Armenian National Committee
Pasadena Chapter
1445 Sierra Madre Villa Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91107
PRESS RELEASE
February 26, 2005
Contact: Hovig Dimejian
Tel: (626) 523-3454
PASADENA ANC HONORS CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLYMEMBER CAROL LIU FOR
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE EDUCATION EFFORTS
Pasadena, CA – The Pasadena Chapter of the Armenian National
Committee presented Assemblymember Carol Liu (D-44) with its
Community Leadership Award at their annual awards event held on
February 20, 2005. The State Legislator has been at the forefront
of efforts to include instruction on the Armenian Genocide in the
Pasadena Unified School District and throughout the State of
California.
At a well attended awards dinner held at the Pasadena Community
Center, Assemblymember Liu was praised by a number of speakers.
Master of Ceremonies Raffi Hamparian welcomed friends of the
Assemblymember who came to the podium to praise Liu for her
outstanding dedication to her Armenian American constituents. The
Chairman of the ANCA-WR Steve Dadaian and Pasadena ANC Chairman
Hovig Dimejian delivered speeches regarding the work of the ANC and
how the organization’s goals are shared by Assemblymember Lui.
Among the many distinguished guests on hand for the event were
Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard, City Councilmember Victor Gordo,
Pasadena Unified School District Board Members Mike Babcock and
Stephan Lazardo, Haig Kartounian from the Office of Congressman
Adam Schiff, Vahik Gourjian from the Office of California State
Senator Jack Scott, Burbank Unified School District Board Member
Paul Krekorian, Glendale Community College Board Member Armine
Hacobian and Rev. Babouchian, Pastor of Pasadena’s Saint Sarkis
Armenian Apostolic Church.
“Carol Liu, more than anyone else, deserved the Pasadena ANC’s
Community Leadership Award which we presented to her this evening,”
commented Pasadena ANC Chairman Hovig Dimejian. “Carol has been
there for our community in Sacramento and here at home. Her
leadership on education issues and particularly her steadfast
commitment to teaching all Americans about the Armenian Genocide
has been outstanding,’ the Chairman added.
Assemblymember Liu has been an active supporter of the Bay Area
ANC’s new educational website, TeachGenocide.org and its lesson
plans “Human Rights and Genocide: A Case Study of the First
Genocide of the 20th Century.” In March of 2004 the Assemblymember
co-hosted, along with the Pasadena ANC, a workshop for Pasadena
schoolteachers interested in teaching about the Armenian Genocide.
Assemblymember Carol Liu (D-La Cañada Flintridge) represents the
44th Assembly District, which includes the cities of La Canada
Flintridge, Pasadena, South Pasadena, Temple City, and Duarte;
parts of the cities of Arcadia and Monrovia; and the communities of
Glassell Park, Highland Park, Eagle Rock, and Altadena.
A fifth generation Californian and the child of an immigrant, Liu
was born in Berkeley and raised in Oakland. She was first elected
to public office in 1992 as a member of the La Cañada Flintridge
City Council on which she served for eight years, including two
terms as Mayor. She is currently in her third term as a member of
the California State Assembly.
The ANCA is the largest and most influential Armenian American
grassroots political organization. Working coordination with a
network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the United
States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA
actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community
on a broad range of issues.