 1971.

Some may consider this call in the context of the connection to Halki of recently enthroned Archbishop Elpidophoros and the late June flourish of Congressional attention to religious freedom in Turkey and believe that some movement on Halki may come soon.

That, however, would be a bad bet.

As HALC’s Managing Director Georgia Logothetis has previously detailed in “Turkey’s trail of broken promises on reopening Halki Seminary”, Tayyip Erdogan’s Turkey has almost masterfully slow played the opening of Halki. His governments have constantly raised the prospect of opening the seminary and have even promised the US government to do so. All those promises are inevitably walked back.

Roughly one year into Erdogan becoming Prime Minister, his Education Minister – while at a ceremony with the Greek Education Minister – declared that he didn’t see any reason why Halki couldn’t be opened.

Hope again arose in 2009, when President Obama made his first state visit to Turkey, addressed the Grand National Assembly and said: “Freedom of religion and expression lead to a strong and vibrant civil society that only strengthens the state, which is why steps like reopening Halki Seminary will send such an important signal inside Turkey and beyond."

Obama followed up that speech with a direct meeting with the Ecumenical Patriarch while i n Tu rke y, w ho t he n w a s i nv ite d to Washington, DC later that year. On that trip, Vice President Biden and Secretary of State Clinton hosted head of state level dinner for His All Holiness, who also met with the President, the Senate Majority Leader and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. It may be hard to believe it now, but in 2009 Washington was in the midst of establishing a special relationship with Turkey and it made reopening Halki one of its asks.

Over the next few years, President Obama and Vice President Biden kept raising Halki with Erdogan. Then on March 25, 2012, after a meeting on the sidelines of a nuclear security summit in South Korea, President Obama – in the very presence of Erdogan – congratulated the Prime Minister for protecting religious 38

JUNE/JULY 2019 STRATEGY

strategy

στρατηγική

Endy Zemenides is the Executive Director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC), a national advocacy organization for the Greek American community. To learn more about HALC, visit www.hellenicleaders.com

minorities (!) and announced “I am pleased to American matter as an international one. The hear of his decision to reopen the Halki Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America – Seminary.” with its 560 parishes and over one million adherents across the US – is an Eparchy of the Erdogan spoke next, and of course failed to E c u m e n i c a l Pat r i a rc h at e . T hu s , t h e elaborate on the Halki reference. Back in Ecumenical Patriarch is the ultimate spiritual Turkey, it took less than one day to walk back AND administrative head of a significant this “commitment” from Erdogan to Obama. American community. That successive administrations – and especially this one, with The roller coaster of raised expectations its strident commitment to the global turned into false promises has persisted for protection of Christianity – takes no concrete seven more years. Turkey tried to make the issue a reciprocal one – tying it to the opening of a mosque in Athens and changes in how muftis are appointed in Greece. The US continued pressing on the issue – with Vice President Biden, Secretary Clinton and Secretary Kerry all visiting Halki, The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has identified the continued status of Halki as part of the reason it The Greek Orthodox keeps Turkey on the list of worst Seminary in Halki, Turkey religious freedom violators of the world.

And now the Trump Administration has action against a continuing religious freedom called for the reopening of Halki. violation that not only offends American values, but the direct interests of so many It has been over 2600 days since Erdogan made American citizens – is beyond sad. his false promise to Obama on opening Halki.

This is a lie that he has never been held to This is why the ante has to be raised. Halki is account to, something that former President no longer enough. We’ve tolerated more than Obama (who was lied to) and the State enough: two decades of false promises (the D e p a r t m e n t ( w h i c h h a s diplomatic way of saying “lies), attempts to applauded/encouraged the Ecumenical make a matter of international religious Patriarchate’s rift with the Russian Orthodox freedom into a bilateral affair between Greece Church) should be particularly ashamed of. and Turkey, and watching Turkey move the goalposts again and again even as Greece This Administration, however, has shown an made changes to the way muftis are selected alternative way forward. When Erdogan and is set to open a mosque in Athens this attempted to renege on his deal with President coming September.

Trump over the release of Pastor Brunson, the Trump Administration imposed Global Halki was supposed to be the first step towards Magnitsky Act sanctions on two Turkish full religious freedom. Erdogan has slow Ministers, severely affecting the Turkish played this issue to the point that he will claim economy despite the limited scope of the he can do nothing more than open Halki. He sanctions. Given that such sanctions allow the should not be given the chance. It is time for U.S. government to target individuals, the initial demand to be increased: Turkey companies or other entities involved in should have no say on who the Ecumenical corruption or human-rights abuses anywhere Patriarch is. in the world and that both USCIRF and the State Department continue to identify the closure of Halki as a violation of religious freedom, Magnitsky sanctions should be applicable here.

And lest the Administration needs reminding, this is as much an

Fraternally yours, John G. Levas President

Go to Greece & Cyprus this Year, where Magic and Reality Overlap!

