The Next Generation of Greek Diaspora

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The Next Generation of Greek Diaspora

• Answering the Questions to Engage a New
  Generation of Leaders

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A Closer Look at the Greek Diaspora

• 3,500,000 to 7,500,000 people throughout the
  world claiming Greek descent/heritage
• United States 1,200,000
• Australia 375,000
• Germany 350,000
• Canada 215,000
• South Africa 120,000
• Waves of migration 1850-1920 and 1945-1970
• Second wave revitalized Greek identity due to
  decreasing assimilation pressures
• Now, net migration is negative, more returning to
  Greece
• Cannot depend on Greeks from Greece to energize
  Greek community must energize the existing Greek
  communities

Excludes Cyprus Countries with most
estimate variation are United States, Egypt,
Albania, Australia, FYROM, Canada
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A Closer Look at the Greek Diaspora
20
40
Immigrants
American born
from Greece
to mixed
parents
40
American born
to Greek
parents
Future of Greek diaspora depends on the ability
to pass the torch and draw from strengths from
both generations
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Questions You Have

• Is this next generation interested in
  preserving and maintaining their Greek heritage?
• Do they feel more American/Australian etc. than
  Greek?
• Do they care about Greek matters as much as we
  do?
• Why arent they more involved in the Greek
  community and activities?
• What can we do to get them to become more
  involved?

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Getting the Answers

• Flash online survey conducted this week to
  answer your questions with answers
• 61 surveys completed in one day
• Male/Female ratio 49 to 51
• Four countries
• US, Canada, UK, Australia
• 22 cities worldwide
• London, Brisbane, Toronto, Manchester, Canberra,
  Ottowa
• 13 states from the US
• NY, NJ, Illinois, Texas, Massachusetts,
  California, Maryland

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Is this next generation interested in
preserving and maintaining their Greek heritage?
7
Do they feel more American/Australian/Canadian
than Greek?
8
Why arent they more involved in the Greek
community and activities?
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Why arent they more involved in the Greek
community and activities?
While we cannot address the need for time... We
can and must develop solutions for the remaining
reasons for low involvement to engage this
generation
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To Increase Neolaia Involvement, We MUST

• Make sure newcomers feel welcome to join and
  become leaders of our organizations
• Focus on what unites us instead of what divides
  us
• More focus on Hellenism, less on differences
• Be open and welcoming to Greeks that do not speak
  Greek
• Understand and accept that some might feel
  stronger tie to Greece than religion
• Develop opportunities that appeal to the areas of
  interest
• Improve communications about the events,
  organizations and opportunities for involvement

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A Few Recommendations Make Them
Feel Welcome

• Simplify the complicated organizations
• Provide materials that easily identify a groups
  purpose, leaders and committees
• Create smaller sub-groups that may be less
  intimidating
• Teen group, College students, Business
  professionals, Singles
• Show interest in getting to know new people
• Regularly schedule events to attract and
  introduce new members
• Regularly schedule social and networking events
  to bring all members together
• Be ready to welcome young leaders into
  organizations
• Be cautious of seeming unwelcoming to new people
• Remember Greek PHILOXENIA )
• Identify and meet common needs
• Offer Greek-language classes (or information on
  resources)
• Consider offering family activities for
  everybody, not only regional groups (daycare)

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A Few Recommendations
Opportunities to Interest Neolaia

• This generation is interested in many traditional
  topics however, they may need more introductory
  discussions and events that make these topics
  relevant to their daily lives
• Religion Patriarchs leadership role in Green
  movement
• Economics Career opportunities in Greece
• Modern Greek History Impact on Greeces
  political stance
• Offer a variety of forums
• Excursions
• Volunteer opportunities
• Festivals
• Discussions
• Lectures

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A Few Recommendations Improve
Communications

• Consult PR experts to help get the word out
• Distribute information to ALL Greek-related media
• Traditional and online radio stations,
  television, newspapers, websites
• Transition to online communication that this
  generation depends on for information
• Update websites to include current information
• Consider uniting all information on one website
  for ease
• Send updates and information on events via e-mail
• Explore opportunities in social networks, such as
  MySpace
• Reach out to Greek and Greek-American bloggers to
  help distribute information
• DailyFrappe.com
• UndertheOliveTree

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ngs
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