Metro Detroit committee promotes Armenian Genocide awareness through education

it-committee-promotes-armenian-genocide-awareness- through-education
Published: Wednesday April 08, 2009

Clinton Township, – Committed to promoting awareness of, and gaining
U.S. recognition for, the first genocide of the 20th century, The
Metro Detroit Armenian Genocide Committee, in collaboration with
Facing History and Ourselves, organized on March 25 the third
educator’s workshop (in Michigan) on the Armenian Genocide. The
Knights of Vartan, Detroit Lodge, sponsored the project initially
conceived and sponsored by Edgar Hagopian, local businessperson, and
his Hagopian Family Foundation.

Richard Norsigian, a member of the committee as well as a principal in
the South Lake School District, coordinated the event with the help of
Kim Meade, Macomb Social Studies Consultant. Educators representing
13 school districts attended the March 25th workshop held at the
Macomb Intermediate School District offices.

Facilitor for the workshop Dr. Mary Johnson, Senior Historian for
Facing History and Ourselves, used text and video to present a
background on the "universe of obligation" and segued into the history
of the Armenian Genocide. Educators using the provided resource
materials were asked to participate by posing scenarios and voicing
their ideas and opinions on the massacre of 1.5 million Armenians at
the hands of the Ottoman Turks from 1915-1923, and the response at
that time from the international community.

Dr. Johnson then introduced guest speaker Dr. Gerard Libaridian, who
holds the Alex Manoogian Chair in Modern Armenian History at the
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Dr. Libaridian also served as
advisor to Armenian President Levon Ter Petrossian from 1991 to 1997.

Participants were reminded of the Second Annual Armenian Genocide
Essay Competition open to all Michigan Middle and High School
Students, sponsored by the Hagopian Family Foundation with cash awards
for both the winning student and the instructor.

The Metro Detroit Armenian Genocide Committee members are Edgar
Hagopian, Edward Bedikian, Ray Boujoulian, Corinne Khederian, Paul
Kulhanjian, Richard Norsigian, David Terzibashian and Madeline
Thomasian.

"The Armenian Genocide – a genocide that is not reflected in our
history books and that on April 24, 2009, represents 94 years later,
even though 42 states and numerous foreign governments have recognized
it, remains unacknowledged by the U.S. Government and the successors
to the Ottoman Turk perpetrators," stated Mr. Hagopian.