Fraternally yours, Dr. Michael Georgis Secretary

your character.' And those were his last words to me. Peter Caloyeras, who told me, 'always be mindful of all the aggression that takes place. Take nothing for granted and stay with one purpose.' And this along with Theodore S a l out o s w a s s om e t h i ng t h at m e ant something to me from the very beginning. Dr. Saloutos was my mentor and academic advisor going back to before Cyprus invasion

A Memorial Olive Tree, filled with notes from members of the AHC general community, was planted in Aris and Carolyn Anagnos Peace Center Foundation’s garden

Honoring Those Who Advocate for Hellenism – the American Hellenic Council’s Annual Awards Dinner The American Hellenic Council (AHC) of California held its Annual Awards Gala. The organization honored three distinguished Philhellenes for their service to Hellenism and their excellence in their respective fields of expertise.

US Ambassador to Greece, Hon. Geoffrey R. Pyatt received the Athena Award, Professor Sharon E. J. Gerstel the Theodore Saloutos Award and Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, a new member of the Hellenic Caucus, the Pericles Award.

for, the recipients that work for Hellenism, work for our causes, work for education, for achievement and something that we all can respect and look forward to. To also honor our Council. A Council that has been here from the very beginning, from that very first invasion on July 20, 1974,” said AHC President & Chairman, Dr. Jim Dimitriou. “It’s a very special time for me, I was tutored by the best, I had advisors that had started the Council from the beginning, who meant a lot to me. For Aris Anagnos, it was, 'You are a long term fighter.

Remember what you fought for and be true to

AHC President & Chairman Dr. James F. Dimitriou and Theodore Saloutos Award Honoree, Dr. Sharon E. J. Gerstel

and my research there. He was the guiding force for me and the early Council ‘to always respect the rule of law and speak as Americans of Hellenic descent.”

The American Hellenic Council is a nonpartisan political advocacy organization.

Their goal is to promote democracy, human rights, peace, and stability in Southern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean, with an emphasis on Greece and Cyprus, by informing the American public and the government about on-going issues and conflicts in the area.

The event, which attracted over 380 attendees, was held at the Omni Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles. Musical entertainment was provided by the Takis Kokotas Band and SoCal native, Nia Matty. The Master of Ceremonies was Demetrios Boutris, the President and CEO of Boutris Group, a Real Estate, Business & Policy Consulting Firm.

This year’s Gala was the first event since the passing of AHC’s founder and long-time leader, Aris Anagnos. In honor of his memory, a Memorial Olive Tree, filled with notes from members of the AHC general community, was planted in Aris and Carolyn Anagnos Peace Center Foundation’s garden.

“It’s a great honor to be part of the AHC Gala; to honor those that we are particularly grateful 40

JUNE/JULY 2019 NEWS & NOTES

From left, Mrs. Mike Kyprianides, Hon. Consul General of Cyprus, Andreas Kyprianides, Mrs. Kitty Dukakis, Dr. Sharon E. J. Gerstel, Consul General of Greece Evgenia Beniatoglou, Governor Michael Dukakis

numerous Hellenic Issues, has made political donations, and raised significant contributions for members of Congress who support Hellenic Issues.

The Council has successfully organized the thirty-one congressional districts of Southern California and is expanding its advocacy activities to the northern part of the state.

Through the AHC’s Congressional District

Demos Anagnos' note on his father's memorial tree

Dr. James F. Dimitriou and Pericles Award Honoree, Hawaii 2nd Congressional District Representative and Presidential Candidate, Tulsi Gabbard

Since its inception, the American Hellenic Council has been the focal point of political activities of Greek Americans in California.

The AHC has become an effective and respected political lobbying group whose sole purpose is to advocate to the U.S. Congress for the protection and promotion of GreekAmerican interests. During its existence, the American Hellenic Council has supported

Kelly Vlahakis' note on Aris Anagnos' memorial tree

Demos and Carol Anagnos, directors of the Aris and Carolyn Anagnos Peace Center Foundation and long-time supporters of the American Hellenic Council

Committees, the community has reached out to Representatives and Senators through meetings, written correspondence, telephone calls, and emails to communicate the importance of Hellenic issues and ask for support when these issues come for a vote as bills or resolutions before Congress.

AKTINA’s MEMORABLE CONCERT WITH THANASIS POLYKANDRIOTIS

Elena Maroulleti, 2nd from left, with artists Thanasis Polykandriotis, 3rd from left, Afroditi Chatzimina, 1st from left, and Aris Kampanos PHOTO: ANASTASIOS MENTIS

Greek Americans and Americans alive enjoyed an unforgettable musical performance in the company of Greek Bouzouki Legend, during AKTINA’s concert, GREEK MUSIC JOURNEY 2019 (GMJ), produced by Elena Maroulleti at New York’s historic theater, The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College. This benefit concert was given in support of public service media, AKTINA FM and AKTINA TV broadcasting in New York.

Accompanied by the talented singers Aris Kampanos and Afroditi Chatzimina and the distinguished musicians, Nikos Stratigos, keyboards, Nikos Kainourgios, acoustic guitar and Nikos Ntrarilas, drums, Thanasis Polykadriotis presented a mesmerizing concert which covered not only his personal discography, but also laika (popular folk) songs, rembetika and instrumentals by other leading Greek composers such as M. Hatzidakis, M. Theodorakis, St. Xarhakos, A. Kaldaras, M. Vamvakaris, V. Tsitsanis, M. Loizos, among others.

