Prince George’s County Council Vice-Chair Dannielle Glaros (D) – District 3, and Council Member Todd M. Turner (D) – District 4 will attend the official opening ceremony of the new $110 million Diyanet Center of America, in Lanham, beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 2, 2016.
The Diyanet Center of America, an organization providing religious and social services to Turkish people and Muslims living in the United States, plans to continue its service to the entire surrounding community as well. The facility, which features a mosque, cultural center guest homes, and an underground sports complex, is an expansion of the Lanham campus, home since 1993 to the Turkish American Community Center Inc. (TACC), a non-profit organization founded by the local Turkish community. Since becoming residents in Prince George’s County, TACC has worked towards uniting the Turkish-American community by providing a worship center, strengthening the relations between Turkish people and the American society and providing a cultural home for the Turkish people.
Council Member Turner, who represents the community where the new facility is located, welcomes the Diyanet Center.
“Prince George’s County is rich with diversity and our immigrant community is an integral part of the fabric that makes our County great. We welcome the Diyanet Center as a venue of peace and expect that it will offer important opportunities for County residents to enhance their understanding of the Turkish culture, as the center continues its partnership with the surrounding community. ”
Last summer, Vice-Chair Glaros had the opportunity to share a meal and conversation with Christians, Jews, and Muslims on the final day of Ramadan. Vice Chair Glaros, who also represents residents near the new cultural center, looks forward to more such events that bring people together.
“The Diyanet Center has the potential to bridge any voids in our understanding of different faiths and cultures. I encourage residents and faith community leaders in the region to visit this cultural center, share in its beauty, and engage in conversations of mutuality and peace.”
The new Diyanet Center of America is located at 9704 Good Luck Road in Lanham, Maryland.