Armenian National Committee of Texas
11301 Richmond Avenue # K108
Houston, Texas 77082
PRESS RELEASE
April 29, 2010
Contact: Vrouir Frankian
OHANIAN DELIVERS KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT HOUSTON GENOCIDE COMMEMORATION
HOUSTON, TX—On Sunday, April 25th, the Saint Kevork Armenian Church of
Houston hosted a community commemoration of the 95th Anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide. The event, which drew over 100 members of the parish
community, took place at Tcholakian Hall commenced following a brief requiem
service for the victims of the genocide. Dr. Arbi Ohanian, from the Western
Region office of the Armenian National Committee delivered the keynote
address.
Ohanian, a Houston native, was warmly received by the audience and spoke
about the current Armenian Genocide resolutions in the US Congress. He also
emphasized the importance of civic engagement and the significance of
Armenian Americans entering the political arena. He noted that he first
became passionate about community involvement through the Armenian Youth
Federation’s "Dro" Chapter in Houston, which also opened the day’s event
with the flag presentation.
The audience, young and old, were able to engage Ohanian in a public
discussion of the issue and the current challenges faced by anti-genocide
activists both in Houston and beyond. Many of those in attendance also
participated in the previous day’s youth workshop about the Armenian
Genocide presented by Artyom Tonoyan, a Ph.D. candidate at Baylor
University’s Department of Religion, Politics, and Society.
"This was a great homecoming for me," noted Ohanian. "I think a lot of
people were motivated by the weekend’s commemoration activities to come
together and strengthen the collective voice of this community through the
ANC Texas."
The Armenian National Committee of Texas advances 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.