For his participation in Greek Music Journey 2019 (GMJ) and in acknowledgment of his immense contributions to Greek music, Thanasis Polykandriotis was honored with “AKTINA’s Distinguished Artist Award” which is exclusively bestowed upon to very accomplished artists who excel in Greek music. Furthermore, Mr. Polykandriotis and the singers Aris Kampanos and Afroditi Chatzimina were honored with Citations issued by C ouncil Member C osta Constantinides on behalf of the NYC Council and the City of New York in recognition of their participation in AKTINA’s GMJ 2019 and for their contributions to Greek music.

The highlight of the awards ceremony was the impromptu surprise gesture of Polykandriotis to invite Ms. Maroulleti to dance with him to t he s ounds of t he s ong “S e Kito Ke Kokkinizeis” (I Look At You And You Blush)

by D. Savvopoulos something that further 42

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uplifted the cheering audience.

During her remarks, Ms. Maroulleti thanked the participating artists. “Aris Kampanos and Afroditi Chatzimina are true examples of our efforts to promote new talent and we are thrilled that our audience equally loved and appreciated them as we do. Many special thanks to Thanasis Polykandriotis who truly g ave a mu s i c a l recital on his bouzouki during an uplifting and mesmerizing performance and of course many special thanks to the worthy mu s i c i an s w h o accompanied him and who are also credited for their contributions to Greek music and discography.” She also thanked the audience and A K T I N A’s d e d i c a t e d volunteer staff, To m S t o u r a s , Penny Chapman, G e o r g i a Neophytou and C h r y s s o NeophytouTsimis for their imput in the presentation of the concert.

F o r m o r e information about A K T I N A’s activities and

upcoming concerts and also to enjoy the daily 24/7 broadcasts of AKTINA FM Greek American R adio, their website is aktinafm.com Exceptional videos from this concert are already posted on AKTINA TV’s Youtube channel, where you can sign up for free, while more photos captured by Anastasios Mentis Photography and his staff are posted on AKTINA’s Facebook Page.

Alexander Billinis is a writer and lawyer in Chicago, Illinois. He and his family returned to the US after nearly a decade in Greece, the UK, and Serbia. He writes prolifically on Balkan topics. His books, The Eagle has Two Faces: Journeys through Byzantine Europe, and Hidden Mosaics: An Aegean Tale, are available from Amazon.com.

hellenes without borders Kehila Kedosha Janina and a Chat with Marcia!

Russel Shorto, a premier historian of New York, calls Manhattan the “Island at the Center of the World.” So, it is, and there are few pleasures like walking the avenues of Manhattan. So much American (and world history) has passed through this island, people from all over called the streets and avenues of this extraordinary piece of real estate home. On a rainy wintry day, my son and I walked the streets of Manhattan, downtown, towards lower Manhattan. I reminded him that these side streets were teeming with so many immigrants from Europe, including plenty of Greeks and Jews. Our destination was a particular house of worship, one for people who are Greeks AND Jews.

the Ottoman Empire’s welcoming of Jews expelled from Spain—the Romaniotes cling stubbornly to their unique Hellenic Jewish identity.

The Synagogue door opens. Marcia Ikonomopoulos welcomes us in from the To suggest that Marcia and her fellow elements. congregants at Kehila Kedosha Janina are not Greek is a sure way to set them off. They will I was glad my son was there, he helped record the quickly remind you of their loyalty to Greece, conversation and take notes. It was important for and any student of Greece’s heroic World War me that he understood the complexity of the Two record will know of Mordecai Frizis, the Greek narrative. While the Torah Scrolls and first Greek officer to lay down his life for his sacred architecture were different from our country, was from the Romaniote Jewish Greek nar rative—and a gre at le ar ning community. experience—the faces in the museum in the Upper (Women’s) Gallery were all too familiar.

So, too, were the dreams. The dream of being American while not forgetting one’s origins.

With sheets of rain tyrannizing us, we crossed Delancey Street, which immediately brought to mind the movie of the same name. I thought of the society the movie describes, and the outsized role the Jews have played in popular culture. I also saw signs for the Tenement Museum—an Israeli professor at Clemson said it was a must-see. He remarked on the museum tour guide who played a Greek Jew. Some other time...

Marcia is very, very New York, very Greek, very Jewish. The accent, the expressions, the sense of irony, and the quick switching from Greek to English all pointed to a woman rooted in this place, and in all aspects of her i d e n t i t y. S h e h a s t h a t directness combined with “heart-of-goldness” which is one of the New Yorkers’ best traits. She came into Manhattan for this meeting (and to hear my Shipping Presentation at the EMBCA Panel later in the evening) from her home in Long Island.

