Leaders from the Turkish American community proudly represented Türkiye at the 2024 Sister States International Legislative Reception in Annapolis, showcasing a vibrant array of Turkish culture. The event featured Turkish coffee, wines, desserts, handcrafts, travel brochures, cookbooks, and various posters, offering attendees a taste of Türkiye’s rich heritage. A highlight of the reception was a lively demonstration of Turkish folk dance by the Kardelen dancers, with guests joyfully joining in the celebration. The special connection between Maryland and Kocaeli, which became Sister States in 2017 through the initiative of Günay Evinch, Co-Chair of the Sister States Committee and a political appointee in the Governor’s Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs, was further strengthened during this event. Supporting organizations for the reception included TASC, the American Turkish Association of Washington DC (ATA-DC), the Maryland American Turkish Association (MATA), the Turkish Coffee Lady Foundation, and the Kardelen dance group. This celebration was a true reflection of the growing cultural ties between Maryland and Türkiye.