Niagara Foundation#Peace and Dialogue Awards
{{Short description|Chicago-based nonprofit organization}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Niagara Foundation
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| formation = 2004
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| type = Nonprofit
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| purpose = Fostering civic conversations and sustained relationships between people of different cultures and faiths
| headquarters = Chicago
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| region = Midwest
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| leader_name = Fethullah Gulen
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| leader_name2 = Şerif Soydan
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| leader_name3 = Hilmi Çınar
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| parent_organization = Alliance for Shared Values
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The Niagara Foundation is a nonprofit organization,{{Cite web|url=http://www.guidestar.org/organizations/26-4443012/niagara-foundation.aspx|title = NIAGARA FOUNDATION - GuideStar Profile}} founded in 2004,{{cite web|title=History of Niagara Foundation|url=http://www.niagarafoundation.org/niagara/history-of-niagara-foundation/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140130032006/http://www.niagarafoundation.org/niagara/history-of-niagara-foundation/|archive-date=2014-01-30}} dedicated to the mission of fostering civic conversations and sustained relationships between people of different cultures and faiths, and part of the Alliance for Shared Values.{{cite web|title=Niagara Foundation Homepage|url=http://www.niagarafoundation.org}}{{cite web|last=Kass|first=John|title=Sign of peace from Turkey is a lesson for us on 9/11 anniversary|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-09-02/news/ct-met-kass-0902-20110902_1_turkey-muslims-jews|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203103135/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-09-02/news/ct-met-kass-0902-20110902_1_turkey-muslims-jews|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 3, 2012|publisher=Chicago Tribune|accessdate=29 January 2014}}{{cite web|title=Niagara Foundation|url=http://www.afsv.org/members/niagara-foundation/|publisher=Alliance for Shared Values|accessdate=29 January 2014}}
Niagara has branches across the Midwest including Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio, Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Iowa, but is headquartered in Chicago.{{cite web|last=Phelps|first=Tim|title=From His Pa. Compound, Fethullah Gulen Shakes Up Turkey|url=http://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-turkey-gulen-20140120,0,2141832.story?page=2#axzz2roRsgdNh|work=Los Angeles Times|date=20 January 2014|accessdate=29 January 2014}} On October 3, 2013, the Niagara Foundation branch in Des Moines, Iowa held a Turkish American business development forum.{{cite web|last=Willet|first=Brent|title=Presidential Post|url=http://www.pdiowa.com/media/22120/the_pdi_post_august_15__2013.htm|accessdate=31 January 2014}}
The Niagara Foundation is associated with the Gülen movement and its honorary president is Fethullah Gulen. Which lead to Turkey freezing Niagara Foundation's assets in December 2021.{{cite web|title=Fethullah Gulen|url=http://www.niagarafoundation.org/niagara/fethullah-gulen/|accessdate=31 January 2014}}{{cite web |url=http://ecumenical-interreligiousnic.org/?page_id=52 |title=Interreligious Links {{!}} C U I R of Northern Illinois United Methodist Church |website=ecumenical-interreligiousnic.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416155442/http://ecumenical-interreligiousnic.org/?page_id=52 |archive-date=2015-04-16}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.city-journal.org/2012/22_4_fethullah-gulen.html|title = Who is Fethullah Gülen?|date = 23 December 2015}}{{Cite web|title=Turkey freezes assets of 770 individuals, US-based foundation|url=https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-689685|access-date=2021-12-26|website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com|date=24 December 2021 |language=en-US}}
Key people
The former President of the Niagara Foundation, Şerif Soydan, and its Vice President Hilmi Çınar were present for the signing of the "sister airport" agreement between Chicago's airports and the Istanbul Atatürk Airport in Turkey.{{cite web|title=Chicago and Istanbul Airports Join to Promote Business, Tourism|url=http://www.flychicago.com/business/EN/media/news/stories/pages/NewsDetail.aspx?ItemID=896}} Çınar was also a member of the 2012 Chicago NATO Host Committee{{cite web|title=Chicago NATO Host Committee|url=http://www.chicagonato.org/welcome-committee-pages-291.php}} and he also spoke at an Elgin Chamber of Commerce (Elgin, Illinois) development meeting about trade with Turkey.{{cite web|last=Janelle |first=Walker |title=Talking Turkey in Elgin |url=http://couriernews.suntimes.com/photos/galleries/18251864-417/talking-turkey-in-elgin.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140326121527/http://couriernews.suntimes.com/photos/galleries/18251864-417/talking-turkey-in-elgin.html |archive-date=March 26, 2014 }} Soydan is on the board of advisors to the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago{{cite web |url=http://www.ctu.edu/bernardin-center/board-advisors |title=Board of Advisors {{!}} Catholic Theological Union |website=www.ctu.edu |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101110195955/http://www.ctu.edu/bernardin-center/board-advisors |archive-date=2010-11-10}} and Robert Morris University in Moon Township, Pennsylvania.{{cite web |url=http://ecumenical-interreligiousnic.org/?page_id=52 |title=Interreligious Links {{!}} C U I R of Northern Illinois United Methodist Church |website=ecumenical-interreligiousnic.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416155442/http://ecumenical-interreligiousnic.org/?page_id=52 |archive-date=2015-04-16}} These academic relationships are also fostered by Niagara's internship program, which has hosted international students from universities around Chicago.{{Cite web|url=http://www.niagarafoundation.org/niagara/internships-and-fellowships/|title=Internships and Fellowships | Niagara Foundation}}{{Cite web |date=2016-03-03 |title=Newest Marketing Internships on Experience {{!}} DePaul Department of Marketing |url=http://depaulmarketing.org/2014/07/01/newest-marketing-internships-on-experience/ |access-date=2023-06-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303224926/http://depaulmarketing.org/2014/07/01/newest-marketing-internships-on-experience/ |archive-date=2016-03-03 }}{{Cite web |date=2014-10-06 |title=Internship and Volunteer Opportunities « Peace and Conflict Resolution Studies Peace and Conflict Resolution Studies |url=http://cas.illinoisstate.edu/sites/peacestudies/links/ |access-date=2023-06-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006073148/http://cas.illinoisstate.edu/sites/peacestudies/links/ |archive-date=2014-10-06 }}
