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PRESS RELEASE

Monday, May 16, 2011

AGBU YP Los Angeles Partners With GenEd to Deliver Armenian Genocide
Presentation to Students

On April 28, 2011, the Genocide Education Project (GenEd) partnered with
AGBU’s Young Professionals of Los Angeles (YPLA) to present a special
assembly program and discussion on the Armenian Genocide. Five hundred
middle and high school students at the Ambassador School of Global
Leadership attended the event.

Suzanne Douzmanian, GenEd’s Southern California Regional Coordinator,
led the discussion, which examined the political and historical context
of the Armenian Genocide as part of the continuum of genocides of the
20th century. She also incorporated an examination of the historical
journey of her own grandparents, who were both survivors of the Armenian
Genocide.

For many of the students, this was the first they had heard of the
Armenian Genocide. Although state law requires that the Armenian
Genocide be taught in California schools, many schools still do not
include this history in their curriculum. “This was an eye-opening
assembly for my students,” said school principal Melina Castillo. “Since
we are part of the International Studies Schools Network, the
presentation was especially relevant to our global leadership theme. I
would definitely ask them to come back every year.” The International
Studies Schools Association (ISSA) is a national network of schools
dedicated to improving students’ understanding of the world.

School counselor Nicole Nigosian spearheaded the event to coincide with
the 96th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. “My grandparents were
Armenian Genocide survivors, so organizing this presentation really
meant a lot to me. I was happy to be able to share a part of my cultural
and family history with my students. In fact, I feel that this is one of
best things I could have done as a personal contribution toward
awareness and remembrance,” said Nigosian.

“The role of GenEd, as the conduit for educating teachers and students
on the historical facts of the Armenian Genocide, is an important one,”
said AGBU YPLA Chair Yeghig Keshishian. “We value the incredible work of
this organization and its behind-the-scenes approach to bridging the
educational gap on a topic that has long gone untaught in our school
curriculum.”

The Genocide Education Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to
providing instructional resources and teacher training about human
rights and genocide, with a particular focus on the Armenian Genocide.
For more information on the Genocide Education Project, please visit

Established in 1906, AGBU () is the world’s largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU
preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through
educational, cultural and humanitarian program, annually touching the
lives of some 400,000 Armenians around the world.

For more information about AGBU and its worldwide programs, please visit