Armenian National Committee – Western Region
104 North Belmont, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Telephone: (818) 500-1918
Facsimile: (818) 246-7353
PRESS RELEASE
August 27, 2009
Contact: Haig Hovsepian
Tel: (818) 500-1918
ANC-WR 2009 SUMMER INTERNS CONCLUDE PROGRAM, LOOK TO CONTINUE ACTIVISM
GLENDALE, CA — On August 19, the 2009 Summer Session of the Armenian
National Committee-Western Region?s Internship Externship Program (ANC-WR
IEP) came to a close. The interns concluded their participation in the
program by delivering presentations outlining their accomplishments to
members of the ANC-WR Board of Directors, executives from local ANCs, the
ANC-Professional Network, community partner organizations and ANC-WR IEP
alumni. The event was hosted at the ANC-WR office in Glendale, California.
"The interns were amazing this summer. Each took the reins of multiple
projects and delivered," said Haig Hovsepian, the ANC-WR IEP Coordinator.
"They did it all; from community development to fundraising and media
outreach to educational projects. The local ANCs to which they are
returning have great community activists and organizers ready to step up and
help lead local ANC efforts in the coming year."
The ANC-WR graduated seven interns from the program this summer. Colette
Ghazarian (Troy High School, Fullerton) and Hovsep Hajibekyan (UC Berkeley)
worked as Public and Media Relations Interns in the program. They were
joined by Community and Government Affairs Interns Srbui Karapetian (UC Los
Angeles), Nare Kupelian (UC San Diego), and Lauren Shenian (Glendale
College) as well as Administration and Development Interns Razmig Khayalian
(UC Irvine) and Elizabeth McIntyre (Cal Poly Pomona).
The summer session began June 15 and over the ten week program each intern
was given an individual set of projects and also took part in weekly group
meetings. These meetings included professional development workshops, media
review seminars, issues briefings, and lectures.
Featured speakers came from organizations such as the ANC Professional
Network, the ANC-WR Board of Directors, the Genocide Education Project, and
the California Institute of Technology. Participants even visited the
Horizon TV studios and Asbarez newspaper offices located in the Little
Armenia neighborhood of Hollywood in order to learn more about community
media.
"The work I did as part of the ANC-WR IEP will prepare me for my career as
well as future community organizing and leadership roles," said Karapetian.
"Now that I am more aware about issues affecting my community, I am more
enthusiastic about helping organize and volunteer for community events."
The interns? projects had them working in the office and out in the field.
Over the past two months, interns were writing press releases, organizing
community forums and fundraisers as well as educational workshops, voter
registration, media archiving, and helping promote civic engagement within
the community.
Through the program, interns worked with various community organizations
including local ANCs, the ANC Professional Network, the Armenian American
Chamber of Commerce-Little Armenia Chapter, and the Genocide Education
Project as well as other non-Armenian organizations and the US Census
Bureau.
The graduates return to communities throughout California and look to be
active within the ANCs of San Diego County, Orange County, the San Gabriel
Valley, Hollywood, Glendale, Crescenta Valley, Pasadena, and the San
Francisco Bay Area.
"I am leaving this program with greater knowledge on what it takes to rally
for a cause," said Kupelian. "Issues are addressed through many
detail-oriented and persistent tasks. I can finish my time in the program
feeling accomplished knowing that I contributed in some way to advancing the
Armenian cause."
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.
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