Activities
Niagara carries out its mission through programs and events in three centers:
- Niagara Foundation’s Center for Academic Affairs works in collaboration with universities and scholars, offering platforms for discussion, organizing conferences, and publishing academic reports, such as the Chicago Gulen Conference in 2010{{cite web|title=Chicago Gulen Conference|url=http://www.chicagogulenconference.org|access-date=2020-04-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130325081548/http://www.chicagogulenconference.org/|archive-date=2013-03-25|url-status=dead}} and Study Turkiye, which is a competitive program that takes professors on annual trips to Turkey.{{cite web|title=Study Turkiye Program|url=http://www.niagarafoundation.org/study-turkiye-program-14/}}
- Niagara Foundation’s Center for Cultural Exchange & Interfaith Collaboration encourages pluralism by providing opportunities for people from all cultures, communities, and faith groups to be engaged in dialogue with events such as the Abrahamic Traditions Dinner,{{cite web|title=Rochester College and Niagara Foundation to Host Abrahamic Traditions Dinner|url=http://www.rc.edu/2013/02/rochester-college-niagara-foundation-to-host-abrahamic-dinner/}} the Chicago Interfaith Gathering,{{cite web|title=Chicago Interfaith Gathering|url=http://www.niagarafoundation.org/cig|accessdate=29 January 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140127034615/http://niagarafoundation.org/cig/|archive-date=27 January 2014}}{{cite web|title=Ten New Board Members Join Parliament|url=http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=15d4f7de1064a5171ce87bc0e&id=5fb4f85994&e=yYrAprlpoW|publisher=Parliament for Council of World's Religions|accessdate=29 January 2014}} intercultural trips to Turkey for local leaders, and many more.{{cite web |url=http://www.archchicago.org/departments/ecumenical/NiagaraFoundation_CommunityIftar.html |title=Archdiocese of Chicago |website=www.archchicago.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808055156/http://www.archchicago.org/departments/ecumenical/NiagaraFoundation_CommunityIftar.html |archive-date=2014-08-08}}
- The Center for Public and Global Affairs, which offers platforms for speakers to spotlight trends, analyze important issues, exchange ideas, and participate in productive interactions that promote innovative global and public policy solutions. Speakers at the Niagara Forum have included US Senator Dick Durbin,{{cite web|last=Lowery|first=Christopher|title=Durbin Talks Student Loans, Health Care|date=25 October 2011 |url=http://www.durbin.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/localnews?ID=02a8385c-b59a-4eb7-89fc-90f90cf312d4|publisher=Daily Illini|accessdate=29 January 2014}} Lori Healey, Executive Director of the NATO Host Committee{{cite web|last=Bergen|first=Kathy|title=City scrutinizing some construction-related permits ahead of NATO|date=21 April 2012 |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2012/04/21/city-scrutinizing-some-construction-related-permits-ahead-of-nato/|publisher=Chicago Tribune|access-date=29 January 2014}} and Graham Paul, Consul General of France{{cite web|last=Paul|first=Graham|title=Discussion of the G20 and G8|url=http://consulfrance-chicago.org/spip.php?article1324}} and John Kass{{cite web|title=U.S. Presidential Pre-Election Discussion|url=http://www.niagarafoundation.org/john-kass-columnist-chicago-tribune/|publisher=Niagara Foundation|accessdate=29 January 2014}} among others.{{Cite web|url=http://depaulinternational.wordpress.com/2013/01/15/january-23-event-on-arab-spring-at-the-niagara-foundation/|title = Private Site}}
Peace and Dialogue Awards
Niagara Foundation grants the "Dialog and Peace Award" each year to individuals or organizations that "have demonstrated strong commitment to serving their community while maintaining a global mindset." The awards were founded in 2006{{cite web |title=Peace & Dialogue Awards |url=https://www.niagarafoundation.org/mirror/interfaith-engagement/faith-and-friendship-initiative/public-global-affairs/peace-dialogue-awards/ |website=Niagara Foundation |accessdate=21 June 2018}} and have honored the Chicago Tribune,{{cite web|title=Chicago Tribune|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2009-06-05/news/0906040579_1_media-award-receives-lifetime-achievement-award|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130327071544/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2009-06-05/news/0906040579_1_media-award-receives-lifetime-achievement-award|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 27, 2013|accessdate=29 January 2014}} Mark Owen Webb (professor of philosophy at Texas Tech University), Henry Bienen (President Emeritus, Northwestern University),{{cite web|title=Henry Bienen Biography|url=http://www.northwestern.edu/Bienen/biography.html|accessdate=31 January 2014}} Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos,{{cite web|title=Bishop Demetrios Bio|url=http://chicago.goarch.org/bishop-demetrios/|accessdate=31 January 2014}} and US Secretary of Education (previously CEO, Chicago Public Schools) Arne Duncan.{{cite web|title=Arne Duncan Biography|url=http://nces.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/statsdc/2010/bios2.asp|accessdate=29 January 2014}}