Our destination was Kehila Having lived in Chicago, I was Kedosha Janina Synagogue. familiar with the stress and In a city full of synagogues fatigue of cross-metro and a Jewish tradition of commutes. Her phone rings, it Janina Synagogue in New York global disp ersion, this is a group from the Tenement particular house of worship is unique. As we Museum which invited themselves over to see rang the doorbell, the plaque inscription the Synagogue. She cannot resist agreeing, and provides an immediate frame of reference—it is then puts down her I-Phone, which has a Greek the only Romaniot synagogue in the Western flag phone case, “Yeah, I’m not Greek, right?” she Hemisphere. says in her best New Yorkeese.

“The House of Israel has many rooms,” my dear friend Tom Lambros Bornstein is fond of saying.

Tom, of a Greek Christian mother and an Ashkenazi Jewish father, is well versed in the diversity of the Jewish mosaic, and he put me in touch with the doyenne of this unique c om mu n it y. As t h e i r n am e h i nt s , t h e Romaniotes are Romioi, they are Byzantine Jews with roots in Greece that are even older than the Christian Era. Their language was Greek, and with over two millennia of roots in Greece they could hardly be more “of Greece.” While the Orthodox-Jewish cleavage in Greece, during the Ottoman Era, and Byzantium was real, there was no question that these Romaniot communities were very much part of the fabric of society and they had culturally distinct communities in much of Greece and Asia Minor. Even though most Jews in Greece and the rest of the Balkans today are of Sephardic background—a legacy of 44

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not with their fellow Jews, but with their fellow Greeks. “The children would go to Greek school—at the Greek Orthodox Church,” yet there too their Judaism set them apart from their fellow Greeks, where Orthodoxy plays a fundamental role in most Greeks’ identity, particularly in the Diaspora.

The Congregation was founded in 1928, by Greek Jews primarily from the city of Yannina (hence the Synagogue’s name). Then as now, most American Jewry were Ashkenazi Jews whose spoken language was Yiddish (a form of German with many Slavic and Hebrew words).

They hailed from Germany and Northeastern Europe and many American Jews had become Americanized and assimilated. Balkan and Turkish Jews were primarily Sephardic, speaking the medieval Ladino Spanish of their expelled Iberian ancestors, and these Greek speaking Jews were yet another subgroup of Balkan Jews. “They were different, wearing turbans, not speaking Yiddish,” she mentions, and there was a fair amount of inter-faith discrimination.

Kehila Kedosha Museum Director Marcia Haddad Ikonomopoulos in the Yanina Synagogue.

Photo by Brad Horrigan Marcia is well traveled, leading tours to Jewish sites throughout the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean, and our conversation is peppered with reminders of Jewish-Greece symbioses over the millennia. The most obvious is the term synagogue, which is Greek for gathering place, but there are others. The rabbi speaks from the Bima, which is Greek for tribune, news or delivery—think of the Athens daily newspaper “To Vima (Το Βημα).” Beyond these linguistic artifacts, there is Christianity itself, fusing Jewish and Greek traditions and culture, and Roman institutions. In a very real sense not only is this synagogue a window into the identity of our fellow Greeks of the Jewish faith, it is a window into our own Christian past.

T h e s y n ago g u e to d ay op e r ate s w it h a congregation largely suburban, and as the names of the benefactors lining the wall attest, they are heavily intermarried with Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews, as well as Americans of other faiths. They do, however, keep their reference point as a unique “room” in the House of Israel, and as c an b e exp e c te d f rom a Gre ek Community in the Diaspora, they have an annual “Greek Jewish Festival” in May that closes off their narrow street, and provides a window into their unique yet familiar culture. Also in proper Greek fashion, the food is legendary.

For us, it was important to find these Greek roots in lower Manhattan, and to celebrate the mosaic of being Greek, and being American. Find your The Greek Jews were an even smaller group, way to Kehila Kedosha Janina when visiting New neither Sephardic nor Ashkenazi, clinging to a York. You will find part of your narrative, and if cultural and linguistic identity that they shared Marcia is there, a warm and hospitable narrator.

ARCAthens Awards Two Fellowships nd for Its 2 Residency Program and Partners with Atopos CVC A RC At h e ns an n ou n c e d t h e awarding of its Fall 2019 Residency Fellowships to artist Tomashi Jackson and curator Miranda Lash.

For six weeks, from October 1 through November 15, the ARCAthens Fellows will be in residence at Atopos Contemporary Visual Culture, located in the heart of the arts district of the Metaxourgeio area of Athens. Executive Director Aristides Logothetis stated: “For our second residency session we are thrilled to be hosting two wonderful, TOMASHI JACKSON creative women. Visual ar tist ARCAthens Visual Art Fellow Tomashi Jackson is a compelling talent whose work is currently on view in the Whitney Biennial. Miranda Lash is the innovative Curator of Contemporary Art based at the Speed Art Museum whose many prior exhibitions have been seen at the New Orleans Museum of Art. Both Fellows will be hosted at the well-known Athenian arts institution, Atopos CVC. This new and special partnership between our organizations will add to the focused and dynamic Outreach Program we provide our Fellows and the Athenian arts community.”

ARCAthens (Artist Residency Center Athens) is a New York City 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to actively promoting growth in the visual arts community through a comprehensive residency program. Through the ARCAthens Residency, artists and curators are provided with the time, space, and access that allow an immersive experience as they live and create in Athens, Greece. Following the success of the Spring 2019 Pilot Program, ARCAthens is continuing the mission to support the arts and build international bridges for meaningful cultural exchange.

Atopos CVC is a non-profit, cultural organization interested in the expression and adornment of the human body. Located in Athens, it researches and initiates innovative projects of contemporary visual culture in an ‘atopic’ manner. Atopos CVC collaborates with museums, galleries and independent artists, coproducing and implementing new ideas in the form of exhibitions, publications, installations and performances.

Tomashi Jackson is a multi-disciplinary artist who uses the formal properties of color perception as an aesthetic strategy to investigate the value of human life in public space. Jackson was born in Houston, Texas in 1980 and grew up in Los Angeles, California. She received her MFA in Painting and Printmaking from Yale University School of Art in 2016; earned her Master of Science in Art, Culture and Technology from the MIT School of Architecture and Planning in 2012; and her BFA from Cooper Union in 2010. Jackson’s solo exhibition Time Out of Mind is currently on view at Tilton Gallery, New York. Her work is also included in the Whitney Biennial 2019, New York, and in Hinge Pictures: Eight Women Artists Occupy the Third Dimension at the Contemporary Art Center, New Orleans.

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Miranda Lash is the curator of contemporary art at the Speed Art Museum and a board member for the Joan Mitchell Foundation. Her recent exhibitions at the Speed include Yinka Shonibare: The American Library (co-curated with Alice Gray Stites), Keltie Ferris: *O*P*E*N*, and BRUCE CONNER: FOREVER AND EVER (co-curated with Dean Otto). Her 2017 exhibition Southern Accent: Seeking the American South in Contemporary Art, coorganized with Trevor Schoonmaker, garnered praise from sources including The New York Times, Hyperallergic, and NPR. MIRANDA LASH Lash was recently a member of the Artistic ARCAthens Curatorial Fellow Director’s Council for the international triennial Prospect.4 in New Orleans (20172018). From 2008 to 2014, Lash was the founding curator of modern and contemporary art at the New Orleans Museum of Art. There she curated over twenty exhibitions.

For more information the ARCATHENS website is arcathens.org

Greek Maritime Golf Event at Costa Navarino

The story of the Greeks in Egypt from Muhammad Ali to Nasser The golf tournament of the shipping community returned for the 5th consecutive year at Costa Navarino from June 8-9, 2019, with a rich program full of golf, parallel activities and many surprises for the Greek and global shipping industry.

“Greek Maritime Golf Event” teams, consisted of distinguished executives of the Greek shipping community (four people in each team), were formed. Golfers competed in the two signature 18-hole courses, The Dunes Course and The Bay Course.

The action began on Saturday, June 8, at 10.00 am, with participants competing on both team and individual levels in a shotgun scramble that took place at The Dunes Course.

On Sunday, June 9, at 10.00 am, golfers participated in the two (2) ball better ball (3/4 hcp) at The Bay Course.

Teams participating claimed the prizes for the top three positions in the overall standings on both courses; while special awards were given on Saturdays’ game to individual players achieved the best scores in the special categories “Longest Drive” and “Closest to the Pin”.

For those not taking part in the golf tournament, the event had enriched its program with parallel activities. Specifically, on Saturday, June 8, non-golfers had the opportunity to attend the golf clinic and took part in the putting competition held at The Dunes Course. Respectively, lovers of nature and history joined the guided tour at the beautiful Venetian fortress of Niokastro in Pylos. It was built in 1573 and constitutes one of the two castles that preserved the strategic Navarino Bay. Golfing action was concluded with the award ceremony and announcement of the winners. More information about the tournament’s full program can be found at the following link: https://bit.ly/2WzVA8n The “Greek Maritime Golf Event”, is organized by Golf Events 18, an initiative of the recognized Greek PGA golfers, Mr. Panagiotis and Mr. Thanos Karantzias. The top golf tournament is exclusively addressed to distinguished executives of the Greek shipping community.

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“The Greeks and the Making of Modern Egypt” a new book by Professor Alexander Kitroeff, is the first account of the modern Greek presence in Egypt from its beginnings during the era of Muhammad Ali to its final days under Nasser. It casts a critical eye on the reality and myths surrounding the complex and ubiquitous Greek community in Egypt by examining the Greeks’ legal status, their relations with the country’s rulers, their interactions with both elite and ordinary Egyptians, their economic activities, their contacts with foreign communities, their ties to their Greek homeland, and their community life, which included a rich and celebrated literary culture.

From the early nineteenth century through to the 1960s, the Greeks formed the largest, most economically powerful, and geographically and socially diverse of all European communities in Egypt. Although they benefited from the privileges extended to foreigners and the control exercised by Britain, they claimed nonetheless to enjoy a special relationship with Egypt and the Egyptians, and saw themselves as contributors to the country’s modernization.

