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KASSAKHIAN TO SPEAK AT 'ANC GRASSROOTS' WORKSHOP
Ardashes Kassakhian
asbarez
Thursday, October 20th, 2011
GLENDALE-The Armenian National Committee - Western Region announced
that Glendale City Clerk Ardashes Kassakhian will serve as a panelist
in "Grassroots: Empower and Lead," a workshop on activism through
politics. The workshop is part of the ANC Grassroots weekend that
will take place from Friday, November 25 to Sunday, November 27,
at the Sheraton Universal Hotel.
Having served as Glendale City Clerk for over 6 years, Kassakhian
has gained unique insight into Glendale's political system.
His prior experience as the Governmental Relations Director and
Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America
- Western United States (ANCA-WR), has helped shape his deep
understanding of the intersection of Armenian-American political
affairs and local government. As the city's Election Official, he
has led the effort to raise participation and awareness of municipal
elections and has introduced the expansion of video streaming of
city council meetings and other proceedings. During the last 6 years,
Kassakhian has helped educate non-English speaking citizens in Glendale
about the voting process. He has been a poll worker in Glendale and has
helped register hundreds of voters in Glendale and surrounding areas.
In 2009, Kassakhian completed a summer program at the John F. Kennedy
School of Government at Harvard University for State and Local
officials. In 2011, Kassakhian graduated from the Coro Executive
Fellowship Program in Public Affairs. He is currently working on
developing a long range strategic plan for reforming election processes
in Glendale and raising voter participation in municipal elections.
On April 5, 2005, Kassakhian became the first person ever to be
elected City Clerk in an open election in Glendale in 75 years. His
landslide victory in a field of 9 candidates made him the youngest
Armenian-American elected official in the U.S. as well the youngest
person to ever hold public office in Glendale.
Kassakhian received his undergraduate degree at UCLA in history with a
special emphasis on Armenia and the Near East. As a student leader at
UCLA, Kassakhian led the grassroots effort to oppose the establishment
of a Turkish studies chair by the Republic of Turkey. The decision was
a watershed victory for Armenian-Americans who were concerned about
the corruption of American academia by the government of Turkey and
its agents of Genocide denials.
Kassakhian lives in Glendale with his wife, Courtney, and continues
to lecture around the country on political organizing and grassroots
politics, Armenian-American lobbying efforts in Washington, D.C.,
and career development for youth interested in politics.
Together with Rostom Sarkissian and Matt Senekeremian, and Marcy
Kaplan from the California Participation Project, the panelists on
the "Grassroots: Empower and Lead" workshop will discuss the avenues
through which activists can become engaged in the political arena. For
many years, the ANC-WR has worked at the community level to heighten
Armenian American awareness and increase involvement in local, state
and federal politics. The panel will emphasize the importance of
individuals working at the grassroots level to promote Hai Tahd.
The three-day ANC Grassroots program is a groundbreaking weekend of
workshops and panel presentations that will educate the community about
civic leadership arising from grassroots efforts. ANC Grassroots will
bookend the Armenian National Committee of America - Western Region
Annual Banquet, which will take place on Saturday, November 26 at
7 p.m.
ANC Grassroots and the Annual Banquet are open to interested
individuals throughout the entire United States, and participants
are encouraged to register early.
Tickets for ANC Grassroots, which includes the Friday night cocktail
in the Starview Room; as well as conference sessions on Friday,
Saturday and Sunday, which include breakfast, post-banquet dance,
and a keynote luncheon on Sunday, are $150. Tickets for the Annual
Banquet are $200. Those interested in attending the Annual Banquet
and ANC Grassroots can purchase a package for $300.
Students with valid ID can purchase discounted tickets to the Annual
Banquet and Conference.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Ardashes Kassakhian
asbarez
Thursday, October 20th, 2011
GLENDALE-The Armenian National Committee - Western Region announced
that Glendale City Clerk Ardashes Kassakhian will serve as a panelist
in "Grassroots: Empower and Lead," a workshop on activism through
politics. The workshop is part of the ANC Grassroots weekend that
will take place from Friday, November 25 to Sunday, November 27,
at the Sheraton Universal Hotel.
Having served as Glendale City Clerk for over 6 years, Kassakhian
has gained unique insight into Glendale's political system.
His prior experience as the Governmental Relations Director and
Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America
- Western United States (ANCA-WR), has helped shape his deep
understanding of the intersection of Armenian-American political
affairs and local government. As the city's Election Official, he
has led the effort to raise participation and awareness of municipal
elections and has introduced the expansion of video streaming of
city council meetings and other proceedings. During the last 6 years,
Kassakhian has helped educate non-English speaking citizens in Glendale
about the voting process. He has been a poll worker in Glendale and has
helped register hundreds of voters in Glendale and surrounding areas.
In 2009, Kassakhian completed a summer program at the John F. Kennedy
School of Government at Harvard University for State and Local
officials. In 2011, Kassakhian graduated from the Coro Executive
Fellowship Program in Public Affairs. He is currently working on
developing a long range strategic plan for reforming election processes
in Glendale and raising voter participation in municipal elections.
On April 5, 2005, Kassakhian became the first person ever to be
elected City Clerk in an open election in Glendale in 75 years. His
landslide victory in a field of 9 candidates made him the youngest
Armenian-American elected official in the U.S. as well the youngest
person to ever hold public office in Glendale.
Kassakhian received his undergraduate degree at UCLA in history with a
special emphasis on Armenia and the Near East. As a student leader at
UCLA, Kassakhian led the grassroots effort to oppose the establishment
of a Turkish studies chair by the Republic of Turkey. The decision was
a watershed victory for Armenian-Americans who were concerned about
the corruption of American academia by the government of Turkey and
its agents of Genocide denials.
Kassakhian lives in Glendale with his wife, Courtney, and continues
to lecture around the country on political organizing and grassroots
politics, Armenian-American lobbying efforts in Washington, D.C.,
and career development for youth interested in politics.
Together with Rostom Sarkissian and Matt Senekeremian, and Marcy
Kaplan from the California Participation Project, the panelists on
the "Grassroots: Empower and Lead" workshop will discuss the avenues
through which activists can become engaged in the political arena. For
many years, the ANC-WR has worked at the community level to heighten
Armenian American awareness and increase involvement in local, state
and federal politics. The panel will emphasize the importance of
individuals working at the grassroots level to promote Hai Tahd.
The three-day ANC Grassroots program is a groundbreaking weekend of
workshops and panel presentations that will educate the community about
civic leadership arising from grassroots efforts. ANC Grassroots will
bookend the Armenian National Committee of America - Western Region
Annual Banquet, which will take place on Saturday, November 26 at
7 p.m.
ANC Grassroots and the Annual Banquet are open to interested
individuals throughout the entire United States, and participants
are encouraged to register early.
Tickets for ANC Grassroots, which includes the Friday night cocktail
in the Starview Room; as well as conference sessions on Friday,
Saturday and Sunday, which include breakfast, post-banquet dance,
and a keynote luncheon on Sunday, are $150. Tickets for the Annual
Banquet are $200. Those interested in attending the Annual Banquet
and ANC Grassroots can purchase a package for $300.
Students with valid ID can purchase discounted tickets to the Annual
Banquet and Conference.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress