ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: November 5, 2018

Contact: Danielle Saroyan

Telephone: (202) 393-3434

Web: www.aaainc.org

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY NATIONAL ADVOCACY CONFERENCE FEATURES EXCLUSIVE
FIRST-LOOKS FOR ATTENDEES

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Attendees of the
Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) National Advocacy Conference were
treated to a sneak preview about the results from the Smithsonian Folklife
Festival as well as a special presentation about American humanitarian
intervention in Armenia's first republic.

SNEAK PREVIEW
INTO 2018 SMITHSONIAN FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL RESULTS

Luncheon speaker Smithsonian Director of Special Projects Halle
Butvin made a special presentation on the 2018 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
which presented "Armenia: Creating Home." She shared remarks and
insights about this historic Festival that brought Armenian culture and
tradition to our nation's capital, which is considered the most widely attended
in recent years.

"The two weeks of the Festival were packed – we normally
worry about thunderstorms and rain, but this year it was all sun – so much so
that most of the time there was a heat advisory. That didn't stop the 738,000
people who came to the Mall to learn about Armenian culture. Staff who have
worked on the Festival for their entire career commented on the powerful
presence of Armenian Americans. Within the site, you could hear Eastern and
Western Armenian spoken everywhere, and every day we encountered extended
families who used the Festival as an opportunity for a reunion," Butvin
said.

Butvin was the curator for the Festival, and shared stories of her
experiences traveling back and forth from Armenia over the past couple of
years, and how welcomed she felt during her trips. This warmth continued at the
Folklife Festival, and she told the attendees anecdotes of her memorable
interactions with the Festival participants. Butvin concluded her presentation
with an exclusive first-look video that has not yet been released, comprised of
interviews from the Armenian participants and what the 2018 Folklife Festival
meant to them.

"Throughout the Festival, we heard so much positive feedback,
both from participants and visitors, and our team is in the process of
finalizing a report on its impact. My co-curators are, as we speak, visiting
with festival participants to learn from them about their experience, the new
relationships made, and what they'll carry forth as a result of being a part of
this momentous occasion," she added.

AMERICAN
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE DURING FIRST REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA REMEMBERED

Another feature presentation was made by Armenian National
Institute (ANI) Director Dr. Rouben Adalian, who introduced his digital exhibit
on the role of the YMCA and American relief work during the first republic of
Armenia (1918-1920). The exhibit explores the role of two exceptional
individuals, John Elder and James O. Arroll, who volunteered to stay in Armenia
during the critical year of 1918 when fellow American relief workers were
withdrawn in view of the intensification of warfare in the region.

Dr. Adalian went into further detail about the American volunteers
throughout the past century in Armenia, starting with the YMCA volunteers,
recalling the relief workers who hastened to Armenia after the December 1988
earthquake, and continuing with those in the Peace Corps today.

"The United States and Armenia have a 100 year relationship.
It's the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Republic, and the United States was
there from the very first year, helping the Armenian people," he said.
"The United States has been doing so much more for Armenia than these one
or two occasional episodes of humanitarian intervention."

The exhibit was on display in Yerevan this past summer, which was
visited by U.S. Ambassador Richard Mills, and is currently in Artsakh being
presented by the YMCA in Stepanakert.

"Two years ago, a granddaughter of John Elder sent me a
photograph, and hence, started a conversation with Elder's family. Out of that
grew a continuing discussion. Today, we have the evidence – photographs and
diary entries – of what John Elder experienced in Armenia with the Genocide
survivors," Dr. Adalian said.

Discovered the morning of the Advocacy Conference, Dr. Adalian
shared with the attendees a never-before-seen gift to John Elder by the
Armenian people a hundred years ago.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the
largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding
and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3)
tax-exempt membership organization.

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NR#: 2018-049

Photo Caption 1: Attendees at Armenian Assembly of America's 2018
National Advocacy Conference

Photo Caption 2: Smithsonian Director of Special Projects Halle
Butvin at the Armenian Assembly 2018 National Advocacy Conference

Photo Caption 3: Armenian National Institute (ANI) Director Dr.
Rouben Adalian at the Armenian Assembly's 2018 National Advocacy Conference

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