Armenian National Committee of the San Gabriel Valley
420 West Washington Boulevard
Montebello, California 90640
Telephone: (323) 772-1918

PRESS RELEASE

July 22, 2009
Contact: Viken Pakradouni
Tel: (323) 772-1918

ANC SAN GABRIEL VALLEY MEETS WITH ASSEMBLY MEMBER CALDERON

CITY OF INDUSTRY, CA — On June 19, 2009 the Armenian National Committee of
the San Gabriel Valley met with California State Assembly Member Charles
Calderon. Attending the meeting were ANC San Gabriel Valley Chairman Viken
Pakradouni and Board Member Jack Hadjinian. The two, both constituents of
the Assembly Member’s, thanked Calderon for work on Armenian American issues
in Sacramento and Armenian Genocide education initiatives in the Montebello
Unified School District.

`It was important that we took this opportunity to reconnect with Assembly
Member Calderon,’ noted Pakradouni. `In addition to discussing his
continued support for Armenian Genocide affirmation and educational efforts,
we were pleased to discuss ways in which the Armenian American community can
increase its civic engagement in the district.’

The two discussed SB 234 also known as the Genocide Awareness Act with
Calderon. The legislation promotes the inclusion of oral history component
within California’s currently mandated genocide education curriculum. Both
the current curriculum and SB 234 reference the Armenian Genocide.

Calderon invited students from the Mesrobian Armenian School’s high school
program to participate in his district office internship program in the
coming year.

`This is a vital program to engage young Armenians in the political world,
public service, and understand how the process works. The community
appreciated developing this educational opportunity with his predecessor,
then Assembly Member Ron Calderon, and look forward to continuing this
relationship with Assembly Member Charles Calderon,’ said Hadjinian.

ANC of the San Gabriel Valley advocates for the social, economic, cultural,
and political rights of the area’s Armenian American community and promotes
increased Armenian American civic participation at the grassroots and public
policy levels.