Armenian National Committee – Western Region
104 North Belmont, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Telephone: (818) 500-1918
Facsimile: (818) 246-7353
PRESS RELEASE
July 22, 2009
Contact: Haig Hovsepian
Tel: (818) 500-1918
ANC-WR INTERNS HALF WAY THROUGH SUMMER SESSION, MAKING A DIFFERENCE
GLENDALE, CA — Working together and on their individual projects, the
seven interns of the Armenian National Committee-Western Region?s Internship
Externship Program (ANC-WR IEP) reached the half-way point of the 2009
Summer Session this past week. In a few short weeks, the interns have
accomplished much from organizing community forums on the 2010 US Census and
covering the developing situation in the Nagorno Karabagh Republic to honing
resume writing and interview skills as well as meeting with community
organization leaders.
?The interns are off to a great start and I am impressed with their ability
to handle several major projects along with smaller projects all at the same
time,? said ANC-WR IEP Coordinator Haig Hovsepian. ?It is great to see them
bonding and supporting one another in their efforts.?
Interning at the ANC-WR this summer are Colette Ghazarian, Hovsep
Hajibekyan, Srbui Karapetian, Razmig Khayalian, Nare Kupelian, Elizabeth
McIntyre, and Lauren Shenian.
Although most of the work done by the interns takes place at the ANC-WR
office, the interns have also gone into the field to strengthen local ANCs
such as the ANC of Hollywood and the ANC of Orange County, by collaborating
with them on projects geared towards engaging more of their respective local
communities. The interns also led a canvassing effort to register voters at
the 2009 Navasartian Games during the July 4th holiday weekend.
?I really enjoyed helping the ANC-WR have a visible and active presence at
the Navasartian games. It was great meeting people and working to get
others involved in the American political process,? noted McIntyre. ?The
Navasartian games were also an opportunity for me to learn more about the
Armenian community and the organizations that are working to make a
difference here in Los Angeles and beyond.?
The interns also participate in weekly group meetings featuring guest
speakers and lecturers. In addition to federal and state issues briefings,
the program has featured speakers from the ANC Professional Network and from
the Genocide Education Project and covered a range of topics including
campus activism.
?I especially enjoy the group meetings because they provide us with valuable
tools and a knowledge base for future activism and civic engagement such as
networking skills, introduction to community issues and grassroots
organizing. These are the fundamentals of political activism and much
more,? said Hajibekyan.
The 2009 Summer Session of the program will come to a close on August 21st.
They will be presenting the culmination of their work to the ANC-WR Board of
Directors and local ANC leaders at the end of the session.
The application for the 2009 Autumn Session is now available online. Those
interested in applying can contact the ANC-WR office for more information.
The Armenian National Committee – Western Region is the largest Armenian
American grassroots community 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 works to promote understanding regarding issues of
concern to the Armenian American community.