The new projects of the Pan-Cretan Association of America will focus on the cooperation between the Cretan element in the U.S.A and the local authorities of Crete as well as on the support of the young people. In an interview given by the new president of the Pan-Cretan Association of America Mr. John G. Manos κ. (John George Manoukarakis) he explains that the association has the resources, the knowledge and the experience to contribute to Crete’s promotion to the U.S.A and also offer the opportunity to the Cretan young people to visit the American continent through student exchange projects.
A large number of our compatriots lives and prospers abroad» mentions Mr. Manos. Apart from emigrants themselves, the younger generations of Cretans can show successful businessmen, executives in multinational companies, scientists, researchers and technocrats. We should take initiative to recruit and exploit this valuable human resource of the Greeks abroad so as to benefit the homeland.
Question: How could we promote Cretan products in the U.S.A?
Answer: During my recent visit to the island along with other representatives of the Pan-Cretan Association of America, we had the chance to meet with the Regional Governor of Crete Mr. Stavros Arnaoutakis, the vice-regional Governor of Rethymnon Mary Lioni, and the thematic vice-regional Governors Theano Vrentzou and Costas Lambrinos as well as the Director General of the Region Maria Damianaki. We subjected on behalf of the Cretan Association of America a number of suggestions which are based on years of efforts and the experience our association has in order to support and promote Crete in the broader American society. We expect their suggestions in order to conclude to common plan of action for the U.S.A.
Crete is an attractive tourist destination thanks to its natural beauty. It constitutes the matrix of the Western civilization and the famous and internationally acknowledged Mediterranean Diet. The Mediterranean Diet and its benefits to the human beings’ health are widely known to the Americans.
A systematic promotion of Crete must be organized through international fairs of products and services, cultural and food tasting events or lectures in many American centers. At the same time, Internet and our big network should be exploited.
Question: Will there be student exchange and hospitality programs?
Answer: Our young people and the cultivation of the bonds with Crete constitute a top priority for the Pan-Cretan Association of America. Our aim is to support and reinforce student exchange projects, so as more young Cretans get the chance to visit the U.S.A. and also young Cretans who live in the U.S.A, Greek-Americans and Americans to come to Crete.
In this way, the young Cretans who live in the U.S.A will have the opportunity to be baptized in the Cretan spirit and become blessed by Greek Education while the young Cretans of our homeland will be able to seek opportunities regarding postgraduate studies, internships and probably future jobs in America.
It is especially interesting to mention our new project entitled «Μentoring». In this project successful Cretans that live in America counsel, guide and give the opportunity to young people to work with them. It would have been a blessing regarding these projects if a small amount of Cretans have the chance to participate initially and later gradually this number to enlarge.
In any case, we have to make an effort to register the business and scientific human recourses of the Cretans abroad, per continent and country, in order to be utilized for the development and promotion of Crete.
Question: Tell us about the Pan-Cretan Association of America
Answer: The Pan-Cretan Association of America remains one of the largest and most powerful expatriate organizations in the U.S.A, with a numerous and dynamic Youth Group and innovative projects. It consists of 85 associations all over the country and of about 15.000 members.
The Pan-Cretan Association of America, from the day of its foundation till today, tries hard with all its powers and in every way to serve Crete and its inhabitants. You are all aware of the history, the charities and its enduring contribution to our island.
The aim of the Pan-Cretan Association in America is the reinforcement of our association in every way and its continual renewal and adjustment to the new social standards. Our priority is to support our young people regarding their studies and professional development. We have access to the best and biggest Universities of the country and jobs, through “Fortune 500 Companies”.
Question: Tell us about the recent initiatives of the Pan-Cretan Association of America in order to promote Crete to the U.S.A.
Answer: Two years ago in cooperation with the Local Authorities of Crete we celebrated the 80th anniversary of the Pan-Cretan Association of America and regardless the economic crisis in the U.S.A, we brought 600 Greeks who live abroad to the island – among them 150 young men and women – within the framework of our 41th conference. We also brought with us a group of prominent American journalists that work in Mass Media specialized in tourism, archaeology, nutrition and wines. This project, although it had a low cost, received great success regarding Crete’s international promotion.
During the last years we powerfully contributed to taking initiatives in order to promote Cretan Diet and products in various big cities in the U.S.A.: more particularly in meeting points, in Universities, in our Embassy in Washington, in Press conferences and in a series of broadcast material in the National Public Radio.
In 2008, we organized in the heart of Manhattan in cooperation with the Onassis Foundation, the magnificent fair “From the Land of the Labyrinth: Minoan Crete, 3000-1100 B.C.”, exhibiting the Minoan treasures of the Herakleion and Chania museums. Over 85.000 Americans visited the exhibition. In 2009, the exhibition “The origins of El Greco: Painting pictures in Venetian Crete” followed and again in the Onassis Cultural Center in New York, this time in cooperation with the Archdiocese of Crete. In both these events, a great promotion of Crete and the projection of its timeless civilization were achieved in the American Mass Media.
Another initiative of the Pan-Cretan Association is the creation of the «Minoan Village» in Atsipopoulo which will constitute a large and long-term investment for the island.
Curriculum Vitae
John G. Manos (John George Manoukarakis) was born in Vilandredo in Rethymnon, Crete in 1960. He emigrated to the U.S.A in 1967 with his family that settled down in Chicago.
He has graduated from the School of Architecture of the University of Illinois (Building Technology, Bachelor’s degree in 1984). After practicing in the field of Architecture he dealt with building reconstruction. At this period of time, along with his wife Elena Kyriakou, he founded a design and construction company in Tennessee, in which he remained for eight years.
Upon his return to the city of Chicago, he dealt with issues that were related to the Lending of Commercial Businesses and later was dynamically involved in this field.
From 1998 till today, he is the Chairman of Bank Financial, the largest U.S financial institution in Illinois, specialized in commercial and real estate lending. He is often invited and gives talks on topics regarding issues of Commercial Lending, in various relative seminars that are held throughout America.
He is also a food chain co-owner specializing in foods and products from Crete.
His involvement with issues of political nature considering the Greeks who live abroad started at the tender age of seven, through the Cretan Club of Chicago which was meant to become his second home. There, he felt what means to be a Cretan, learned the real meaning of the words “Pride and Hospitality” and has drawn valuable lessons about life that shaped his character.
Just before his election in June 2011 as president of the Pan-Cretan Association of America (which constitutes one of the biggest expatriate associations in the U.S.A) he successively was a member of the Council’s Grants Department, Vice-president of the «Minoan Village Board», second Vice-president for two terms (2005-2009) and first Vice-president (2009-2011).
He was actively involved in the activities of the community of St. Demetrios in Chicago, where he was a member of the Community Council, and many more other social and charity organizations such as the AHEPA since 1994.
He has also been the president of the organization “United Hellenic Voters of America” in the U.S.A (1994-2009), while he is a member of the association “Bloomingdale Planning and Zoning Board”. He has helped many young Greeks abroad to be hired in the state services in the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois.
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