Category: 2018

MONTEREY PARK, Calif.—East Los Angeles College (ELAC) and the ELAC Foundation recognized Members of Congress Nanette Diaz Barragán, Judy Chu, Lucille Roybal- Allard, Jimmy Gomez, Linda T. Sánchez, and Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis for their participation in the Washington D.C. Gateway Internship Program (WGIP) during a reception on October 30.

This last summer, Congress members Nanette Diaz Barragán, Judy Chu, Lucille Roybal-Allard, Jimmy Gomez, Linda T. Sánchez each hosted a WGIP participant this summer and have served as strong advocates for the program.  The ELAC Foundation’s Washington D.C. Gateway Internship Program (WGIP) offers East Los Angeles College students an all-inclusive summer internship opportunity in an effort to promote civic engagement and foster leadership. The WGIP provides students with an opportunity to participate in the legislative, political, and administrative process in Washington D.C. The summer internship has become a shining example to our students and to the communities we serve of the quality of care we have in creating comprehensive students who are civically engaged in our communities.

The Armenian National Committee of America is a partner with the ELAC Foundation to further collaborate and foster relations between the organization’s programs. In August of 2017, participants of ANCA’s Leo Sarkisian Internship Program and Hovig Apo Saghdejian Capital Gateway as well as the ELAC Washington Hilda Solis Internship Program met up at the ANCA headquarters in Washington D.C. and discussed their experiences and opportunities for future cooperation at a networking dinner celebrating public service. The meeting allowed the interns the opportunity to network, collaborate, sharing ideas on developing their professional and personal identities and become better advocates in assisting each other’s respective underrepresented communities.

“This program reinforces East Los Angeles College’s commitment of empowering students to expand their individual potential outside of the classroom. The stories of the interns are truly inspiring and strengthen ELAC Foundation’s mission of transforming lives. I am proud to continue the partnership with the Armenian National Committee of America,” said East Los Angeles College President Marvin Martinez.

“The ANCA-WR is a proud partner of the ELAC Foundation and looks forward to working together to promote student involvement in public service,” said ANCA-WR Government Relations Coordinator Serob Abrahamian who was present at the reception.

Established in 1986 and named in memory of the late ANCA Eastern U.S. community leader who spearheaded Armenian American grassroots advocacy for more than four decades, the ANCA Leo Sarkisian Internship program now has hundreds of alumni across the world, spreading the message of truth and justice for the Armenian Genocide, freedom for Artsakh, and a secure, prosperous, and democratic Armenian homeland.

Launched in 2003, the ANCA Hovig Apo Saghdejian Capital Gateway Program helps secure permanent employment and professional internships in Washington, DC for young Armenian American professionals and students. Through the years, the ANCA has developed many relationships in and around Capitol Hill and identified a wide range of opportunities in the Washington, DC area. The CGP utilizes these resources and contacts to help candidates identify and secure jobs that fit their interests and needs.

ORANGE COUNTY- Orange County community’s “OC Camp Weekend,” organized by a committee of A.Y.F. Orange County “Ashod Yergat” and A.R.F. Orange County “Armen Karo” Chapter members, held its annual camp weekend, revamping community relations. The weekend took place at AYF Camp from November 2-4, with members of the Orange County A.Y.F., A.R.F., and “Aghpiur Serop” A.Y.F. Juniors Chapter present at the getaway. Gregory Mikhanjian, an “Ashod Yergat” member, reflects on his experience.

BY GREGORY MIKHANJIAN

As I packed my bag on Friday night, I felt a wave of nostalgia and excitement. I had not been up to camp in three years. Even the experience of meeting up at the agoump with all my ungers to load the bus made me giddy. The bus ride up made me think everyone was going to be very tired, but the arrival at camp changed everyone’s mood immediately. We all piled out of the bus and hurriedly grabbed our bags, eager to start the weekend.

We spent that Friday night just hanging about with one another in the lodge. I saw A.R.F. members that I had not seen in years, and we greeted each other with smiles and open arms. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a few of the juniors had found a volleyball. Within a few minutes a circle of juniors, seniors, and gomideh were passing a volleyball to one another trying to see how long we could keep the ball off of the ground. Looking back at this, it is endearing to think at how this event was not planned; it happened spontaneously because of our interest in one another. We played another game, and then retired to our cabins to sleep. Of course sleep at AYF Camp does not mean much, as the juniors in my cabin quickly found out!

The next morning we all gathered at the flagpole for the beloved morning exercises and the raising of the flags. It had been mentioned the night before that the theme of the weekend would be “identity”. So, our educationals would be centered around that idea. Our first educational, moderated by Ungerouhi Alique Cherchian, was designed to be in an open-discussion type setting where a question would be read and all members would have to choose a one of two sides. Once there, members would explain the reasoning for their point of view, and see if they could convince people from the opposing or undecided side to join them. I loved this educational because it provided an outlet for everyone to express their views on important matters like religion and repatriation. Everyone had a voice, and I thought it was a great opportunity for the juniors to participate in this level of discussion. Our discussion taught us that everything is not black and white, and that most issues do not have a clear or easy solution.

Good thought-provoking conversation requires refueling. After lunch, we participated in a wonderful game of Steal the Bacon. Much to the displeasure of my fellow seniors, our A.R.F. members proved to us that wisdom and experience trumps youth.

Unger Garo Madenlian gave the second educational of the day. He asked us to break down the identity of Armenians and the A.Y.F., and then discuss what each of these aspects mean to the validity of that identity. I was happy to see all ages participating and sharing what being Armenian, or being an A.Y.F. member, meant to them. To say the least, it was refreshing to hear new perspectives mixed in with old ones. However, all age groups valued the unity in which we Armenians share with one another, and that makes me smile ear to ear with pride.

After the educational we all enjoyed a bowl of Unger Aram Madenlian’s mouth-watering chili, a staple of the OC Camp weekend. We had a lot of time to spare, and decided to go on a night hike. It was at the end of our hike when we gathered under the starry sky and three generations of Armenians sang our revolutionary songs. Somber, proud, steady, and evocative songs echoed from where we were sitting. I felt such a strong sense of unity among all of my fellow ungers, and it did not matter if they were juniors, or seniors, or gomideh. Our history and our struggles have been amalgamated into emotions that are best shared through song, and I think that has a profound effect on the youth.

The only thing left to do after returning from the hike was to have our khrakhjank. I danced, conversed, ate, and sang with all of my ungers. There happened to be an interesting moment when I was discussing politics with one of my A.R.F. ungers, and I noticed some of the juniors listening intently to our conversation. It just reminded me of when I was in their shoes doing the same a few years ago, and it gave me hope for the upcoming generation of A.Y.F. members. Eventually, we gathered enough of ourselves on Sunday morning to take down the flag and take some group pictures.

It was on our way down the mountain, when everyone was taking their post-camp naps, I realized what was special about this weekend. It is a tangible experience for every member to hold in their hearts. When someone spends time at camp, they get a taste of the essence of being an A.Y.F. member. I remember my past camp weekends, and I look at my younger ungers and I see the same joy and determination in their faces. Traditions have to be worked at for years to be passed down, but time tends to pass quickly when you are having fun.

BY ADROUSHAN ANDY ARMENIAN

Who has heard of Kalavan? An insignificant and inaccessible village in the mountains of the Gegharkunik Province of Armenia, near Lake Sevan, with only 108 inhabitants, mostly survivors Sumgait pogroms who resettled to Kalavan in the early 1990’s.

Reversing the Trend and Revitalizing the Village
I was planning a trip earlier this month to Armenia and allocated three days to visit Kalavan and to understand the excitement about this village. The declining village population is a major challenge in Kalavan and other villages in Armenia. Some countries have been successful to reverse the trend by providing various types of incentives such as subsidized housing to attract young families to relocate to the villages. I don’t believe there are such programs in Armenia, however Kalavan could serve as an excellent case study of how a village, with their own resources, were able to reverse the trend and set an example. With few viable projects such as ecotourism, excavations, hiking and extreme sports Kalavan has proven that you could reverse the trend of village depopulation.

However, one man, Robert Ghukasyan, successfully placed Kalavan on the worldwide Archeological and Eco-touristic destination lists. Rubo, as the villagers call him, grew up and earned his primary education in Kalavan, and later obtained an Archeological degree and worked overseas in various countries. In 2013 he moved back to Kalavan to pursue his dream of revitalizing a dying and disappearing village.

Three elements helped Robert in his mission; First, the forests around Kalavan have several archeological sites with both human and animal bones that date back some 5,000 years. Second, the mountains and forests provide magnificent hiking and trekking options. Third, Kalavan is an unspoiled village without even a single retail store, reminiscent of the forgone era.

Bed & Breakfast and Home-stays
With Robert’s guidance, archeologists from Germany and Israel started visiting Kalavan for extended stays and local digs. This triggered the idea of providing visitors with basic Bed & Breakfast facilities and encouraged the building of extended restrooms attached to homes. The community also installed solar water heaters to provide hot water for overnight guests. Robert and the villagers are adamant to maintain the existing authentic village character while also offering basic comforts; the community is not interested in building modern and extended-stay hotels in Kalavan.

The traffic generated by visitors for scientific and archeological projects has generated such enthusiasm that there are currently no houses for sale in Kalavan. Dilapidated houses that you could have previously purchased for a mere $1,000, are currently worth over $20,000. Of the 31 homes in the village, eight offer B&B options with a total capacity of 40 guests. This has provided an economic stimulus to the villagers and has prompted modification of two additional houses to ultimately house 60 guests by the summer of 2019.

You should be warned that there are no local grocery stores, bakeries or any type of retail stores in Kalavan. All supplies must be sourced from nearby towns which is how the villagers would like to keep it.

The village school and the remains of the old Soviet-era House of Culture:
I visited the village school which was clean, however the classroom desks date back to the Soviet times, and walls show signs of humidity and decay. Two of the seven classrooms were recently renovated, and waterproofed but the remaining five rooms need new windows and weatherproofing. There are currently 19 students at the school; the principal was excited to share that there were eight births in the village last year, which means eight additional students in a few more years.

Adjacent to the school is the ruins of the House of Culture and the blue Volga, a reminder of a forgone era.

“Time Land Foundation” and the New Scientific Center
The most significant and notable achievement for Robert and Kalavan is the establishment of the non-profit “Time Land Foundation” and its two-story, 250 square meters (2,700 Sq. Ft.) new building which will serve as a scientific and research center for visiting scientists as well as serve as a library, cultural and community center for the local youth. The $150,000 project is being funded by USAID, UNDP, and private donors.

“Our kids don’t have to travel to Yerevan or other major hubs to be able to experience modern technologies,” Robert explains. He believes in providing local youth with a state-of-the-art learning facility which will help them stay attached to the village and not rush to relocate to Yerevan at their earliest opportunity.

Continuing Needs for the Village
Kalavan still needs help and support to continue with their initiatives to stabilize the village. The school needs repairs to make it a safe environment for both students and teachers and the town has adamantly requested for aid from the provincial government to repair the 7-kilometer dirt road connecting the village to the main road.

Currently you need a four by four vehicle and will take you around 40 minutes to cover the 7-kilometer dirt road. The villagers simply ask to complete to road repairs by compacting gravel which should reduce the travel time by half. With a $60,000 excavator/backhoe the villagers would be able to repair and maintain the dirt road, additionally provide basic irrigation channels for the local farms and build hiking and biking trails around the village

Kalavan, a truly unique town with ambition and opportunity. I encourage all to visit the village in the mountains of Lake Sevan to experience the excitement and growing projects. The new Scientific Center backdropped with breathtaking views provides an unforgettable experience.

GLENDALE—Effective November 2018, ARS Social Services has partnered with Self-Help for the Elderly to provide services under the Electric Vehicles for Everyone program, which is intended to reach low-income, limited-English proficient, and immigrant individuals to provide education and awareness on the benefits of Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV).

Electrify America, a subsidiary of Volkswagen Group of America, is collaborating with six organizations in California to launch community-based programs to support ZEV education and awareness for disadvantaged and low-income communities. The organizations collaborating with Electrify America on the initiative include Self-Help for the Elderly, Valley Clean Air Now, Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment, Chinese Newcomers Service Center, Liberty Hill Foundation, and GRID Alternatives.

“ARS Social Services is proud to be recognized as an organization with deep local connections and selected as one of 10 grassroots community-based organizations by Self-Help for the Elderly to provide services under this program,” stated Talar Aintablian, Director of Operations.

“Our project team consists of experienced program managers and community service professionals skilled in servicing hard-to-reach populations,” said Anni Chung, President and CEO of Self-Help for the Elderly. “The cooperation with Electrify America will offer continued support to our extended network of community-based organizations in 10 California counties to provide culturally competent, linguistically appropriate ZEV awareness and education.”

Services will include consumer education workshops, community events, media placements, special outreach projects, one-to-one education, all with an emphasis on electric vehicle basics, benefits of zero emission vehicles, and environmental and energy conservation. For additional information, please contact Program Coordinator Lily Karapetyan at (818) 241-7533 x105 or visit the ARS Social Services main office at 517 W. Glenoaks Blvd., Glendale, CA 91202.

ARS Social Services is committed to providing comprehensive social services to low-moderate individuals and families through four offices located in Glendale, Pasadena, Hollywood, and North Hollywood. Services include case management, completion of forms, assistance with housing and transportation issues, senior services, employment services, referrals, English as a Second Language/Life Skills classes, and more. ARS Social Services can be reached at (818) 241-7533 or [email protected].

GLENDALE—The  Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region recently announced that it will be partnering with the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk and other Elections officials to organize a series of Community Meetings in Glendale, Pasadena, and the Crescenta Valley to give residents the opportunity to discuss potential Vote Center locations to be placed within their neighborhoods in 2020.  The new vote centers are part of the new voting model set to be launched for the March 2020 Statewide Primary Election. 

The new voting model will utilize vote centers in compliance with the California Voter’s Choice Act passed in 2016. Vote Centers will offer an 11-day voting period in convenient and accessible locations within the County and allow all voters to visit any site in the County to vote regardless of their residential address. The Vote Center Placement Project’s core mission is to identify and place accessible and convenient vote center locations throughout LA County.

In August, the ANCA-WR as well as its two local chapters ANCA-Crescenta Valley and ANCA Pasadena applied and were selected to become partners with the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (RR/CC) to facilitate and host the Grassroots Community Meetings for the Vote Center Placement Project (VCPP). 

The Community Meeting in Glendale will be organized with the support and cooperation of the Glendale City Clerk’s Office Elections’ Division.  City Clerk Ardashes “Ardy” Kassakhian serves on the VSAP advisory board and has been a leading advocate for improved accessibility, modernization of elections processes and heightened election security. 

“We are excited to work with community based organizations like the ANCA-WR and  local chapters who have a track record of voter education and outreach and I highly value their involvement.” Kassakhian said.  “I’m glad that the ANC jumped at the opportunity to host these public meetings and look forward to the public’s participation.”

The details of the Community Meetings are as follows:

Thursday, December 13, 2018 
7 to 9 p.m.
H&H Jivalagian Youth Center
2242 East Foothill Boulevard
Pasadena, CA 91107

Friday, December 14, 2018
6 to 8 p.m.
Glendale Youth Center
211 West Chestnut Street
Glendale, CA 91204

Wednesday, January 9, 2019
7 to 9 p.m.
La Crescenta County Library
2809 Foothill Boulevard
La Crescenta, CA 91214

Every community meeting will provide an overview to the Voting Solutions for All Peoplevoting experience, and will allow community members to ask questions and about Vote Centers locations as well as provide input. ANCA-WR and LA County Registrar-Record/County Clerk Office staff members will be present to facilitate the Community Meeting and ensure an informative session for all members of the community.

According to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (RR/CC) Dean C. Logan, 33 community meetings will take place across Los Angeles County. The first one was held on November 16, from 6:30PM-8:30PM at the Salvation Army in Compton. This service is being provided to facilitate information in Armenian in an effort to better serve our community and encourage civic engagement through the ANCA-WR HyeVotes initiative to make our collective voice heard in the electoral process.

Language assistance in Armenian will be provided in all of the meetings mentioned and in Spanish for the meeting in Glendale.

View the full list of community meetings with locations, hours and study areas right here.