An Article From The National Herald that I hope you find informative www.thenationalherald.com
Andreas N. Akaras
Congressman Sarbanes’ Hellenism Initiative
By Constantine S. Sirigos
TNH Staff Writer
Cong. John Sarbanes (3rd from L) honored young professionals who exemplify Hellenism in the Public Service at a Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals hosted by its president, Tasos Pardalis (4th from left). Olympia Dukakis made a special appearance. Inset: Andreas Akaras.
NEW YORK – Andreas Akaras is one of many young and thriving Greek-American professionals. A policy advisor to Maryland Congressman John Sarbanes, Akaras is helping to lay the foundations for the congressman’s Hellenism in the Public Service initiative. He says that Sarbanes is a big believer in the Greek-American community and that he foresees the current generation of Greek-Americans building upon their parents’ and grandparents’ success by giving back to the broader society through public service.
In their travels across the country, Sarbanes and Akaras have found that the idea and initiative they call Hellenism in the Public Service, or HPS, has great resonance with Greek-Americans. Sarbanes wants to inspire more philanthropic activity from the community by spotlighting Greek-Americans’ current efforts. On his Facebook page, Sarbanes calls for “celebrating Hellenism in the Public Service, which is embodied in the many and diverse ways that Greek-Americans are giving back to the broader community.”
http://www.facebook. com/SarbanesHPS.
Akaras believes that Greek-Americans possess a treasure of values and energy that can be put to great use in service both to our community and our nation as a whole. Given the proliferation of social media like Facebook and Twitter, the time is now for more highly-motivated people to get involved, Akaras says, though he regrets that public service is not always cast in the best light these days. Greeks have a powerful sense of service – community service, devoting time, talent and resources to the Church and other organizations – and Akaras believes that HPS can tap into those efforts for the good of our community, our nation, and our world.
Those who succeed have an instinct to give something back, and HPS can amplify that inner voice to create a consciousness within them. Akaras says that HPS can take “the high ideals and values of the community -philotimo and arête - and encourage the community to do more of what they are already doing as individuals.” Likening selfless Greeks to “a kid that’s joined the peace corps,” Akaras describes Greeks as “giving people.” To illustrate that point, Akaras told the story of Ohio restaurateur Michael Petrakis, who every Thanksgiving opens his establishment to the poor.
That uniquely Greek idea, “philotimo,” literally means love of honor, but essentially describes the burning desire to do the honorable thing. Akaras depicts that notion by asking “when you step out into the world, do you do it for its betterment or just your gain? And do you connect it with a “dedication to excellence and an acknowledgment there is more to life than an attachment to a material consideration?” More than merely a disposition to cultivate a good image, philotimo simply is “the effort to be a human being, as best you can, in a big, principled way through little deeds and acts every day.” Akaras notes that many people in the community engage in acts of random philanthropy, and is hopeful that by showcasing them, they can motivate others via perpetual philanthropic motion.
Sarbanes must spend a lot of time campaigning; that’s just political reality. “But there is also a spirit within him,” Akaras continued, “that compels him to launch brainstorming sessions about making the community better.” Inspired by the question “how can we make Hellenism a greater part of the day-to-day reality of people,” Akaras described how he and Sarbanes sought to unite existing philanthropic initiatives through a common channel, saying it is analogous to the way “political parties unify their supporters through a platform.” Akaras says, “if you have one sheet of music every one sings from, it’s a chorus. If everyone has their own sheet of music, it’s a cacophony.” Just about every organization established by our forefathers had a philanthropic component. “AHEPA was there to help, all the silogoi, the philoptohos,” and Akaras believes that HPS can invigorate many of those groups to engage further in the challenges of our times by calling on them to reconnect with their core values.
That idea has proven to be very broad-based, appealing to different types of groups. “In Washington, D.C., local groups like Helenext, the Hellenic Society of DC and GAPNet, participated in an HPS happy hour, where 130 young professionals came out to hear the Congressman talk about HPS,” said Akaras, and as a result, “many talented and highly-motivated people gathered together and met one another.” Recently, Sarbanes headlined the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals event in New York, which featured a special appearance by Olympia Dukakis. Sarbanes presented a certificate of recognition to Anthoula Katsimatides and the Carnival of Love Foundation as an individual and an organization – respectively – that embody HPS. And now, young Greek-American New Yorkers – not particularly known for their political activism – “want to do a day trip to Washington and reach out and mingle with people in D.C. They will come to and get a real sense of Capitol Hill during a special tour,” Akaras announced.
Akaras distinguished HPS from the community’s lobbying efforts – which he and the Congressman do not engage in – but noted that among the byproducts of encouraging endeavors in the Greek-American community at large is that elected representatives will pay more attention to a community that is seen to be giving back. That of course offers an opportunity for those who care deeply about issues such as Cyprus, Greece, the Aegean, and the Ecumenical Patriarchate to voice their grievances and concerns in a broader context.
Sarbanes welcomes the idea that the initiative might be replicated elsewhere in the diaspora and in Greece too, to strengthen civil society there and help fellow Greeks “move beyond the notions of dependency” that fostered some of the country’s current troubles, Akaras added. A HPS initiative in Greece could build on the spirit of volunteerism shown during the 2004 Olympics, and Akaras believes that could open the door to opportunities for Greek-Americans to do volunteer work there, strengthening ties between Greece and the diaspora.
P Before you print think about the ENVIRONMENT.
Christiana Shoushtari
Congressman Sarbanes’ Hellenism Initiative
By Constantine S. Sirigos
TNH Staff Writer
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