Dear Friends,
We are pleased to invite you to a conversation with Bessie Karras-Lazaris on the topic: “Preserving Our Ethnic Identity: Is It Gaining Popularity?”

Bessie Karras-Lazaris is the President of the Greek Heritage Society (GHS) of Southern California, a non-profit organization founded in 1985. As an international educator, she is committed at preserving our rich Greek heritage, traditions, and culture and passing on our legacy to the future generations.
Bessie will discuss her professional background and international experience, which motivated her to join GHS and committ to its goals. GHS has promoted many projects through the years, most notably, the award-winning documentary film trilogy narrated by academy-award winner Olympia Dukakis (The Pioneers 1900-1942, The Promise of Tomorrow 1940-1960, The New Greek Americans 1960-2018). Presently, GHS is in the process of archiving over 500 interviews in a digital library for research, educational, and community awareness purposes.
Bessie will connect her own professional experience in international education and leadership to the struggles of individuals in a new land: what they gain, how those experiences enrich both them and their communities here and in the home country. She will also talk about how second, third, or any generation of Greek-Americans view their heritage: how the perception of their identity has changed across generations, and future expectations about preserving the Greek language, culture, and heritage.

When: November 6th, 2023, 7:00-9:00pm (via Zoom)

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Thank you for joining us!
We are looking forward to seeing you on Zoom!

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Past Events

Read about the past events organized by AGAPW:

April 24th, 2023 – Annual Scholarship Awards Celebration
November 1st, 2022 – Conversation with Amanda Michalopoulou on her book “God’s Wife”
January 31st—June 6th, 2022 – “Conversations With Women Leaders” Lecture Series (Videos of the Lectures)
May 17th, 2021 – Dr. Elisa Konofagou: Therapeutic ultrasound for Alzheimer’s
March 22nd, 2021 – 200 Year Commemoration of the Greek Independence
March 8th, 2021 – International Women’s Day Celebration
March 28th, 2019 – Women’s History Month and “Greek American Woman of the Year” Award Gala
December 19th, 2018 – Traditional Greek Christmas Party
October 25th, 2018 – Wills, Trusts and Asset Protection Discover How to Protect Your Assets and Leave a Family Legacy
October 18th, 2018 – 12th Annual New York City Greek Film Festival
October 12th, 2018 – Exhibition of Artist Aphrodite Désirée Navab
July 24th, 2018 – Painting the Greek Summer
March 27th, 2018 – Women’s History Month and “Greek American Woman of the Year” Award Gala
February 28th, 2018 – Symposium on “Inspiring Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)”
February 6th, 2018 – Welcome 2018 Networking Reception with Traditional Cutting of the Vasilopita
December 7th, 2017 – Celebrating Community, Entrepreneurship, and Philanthropy
October 15th, 2017 – 11th Annual New York City Greek Film Festival and After-Film Networking
June 14th, 2017 – Private Tour and Reception of the Onassis Foundation USA
March 29th, 2017 – Women’s History Month and “Greek American Woman of the Year” Award Gala
January 30th, 2017 – New Year’s Celebration with Agapi Stassinopoulos, AGAPW and ALLILONnet
December 1st, 2016 – Networking and Conversation on Professional Cooperation, Solidarity and Mentorship
November 3rd, 2016 – Symposium on the Current State of Cancer Prevention and Treatment
October 28th, 2016 – The 11th Annual Demetrios Contos Memorial Programin celebration of OXI DAY
October 13-16th, 2016 – Onassis Festival NY 2016: Antigone Now
October 4th, 2016 – 10th Annual New York City Greek Film Festival
July 8-24th, 2016 – Eternity and History: The Cinema of Theo Angelopoulos
June 16th, 2016 – A Theater Party: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
March 8th, 2016 – Women’s History Month and “Greek American Woman of the Year” Award Gala
January 4th, 2016 – A.G.A.P.W. and ALLILONnet’s New Year’s Celebration
December 11th, 2015 – Holiday Benefit Celebration at the Soho studio loft of artists Michael and Niki Kapsalis
October 29th, 2015 – Celebrating the Olympic Spirit with Olympic Gold Medalist Athanasia Tsoumeleka and Marathoner Mary Liarou-Barbaris
October 27th, 2015 – The 10th Annual Demetrios Contos Memorial Program in Celebration of the “OXI DAY – October 28th 1940”
May 26th, 2015 – Mothers to the Community: Greek American Women’s Contribution to Philanthropy, and Civic Education
April 23rd, 2015 – Breaking Bread and Sharing Insights with Trailblazers Dinner Series: Inaugural Dinner with Ambassador Loucas Tsilas
March 12th, 2015 – Women’s History Month and Greek American Woman of the Year Award Gala
February 10th, 2015 – Celebration of the New Year with Vasilopita, Wine and Conversation with Friends. Guest of Honor, Press and Communication Counselor of Greece to the United Nations, Mr. Nikolaos Papaconstantinou
November 5th, 2014 – Conversation with Women Leaders Honoring Judge Harriet Pavles George
May 29th, 2014 – Meet the Author: A Retrospective on Award Winning Author Ioanna Karatzaferi
April 22nd, 2014 – Conversation with Women Leaders featuring Oscar and Golden Globe Award Winning Actress Olympia Dukakis Presented by Film Director Stavroula Toska
March 27th, 2014 – Women’s History Month and Greek American Woman of the Year Award Gala
February 17th, 2014 – Networking Event: Celebrating Friendship and Community at Molyvos Restaurant
February 6th, 2014 – Dr. Katherine A. Schwab Presents: “An Archeologist’s Eye: Drawing the Parthenon Sculptures”
December 4th, 2013 – Inaugural Conversation with Women Leaders Series featuring the Honorable Consul General of the Republic of Cyprus in New York Koula Sophianou
October 17th, 2013 – Symposium: “Domestic Violence, Gender, and Culture: Shining a Light”
June 24th, 2013 – “Welcome the Summer” – Networking Event with Fine Greek Wine Tasting and Appetizers at Loi’s
March 26th, 2013 – Women’s History Month and Greek American Woman of the Year Award Celebration
February 25th, 2013 – Symposium: Trafficking in Human Beings
January 18th, 2013 – New Year’s Celebration with Vasilopita (????????t? – New Year’s pie)
November 29th, 2012 – Capital Link’s 14th Annual Investor Forum – “Building a New Greece”
November 8th, 2012 – An Evening of Networking to Welcome the Thanksgiving Season and Celebrate Friendship and Community
August 26th, 2012 – AGAPW Presents Eleni Daniilidou: “How to Play Tennis Like a Pro!”
June 23rd, 2012 – Summer Evening with Wine, Poetry and Conversation with Friends
May 22nd, 2012 – “Mothers of the Greek Diaspora:” Celebrating with artist and author Thea Halo and her mother Sano Themia Halo
March 28th, 2012 – Women’s History Month and Greek American Woman of the Year Award Celebration
February 8th, 2012 – AGAPW Presents: Agapi Stassinopoulos – “Unbinding the Heart: A Dose of Greek Wisdom, Generosity, and Unconditional Love”
December 8th, 2011 – Artist Talk: Reception with Greek Artist and Art Educator Natasha Metaxa
November 17th, 2011 – Forum: The Greek Crisis
September 13th, 2011 – Fashion Week Networking Party, Celebrating the Culture and Fashion of Classical Athens: Dr. Katherine Schwab presents her research on the “Caryatid Hairstyles”
August 5th, 2011 – Networking Tour of the High Line Park, Featuring a Presentation of the Public Art Works by Dr. Aphrodite Navab
June 2nd, 2011 – Breakfast at Saks Fifth Avenue with Greek Jewelry Designer Konstantino
May 25th, 2011 – Seminar presentation by Zina Spezakis, CFA, CEO & Founder, Wealth Sprout: Investing Basics, What the Wall Street Does not Want You to Know
May 5th, 2011 – “Mothers of the Greek Diaspora:” Photographic Show and Presentation by Dr. Marina Mkhitaryan at the Greek General Consulate of New York
March 8th, 2011 – Inaugural Women’s History Month and Greek American Woman of the Year Award Celebration
January 19th, 2011 – New Year’s Celebration with Traditional Vasilopita, Poetry and Songs
December 17th, 2010 – Reception and Private Tour of “Heroes: Mortals and Myths in Ancient Greece”, hosted by the Onassis Foundation (USA)
October 26th, 2010 – Symposium: Honoring the Success of Greek American Women in the News Media: An In-Depth Look at Their Contributions to Both Ethnic and National Media and Their Personal Journeys on the Road to Success
September 26th, 2010 – Celebration of Family, Friendship, and Community with an “End of Summer/Welcome to Autumn,” Mediterranean Barbecue/Fundraiser
July 15th, 2010 – Summer Evening of Conversation and Art, Featuring Financier, Dr. Vasilis Katsikiotis and Artist Ms. Maria Garozi
March 17th, 2010 – An Evening with Wine and Poetry with Friends
February 10th, 2010 – An Evening with Wine and Poetry with Friends

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Press Releases

Read the press releases announcing the AGAPW events: