Students from the St. Gregory A & M Hovsepian School during their visit with the ANCA
WASHINGTON—Thousands of new Armenian Americans are having their voices heard in the halls of government. Thanks to the Armenian National Committee of America’s Rapid Responder program, the community’s opinions are being heard at federal, state, and local levels.
The first three months of 2019 saw record-level engagement in the program, which empowers activists to rapidly respond every time the ANCA posts an action alert on issues. The issues range from justice for the Armenian Genocide and freedom for Artsakh, to stronger U.S.-Armenia relations. By registering, responders get a 24-hour preview of letters being sent on their behalf to key decision-makers, with an opt-out option, before messages are sent on their behalf.
The strongest growth during the first quarter of 2019 was among Armenian School students, including the hundreds that visited the ANCA on field trips to Washington, D.C. During these field trips, the ANCA provide students with interactive presentations on Armenian American advocacy, and sign them up as Rapid Responders. Seniors and retired Armenian Americans also saw meaningful growth, as did Armenian Americans from non-traditional communities—ranging from Alaska to Arkansas.
“The ANCA Rapid Responder program is a low-maintenance, high-impact, user-friendly advocacy tool,” shared ANCA Government Affairs Director Tereza Yerimyan. “With Armenian issues developing so quickly on Capitol Hill, hours matter and sometimes even minutes count. That’s why it’s so essential for legislators to hear right away from their voters. Our Rapid Responders deliver the impact we need—on time and on target.”
Becoming an ANCA Rapid Responder is a quick and easy two-step process. Advocates interested in signing up should first visit the website, fill in their name, address, phone, and email, then click “Sign Me Up!” Next, participants are asked to reply to a Rapid Responder confirmation email. Once registered, participants will receive specialized Rapid Responder updates sharing action items for their review.