The American Hellenic Institute Foundation

in cooperation with the

Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation
The Behrakis Foundation

and co-sponsored by the

Hellenic American National Council
THE HELLENIC VOICE

Logo

Present the

7th Annual Conference on
The Future of Hellenism in America

November 22, 2008
The Colonnade Hotel • 120 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA
(617) 424-7000

The AHIF wishes to especially thank

Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation

and

The Behrakis Foundation

for their invaluable support in making this conference possible.

Click Here for Registration Page

Saturday, November 22, 2008

8:00 a.m.
 Registration & Coffee

9:00 a.m.
Welcome

CONFERENCE CHAIRMAN
 George D. Behrakis
Chairman, Gainesborough Investments

9:10 a.m.
Opening Keynote

Topic:
GREEK INSTITUTIONAL DIVERSITY AND THE CHALLENGES AHEAD

Keynote Speaker
Professor Alexander Kitroeff
Associate Professor of History and Academic Director
Center for Peace & Global Citizenship, Haverford College, Pennsylvania

Morning Session

9:30 a.m.

Session A:
 The Future of Greek American Organizations

  1. Nick Larigakis, Executive Director, American Hellenic Institute
  2. William B. Marianes, Esq., Chairman, AHEPA Vision Alliance

 

9:50 a.m. — Q & A

 

10:00 a.m.

Session B:
The Image of Hellenism: Hellenic Culture, the Media, Sports, and the Next Generation

Moderator:
George Chryssis, President & CEO, Itergon Corp.

  1. The Importance of Promoting Greek Culture: The Role of the Greek American Community
    Christine Kondoleon, George & Margo Behrakis Senior Curator of Greek and Roman Art, Art of the Ancient World 2001-present, Museum of Fine Arts 
  2. The Importance of the Greek American Print Media
    John T. Baglaneas, Executive Editor & Managing Director, The Hellenic Voice
  3. The Impact of Athletes in the Promotion of Hellenism
    Nick Tsiotos, Associate Sports Editor, The Hellenic Voice
  4. How Do Second, Third & Third Plus Generations of Greek Americans View Their Greek Ethnicity
    Angelyn Balodimas-Bartolomei, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Education, North Park University, Illinois

 

11:00 a.m. — Q & A

 

11:15 a.m.

Session C:
The Importance of Being Active in the Political Process

Moderator:
Professor Van Coufoudakis, Rector Emeritus, University of Nicosia, Cyprus

  1. The Fundamentals of Participating in the U.S. Political Process
    Nick Karambelas, Partner, Sfikas & Karambelas 
  2. Member of Congress
    Representative Niki Tsongas (D-MA)
  3. The Role of the Greek American Community in Support for U.S. Relations with Greece and Cyprus and Why this is Important
    Gene Rossides, President, American Hellenic Institute

 

11:50 a.m. — Q & A

 

12:00 Noon — Luncheon

Luncheon Chairman:  George Danis, CEO, IntegraTech Solutions 

Greetings:
Constantinos Orphanides, Consul General of Greece

Main Speaker:
Michael S. Dukakis, Former Governor of Massachusetts 

Afternoon Session

1:30 p.m.

Session D:
The Image of Hellenism: Religious Identity

Moderator:
Dr. Elizabeth H. Prodromou, Assistant Professor, Dept. of International Relations, Boston University

  1. The Future of Orthodoxy in America
    Rev. Dr. Thomas Fitzgerald, Dean, Holy Cross School of Theology
  2. The Future of Orthodox Priesthood in America
    Rev. Nicholas Triantafilou, President, Hellenic College and Holy Cross School of Theology

  

2:00 p.m. — Q & A

 

2:15 p.m.

Session E: 
Greek Education in America

Moderator:
Nicholas Kourtis, Chief Operating Officer, TwinStrata, Inc. 

  1. The Importance of Increasing Modern Greek Studies Programs and Expanding the Curriculum
    Jennifer R. Kellogg, Assistant Director for Curricular Development, Fellowships, and Outreach, Harvard University Center for Hellenic Studies, Washington, DC
  2. The Importance of the Greek Language
    Dr. James Skedros, Professor of the Cantonis Chair for Byzantine Studies & Professor of History, Hellenic College and Holy Cross School of Theology, MA
  3. Greek Elementary School Programs in America: Are We Meeting the Needs?
    Kleanthi E. Mavrogiannaki, MA, Lecturer of Modern Greek, Northeastern University, Boston and Founder & Director, Greek 4 Kids

 

2:45 p.m. — Q & A

 

3:00 p.m.

Session F:
A Perspective from Young Greek Americans

Moderator:
Tina Papadopoulos, Area Director of Development for Massachusetts,
American Cancer Society and President, AHI New England Chapter

  1. George Papadopoulos, Political Science Student, DePaul University, IL
  2. Alexandra Karambelas, Classics & English Literature Student, Tufts University, MA
  3. Michael S. Aktipis, Ph.D., J.D. Candidate, Harvard Law School, MA

 

3:30 p.m. — Q & A  

 

4:45 p.m.

Round Table Discussion with Audience

Moderator: 
Professor Van Coufoudakis

Click Here for Registration Page