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AHI President Larigakis Provides Remarks on the Role of AHI at Capital Link webinar titled, “Culture and Education Among Greek Americans”

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No. 46

Washington, DC—American Hellenic Institute (AHI) President Nick Larigakis participated in Capital Link’s Webinar discussion on the topic of “Culture and Education among Greek Americans” on the occasion of the establishment of the “Miltiadis Marinakis Endowed Professorship for Modern Greek Language and Culture” at The Ohio State University, and of the appointment of the first Professor, Dr. Yiorgos Anagnostou. The webinar was held on April 7, 2021. 

Welcome remarks were provided by Mr. Nicolas Bornozis, President and CEO of Capital Link, Inc. Introductory remarks were provided by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, H.E. Alexandra Papadopoulou, Ambassador of Greece in the U.S., Mr. Evangelos M. Marinakis, Chairman of Capital Maritime and Trading Corp., and Dr. Yiorgos Anagnostou, Miltiadis Marinakis Professor of Modern Greek Language and Culture at The Ohio State University.

Participating panelists included Nick Larigakis, President and CEO of AHI, Mr. John P. Calamos, Sr., Founder, Chairman & Global CIO – Calamos Investments and Chairman of the National Hellenic Museum; Mr. Drake Behrakis of the Behrakis Foundation, Board Chairman of the National Hellenic Society and President of Marwick Associates; Mr. Robert Buhler, Chairman of PanHellenic Scholarship Foundation and President and Chief Executive Officer of Open Pantry Food Marts of Wisconsin, Inc.; Mr. George G. Horiates, Supreme President of the Order of AHEPA; and Dr. Artemis Leontis, C.P. Cavafy Professor of Modern Greek and Comparative Literature Department of Classical Studies at the University of Michigan. Dr. Gregory Jusdanis, Modern Greek Humanities Distinguished Professor at The Ohio State University served as the moderator. 

President Larigakis discussed how throughout his thirty-four years of interacting with Greek-

Americans across the United States, he has observed that we are in a critical phase as a community, in particular regarding keeping third and fourth generation Greek-Americans rooted in issues of concern to the community.

 He notes that, “Education programs are important means of engagement. However, it is important to have an innovative outlook regarding education, beyond traditional Greek language and classical programs. Greek-American educational initiatives should also include additional areas of focus, including contemporary Greek history and the history of the Greek-American community itself.”

AHI President Larigakis discusses the role the American Hellenic Institute and the American Hellenic Institute Foundation have played in the context of education. 

“AHI has a particular focus on the education of Greek-American youth,” he highlights. 

He goes on to say that, “In order to keep young Greek-Americans involved with the policy issues that are pertinent to the community, through our foundation, the American Hellenic Institute Foundation (AHIF), we conduct an annual College Student Foreign Policy Trip to Washington, DC, Greece, and Cyprus. During the program, the students experience first-hand the foreign policy issues affecting Greece and Cyprus, and the interests of the U.S. in the region.”

The webinar is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OVUEj8uTe0

The event was picked up by Greek media outlets. Please see coverage by To VIMA and Ta NEA