Massachusetts Albanian American Society

History

Maas Besa was created in 1907 by Fan Stylian Noli. The original name was "Besa-Bese" (English: Word of Honor). The double utterance of the Albanian word for honor (Albanian: besa) symbolizes the bond existing among the members and a pledge to maintain their Albanian heritage in U.S. Maas Besa is very active in the Albanian community in Boston and hosts several fundraisings and networking events throughout the year. Every November 28, since 2004, Maas Besa has raised the Albanian Flag at Boston City Hall to commemorate the Albanian Independence Day.

Albanians in Boston

Albanians call themselves Shqipetare ( English: "Sons of the Eagle", is a term used mainly by foreigners, it was extensively used during the 18th and 19th centuries by travelers from Western Europe), and they call their country Shqiperia ("Land of the Eagle" - respectively). The Albanian flag is red, with a black double-headed eagle in the center. The name Albania was given by Robert Guiscard and his followers because when they invaded Albania in the eleventh century, they found the name Shqiperia difficult to pronounce, and they decided to call the country Albania instead.

According to 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data, there are approximately 193,183 Albanian-Americans living in the United States. And of these Albanians, 15,852 live in Massachusetts; and 3,190 Albanian-American live in the Boston area

The first wave of Albanian immigrants settled in Boston, where they founded the first Albanian-American newspaper, Kombi (English: The Nation), created the first society, Besa-Besa (Word of Honor), established the first Pan-Albanian Federation of America, Vatra (English: The Hearth), and built the first Albania church, Saint George Albanian Orthodox Cathedral.

In the first two decades of the 20th century, the majority of Albanians who established in Massachusetts, where from the city of Korca and a nearby village called Vakefet. The first Albanian, who was from the city of Korçë, came to Boston in 1876 but he soon left for Argentina. The second Albanian was the priest Nicholas Christopher. He was from Katundi and came to the U.S. in 1886, where he settled in Massachusetts.

Sotir Peci founded the first Albanian newspaper, Kombi, in Boston on June 12, 1906. The newspaper played an important role in the education of Albanians in the United States and unified Albanians in the conquest of Albanians in the Albanian Independence. It build the foundation for the creation of "Besa-Besen" ( Word of Honor), the first Albanian-American organization, and was founded in 1907 by Noli. The double utterance of the Albanian word for honor (besa) symbolizes the bond existing among the members and a pledge to maintain their Albanian heritage in U.S. Besa-Bese society founded the second Albanian newspaper in the United States Dielli (The sun), in Boston, in February 1909, which played as important role as Kombi in unifying Albanians in the United States. Faik Konitza became the chief editor of Dielli. In April 1912, the Pan-Albanian Federation of America was created. With headquarters in Boston, Vatra became for many Albanians as the most important centers of their national movement. It should be mentioned that most of the contributors to the achievements listed above came from Korca region, especially from the area of Dardhe.

Current activities

There are three main activities that operate under MAASBESA umbrella:

The Albanian Language and Heritage School: The school was founded in March 26, 2006 and is located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school offers classes in speaking, reading, and writing of the Albanian Language. The classes are held in the campus center building at UMASS Boston every Sunday from 10:00am – 12:00pm during the Fall and Spring semesters. The school currently has 5 teachers and 30 students of different grades.

The Albanian Language School Kostandin Kristoforidhi: The school became part of MAASBESA on January 2012 and is located in West Roxbury of Massachusetts - The school offers classes in speaking, reading, and writing of the Albanian language to children of ages 6 to 15, as well as to adults, (Retrieved from MAASBESA Newsletter, February 6, 2012)

Bashkimi Dance Group: The group was founded in 1996 by Bashkim Braho, but didn't become became part of MAASBESA until 2010. The group has performed in many Albanian events around the United States and has received many awards.

Fundraising activities

Other Albanian NPOs in the U.S.

1. Albanian American Civic League - Ossining, NY ( http://www.aacl.us )
2. Albanian Associated Fund Inc - Paterson, NJ ( http://maktrader.com/ )
3. Albanian- American Islamic Center of Queens Inc - Glendale, NY ( http://www.aaic-of-queens.com/)
4. Akademia Shqiptaro Amerikane E Shkencave the Albanian- American - Brooklyn, NY
5. Albanian Islamic Cultural Center Inc - Staten Island, NY ( http://www.aicc-ny.org/)
6. Albanian-American Enterprise Fund - New York, NY ( http://www.aaef.com/)
7. Albanian Children Fund - New York, NY http://www.albanianchildren.org/eng/
8. Albanian-American Women's Organization Motrat Qiriaz Inc. - New York , NY ( http://www.aawomq.org/)
9. Albanian-American Islamic Center - Glendale, AZ
10. Albanian American Trade and Development Foundation Inc - Dunkirk, NY (http://www.albaniabiz.org/front-page/index.html)
11. Albanian-American Institute Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg - Staten Island, NY
12. Massachusetts Albanian American Society - Boston, MA ( http://www.maasbesa.org/)
13. American Albanian Movement Homeland Unites US Huu - Bronx, NY
14. Albanian Holy Trinity Church, Kisha Shqiptare e Shen Trinise - Boston, MA ( http://www.albanianholytrinity.org/ )
15. Albanian-American Social Club Inc - Waterbury, CT
16. Albanian-American Islamic Center New York and New Jersey Inc - Garfield, NJ
17. Albania Canaan Missionary Foundation - Fullerton, CA
18. Open Air Campaigners Albania Inc - El Cajon, CA ( http://oacalbania.org/ )
19. Albanian American Medical Society Inc - Boston, MA ( http://www.albamedsociety.org/ )
20. Albanian Human Rights Project - Santa Monica, CA ( http://albanianhumanrightsproject.org/ )
21. Albanian American Association of New Jersey - Saddle Brook, NJ
22. American Albanian Encouragement Foundation Tr - St. Louis , MO
23. Friends of Albania - Chicago, IL ( http://www.friendsofalbania.net )
24. Albanian-American Development Foundation - New York, NY ( http://www.aadf.org/ )
25. Albanian-American Cultural Center Inc - Carrollton, TX
26. Albanian American Association of Cleveland Ohio - Cleveland, OH
27. St. Nicholas Albanian Orthodox Church - Chicago, IL ( http://stnicholasalbanianchicago.org/ )
28. American Albanian Cultural & Religious Org - Berkeley , IL
29. The Albanian American Muslim Society of Detroit Inc - Harper Woods, MI
30. Albanian Aid Society - Livonia, MI
31. First Albanian Teqe Bektashiane in America - Taylor, MI
32. American Albanian Islamic Center of Wisconsin - Kenosha, WI
33. Albanian American National Organization Scholarship Fund Inc - Ballston Lake, NY ( http://www.aano.org/)
34. National Ethnic Albanian American Foundation Inc. - Ossining, NY
35. National Albanian American Council - Washington, DC ( http://www.naac.org/ )
36. Albanian Islamic Cultural Center Inc - Clearwater, FL
37. Albanian Alps Institute - Corvallis, OR ( http://www.albanianalps.org/ )
38. Albanian Health Fund - Saratoga, CA ( http://www.albanianhealthfund.org/ )
39. American Albanian Benefit Foundation - Akron, OH
40. Organization for the Support of Albanias Abandoned Babies - Dubois, WY ( http://www.osaab.org/)