The author suggests that although the Greeks’ self-image as contributors to Egypt’s development is exaggerated, there were ways in which they functioned as agents of modernity, albeit from a privileged and protected position. While they never gained the acceptance they sought, the Greeks developed an intense and nostalgic love affair with Egypt after their forced departure in the 1950s and 1960s and resettlement in Greece and farther afield. This rich and engaging history of the Greeks in Egypt in the modern era will appeal to students, scholars, travelers, and general readers alike.

Alexander Kitroeff is associate professor of history at Haverford College, where he teaches courses on Modern European and Mediterranean history. Born in Greece, he studied in Britain, where he received his doctoral degree in history at Oxford University.

T h e b o o k , a n AU C P r e s s Publication, is available at major bookstores and Professor Alexander Kitroeff Amazon.

My experience on NDCP 2018 This experience was incredible, and it was the best few weeks of my life. I was able improve my Greek, participate in bouzoukia dances and know much more about the history & culture of the beautiful island of Cyprus. It has given me lifelong friends across the globe and I have been able to spend time with several participants since from the United Kingdom and South Africa. I am very excited to be flying to Australia in August to stay with some Aussie participants I met last summer. I will forever be thankful to NEPOMAK for giving me this opportunity and I am proud to be part of this global network of young Cypriots across the globe.

NEPOMAK’s Discover Cyprus Program (NDCP) 2019

To anyone who wants to apply, it i s t he opportunity of a lifetime which opens up so many opportunities. NEPOMAK also offers several great internships or scholarships and it is a brilliant organisation.

by Alexandra Grainger

NEPOMAK’s Discover Cyprus Program (NDCP) 2019 started on 1 July and will be an incredible experience for 45 young Cypriots.

The program is organised by NEPOMAK, a global organisation connecting young overseas Cypriots based predominantly in South Africa, the United Kingdom; Australia, Canada; Greece and the USA. NDCP gives these individuals, aged between 18 and 22, with the fantastic opportunity to explore and learn about their culture and history while making lifelong friends from around the world.

explore the Old Fort, Tomb of the Kings, House of Dionysos and Coral Bay with additional day trips to Larnaca and Limassol.

In Larnaca participants will discover Dheryneia View Point, Hake Sultan-Tekke, Phinikoudes, Agios Lazaros and Panagia F o r f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t Aggeloktisti. In Limassol participants will visit ht t p s : / / n e p o m a k . o r g / n d c p o r e m a i l Kolossi castle, Kourion Theatre or the Old info@nepomak.org.

Town centre; with all excursions including free time to relax and e at in lo cal restaurants.

The three-week program incorporates a wide range of activities both inside and outside of the classroom. Participants stay in the residence of the University of Cyprus which is a brilliant location within Nicosia. The accommodation is a short walk from the university campus where the participants attend morning class throughout the week.

There are regular trips to the supermarket and the campus offers a wide selection of lunchtime meals in the canteen. Participants are placed into three groups based on their ability of the Greek language over the first few days: beginner, intermediate and advanced.

Moreover, they have further lessons in history every day and also in dance once or twice a week.

Further activities on the weekend will include: Tro o dos m o u n t a i n s e x c u r s i o n s (including the Kykkos monastery), a boat party in the Blue Lagoon, a Jeep Safari Troodos Tour ( i n c l u d i n g Waterfalls, UNESCO monastery and Omodos village); Guaba Beach Bar and a bouzoukia dinner and dance in Pissouri. In addition to a toga party and an award ceremony ; there are evenings out in Nicosia and Larnaca which are so m u c h f u n .

Participants also get to experience Ayia Napa and a few beach t r ip s t o Ni s s i or Mackenzie b e ach too.

Most afternoons and evenings have fun activities and participants have free time to explore Nicosia. Activities such as: stargazing, group cooking, karaoke night; games night or excursions to the presidential palace; EOKA graves or the Museum of Cyprus give participants a further opportunity to experience the history and culture of Cyprus.

On the weekend there are guided tours which enable students to travel across the whole island. Participants will travel to Paphos to

Rhigas Pheraios’ “Charta,” Life, and Era discussed at EMBCA Event

From left, Bishop Irinej, Consul Marjana Zivkovic, Alexander Billinis, Lou Katsos and Stamatis Ghikas. PHOTO: ETA PRESS The East Mediterranean Business Culture Alliance (EMBCA) hosted recently another successful lecture at the 3 West Club in Manhattan. The topic was Rhigas Pheraios’ “Charta,” a reflection of the man, his ideas, and his era 221 years after his martyrdom.

EMBCA President Lou Katsos hosted the lecture and introduced the subject of Rhigas Pheraios, a man who sought to create a Balkan federation out of the peoples of the Ottoman Empire. Typical of the types of events EMBCA hosts, the lecture asked important questions about what might have been and delves deeper into a history little known. Katsos’ remarks were followed

by Stamatis Ghikas, First Vice President of EMBCA and former director of the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce, with an overview on the Arvanites who played such a pivotal in Greek history.

Clemson instructor, author and historian Alexander Billinis discussed the Balkans in Rhigas Pheraios’ time and the common cultural affinities in the mosaic of ethnicities in the Balkans.

