Armenian National Committee – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
PRESS RELEASE
: August 9, 2007
Contact: Haig Hovsepian
Tel: (818) 500-1918
ANCA Leo Sarkisian Intern Focus:
Southern California’s Christopher Yemenidjian
Washington, DC – Year after year, the ANCA Leo Sarkisian Internship (LSI)
Program has provided Armenian American youth with the opportunity to spend
valuable time in Washington, DC. The Halls of Congress hold the key to
learning more about, and building consensus for, important pieces of
legislation. Christopher Yemenidjian is Chairman of the South Bay ANC and
had already served as an Armenian National Committee – Western Region
(ANC-WR) regional intern in the Spring of 2007 while he continued his
studies at El Camino College. Yemenidjian’s goal was to make a difference
for the Armenian Cause in the world of government. Christopher decided to
apply for the ANCA LSI program this summer.
"After working with the ANC-WR in Los Angeles, I felt it was time to take my
advocacy efforts to Washington, DC," commented Yemenidjian. "The nation’s
capital is where everything happens – meetings with elected officials,
hearings on important legislation that impacts the interests of our
communities and just the general gravitas of being on the Hill – I strongly
urge all young Armenian Americans to consider the ANCA Leo Sarkisian
internship program," he added.
The ANCA-LSI Program is funded by the Armenian National Committee – Western
Region (ANC-WR). Named after long-time ANC activist Leo Sarkisian, the
program brings together young Armenian Americans from across the United
States and Canada to gain first-hand experience in the American political
system while working on issues of concern to the Armenian American
community.
"Christopher’s work in Washington is a great example of what the leadership
of tomorrow is achieving today," stated ANC-WR Chairman Raffi Hamparian.
"The experience that LSI participants gain working on the Hill is extremely
valuable and most importantly, consistent with the ANC-WR’s mission of
preparing our community’s youth for strong leadership positions in tomorrow’s
world," he added.
In addition to the enriching educational LSI program lecture series, scores
of Congressional meetings with Representatives and the overall experience of
working in the fast-paced office environment of the ANCA office, Christopher
has taken the initiative on a variety of other projects. He drafted a
document outlining military relations between the United States and Armenia,
pointing out many overlooked details regarding this relationship. Armenia
has worked closely with the United States in the War on Terror and has
signed and ratified a Status of Forces Agreement with NATO and other
agreements to safeguard U.S. military personnel in Armenia. This document
was then disseminated throughout Congress to educate Members on the
increasing military ties between Armenia and the United States. Furthermore,
as a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, Christopher drafted letters
encouraging Armenian American Veterans to contact their elected officials to
urge them to support H. Res. 106 (the Armenian Genocide Resolution).
Yemenidjian is a Political Science and English double-major at El Camino
College who will be attending the University of California, Berkeley in the
Spring. He recently completed the ANC-WR’s Internship-Externship Program
where he specialized in community and government affairs. He currently
serves as the South Bay ANC chairman. He has been and continues to be
actively involved with the South Bay AYF and Homenetmen, having served as
chairmen for both organizations. He is also the chairman of the United Human
Rights Council.
Now in its 23rd year, the ANCA LSI Program provides student leaders and
activists an opportunity to participate in an intensive 8-week program
designed to give them the tools necessary to effectively advance issues of
concern to the Armenian American community on the federal, state and local
level. The LSI Program is a competitive and prestigious internship program
and is widely considered to be the best program of its kind for Armenian
American college students.
In addition to Christopher Yemenidjian, the 2007 LSI Program participants
from the Western United States are Alex Der Alexanian, Shant Hagopian and
Dzovak Kazandjian. Joining interns from Canada, Europe and the Eastern
United States, the LSI participants from the Western Region have conducted
significant and groundbreaking activities in just their first week in our
nation’s capital.
The Armenian National Committee – Western Region is the largest and most
influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the
Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices,
chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated
organizations around the country, the ANC-WR advances the concerns of the
Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.