Distinguished guests included the Serbian Consul Marjana Zivkovic and His Grace the Right Reverend Irinej, Bishop of the Serbian Orthodox Church’s Eastern Diocese. Katsos invited both to speak after the lecture about the common ties between Greeks and Serbs, who also admire Rhigas Pheraios as a hero who met his martyrdom at the Turks’ hands in Belgrade. Bishop Irinej addressed the attendees in both English and Greek and recalled his years in Belgrade where he would serve at the annual doxology for Annunciation Day in front of the monument to Rhigas Pheraios in Belgrade.

Professor Andre Gerolymatos In Memoriam i nv o l v e m e nt i n t h e Greek Civil War. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Classics from L oyol a C ol l e ge and Concordia University, then a Masters in Classics followed by a Doctorate in History from McGill University.

In addition to his overlapping academic roles, he also served as a member of the C a n a d i a n Ad v i s o r y Council on National P r o m i n e nt au t h o r a n d G r e e k - Security from 2010 to 2012.

Canadian professor of History Andre Gerolymatos died on Thursday May 30 Gerolymatos is the author of a number after a battle against an aggressive form of books on Greek history, including of brain cancer. He was the Director of 2004’s “Red Acropolis, Black Terror: the Stavros Niarchos Foundation The Greek Civil War and the Origins of Centre for Hellenic Studies at Simon Soviet-American Rivalry, 1943-1949,” Fraser University (SFU), and a regular which argues that the Greek Civil War commentator on Greek history and was the first engagement of the United current affairs in numerous news States in the Cold War. outlets.

His most recent books were “The He spearheaded the field of Hellenic British and the Greek Resistance, 1936Studies at SFU in 1996 with the 1944: Spies, Saboteurs, and Partisans,” e s t a b l i s h m e nt o f t h e He l l e n i c from Lexington Books, and “An C a n a d i a n C o n g r e s s o f B r i t i s h International Civil War, Greece, 1943Columbia Chair in Hellenic Studies, 1949,” from Yale University Press. made possible by donations from the Hellenic Community of Vancouver with matching funds from the Province Photo and info was taken from of British Columbia. canada.greekreporter.com Gerolymatos was the inaugural holder of that chair, and ever since then, he It is with great sadness that we share worked tirelessly to secure more n e w s o f t h e p a s s i n g o f A n d r é funding and resources to expand the Gerolymatos, who was Professor of History and Director of the Stavros discipline at SFU. Niarchos Foundation Centre for These efforts culminated in 2011 with Hellenic Studies at Simon Fraser the establishment of the Stavros University in British Columbia, Niarchos Foundation Centre for Canada.

Hellenic Studies, through a generous multi-million dollar donation by the Dr. Gerolymatos also held the Hellenic SNF. The Centre, along with the SNF Canadian Congress of BC Chair in New Media Lab, has pioneered new Hellenic studies. ways to teach and learn Greek, and has been active in the community, staging Dr. Gerolymatos’s tireless efforts were instrumental in making the Centre, events throughout the year. and by extension Simon Fraser As an expert in modern Greek history University, one of the foremost and international affairs, Gerolymatos contributors to the field of Hellenic served on the Canadian Advisory studies. His work was integral to Council on National Security from ensuring that it would have the human 2010 to 2012. Dr. Gerolymatos’s own capital, through a robust suite of research specialized in Greek military p e r m a n e n t l y e n d o w e d f a c u l t y and diplomatic history, ranging in positions, to make it a lasting dynamo s u b j e c t m a t t e r f r o m m i l i t a r y of research and pedagogy. He began his intelligence gathering in Classical tenure as Director of the Centre in Greece to American and Soviet 2011.

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Greek Education that makes us better Americans!

We devoted the last three covers of the magazine to education by showcasing three teachers from various generations and backgrounds. We did this because we believe education in general and Greek American education in particular find themselves in crisis, in the first case, and a few steps before extinction in the latter.

New technologies have brought new opportunities, but also great challenges for any form of status quo, things that we used to take for granted aren't taken for granted anymore and various sectors are facing the Darwinian dilemma of adaptation or death.

Greek education in America has been losing ground for some time: a number of great schools have closed in the past few years. Those still open--with the exception of St. Demetrios in Astoria--aren't in great shape, either. George Papayannis, the Cathedral School principal whom we featured in April, resigned, the third principal to leave the school in four years. Sure, each institution faces its own challenges and there are peculiarities that have to do with personalities, mentalities and backstage politicking. One thing is certain though: Greek Education as it used to be and still is doesn't “sell” anymore and in the present form is a thing of the past that has outlived its days.

Greek schools in America were built by immigrants with the aim to educate their kids in a way that could make them “compatible” with Greece. The dream of most of them was to go back one day and their children should have had the educational background to make the transition as smoothly as possible.

Even today, the St. Demetrios School in Astor ia Gre ek c ur r ic u lum corresponds to the respective grade curriculum of the Greek public school system. This concept, not necessarily bad, is obsolete nowadays because the majority of Greeks that immigrated to the US Porto Katsiki Beach, stayed here and are four and five Lefkas, Greece generations removed: many from mixed marriages with other ethnicities and religions. The Greek school system in America has hardly adapted to this reality and the kind of education it offers to Americans is still mostly Greece oriented.

That has to change if Greek education will have a future here. The aim shouldn't be to prepare kids to live in Greece, but to make them BETTER AMERICANS through Hellenism! The “selling point” of our schools and educators to 2nd, 3rd and 4th generations Greek Americans must be the fact that by learning more about and embracing the Hellenic side of your identity you become a better human being, a better citizen, a better American.

Hellenism is an ecumenical concept, not confined within the borders of Greece and Cyprus. Our educational institutions must reflect that fact and be open to emerging realities that though bringing uneasiness and insecurity at first, offer new and unique opportunities for Greek language and culture to develop further and flourish. The present model has exhausted itself and the clock is ticking.

But enough about schools, it's summer already! Enjoy fully and hopefully you will make it to Greece or Cyprus, of both because they still offer the best schooling when it comes to …Greekness!

On my humble part, I've always been a good student and this year can't be an exception. See you there!

Giannis Antetokounmpo Gives Emotional Speech After Winning NBA MVP Antetokounmpo tearfully expressed his love Award for his brothers, but became even more

by Tasos Kokkinidis*

Poster by Giannis Stamatis

speech — about what the achievement meant to him while thanking everyone p o s s i b l e .

Antetokounmpo did ju s t t h at a n d h i s words were heavy with gratitude. But in a memorable, moving six minutes, he broke down in tears multiple times, drawing applause and supp or t f rom t he audience. “I want to thank God for putting me in this amazing position that I’m in today,” he said.

“Everything I do, I do it through Him and I’m extremely blessed… I want to thank my team. First of all, I want to thank my teammates. It takes more than one person to win 60 games. Every time I walked into the locker room I saw my teammates, they were ready to go, to fight. They were ready to go to war with me, to lace up their shoes. They went out there and they gave 100%.”

“I want to thank the coaching staff for teaching us, pushing us every day, every single day believing in us, teaching us what it takes to win… I want to thank the city of Milwaukee, I want to thank my countries Greece and Nigeria for always supporting me,” the basketball great concluded.

Antetokounmp o’s sp eech re ached an emotional crescendo when he began speaking about his family. Parents Charles and Veronica Giannis Antetokounmpo holding the MVP immigrated from Nigeria, settling in the of the 2018-19 NBA season Award and Sepolia neighborhood of Athens. Giannis showing his blazer with the Parthenon image shared sneakers with his older brother Thanasis and often slept in the local gym M i l w a u k e e B u c k s b i g m a n G i a n n i s where he trained.

Antetokounmpo capped off an incredible year by being named MVP of the 2018-19 NBA Giannis and Thanasis sold sunglasses and season during the league’s awards show. trinkets to help put food on the table, Leading up to the event, the 24-year-old had supplementing the earnings of their parents, confidently told his family he wouldn’t be who supplied plenty of love to make up for emotional if he were to win the MVP. Instead, what they didn’t have in money. he’d speak from the heart — he didn’t prepare a 58

JUNE/JULY 2019 NEWS & NOTES

emotional when discussing his father, who passed away suddenly on Sept. 29, 2017, following a heart attack at the age of 53. “Two years ago I had the goal in my head that I’m going to be the best player in the league, I’m going to do whatever it takes to help my team win and I’m going to win the MVP,” he stated.

“Every day that I step on the floor I always think about my dad and that motivates me and it pushes me to play harder and move forward.

Even when my body’s sore, even when I don’t feel like playing, I’m always going to show up and I’m always going to do the right thing,” he told the enraptured audience at the awards.

His mother, Veronica, stood proudly close to the stage as she listened to her son call her his hero. “I want to thank my amazing Mom,” he said. “She’s my hero… As a little kid, you don’t see the future, right? If you have a good parent, your parent sees the future for you. She always saw the future in us, she always believed in us, she was always there for us. She’s the foundation of this family. You’re my true hero.

You’re my true hero.”

“I want to thank the front office, the ownership for believing (in) me when I was 18 years old back in G r e e c e ,” Antetokounmpo said, repeating the line twice so that the audience w o u l d Giannis with designer Giorgos Papadogamvros of Athens understand as he who's making the blazers with f o u g h t b a c k the ancient Greek images tears. “They allowed me to lead this team and trust me.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo made Greeks worldwide proud for another reason as well: at the ceremony he sported a blue blazer with images of the Parthenon on the inside while accepting his amazing award. Giorgos Papadogamvros of Athens is the Greek fashion designer behind these cool blazers and he says every time Giannis comes to Greece, he orders jackets with Ancient Greek images.

The “Greek Freak” stood proudly for the cameras, holding his outstanding award in one hand and his blazer open with the other, revealing the Acropolis, which is close to Giannis’ heart as he was born and raised in the Greek Capital.

This article was first published in usa.greekreporter.com Additional info was taking from greekcitytimes.com