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    ANCA Capital Gateway Program: Paving the Way for Careers in Public Policy

    http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/08/08/anca-capital-gateway-program-paving-the-way-for-careers-in-public-policy/
    By Lilly Torosyan // August 8, 2013


    Since 2003, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) has
    sponsored the competitive Capital Gateway Program (CGP), an initiative
    to increase Armenian-American presence in local and national politics,
    and in government and media careers. The intention is to help young
    Armenian Americans - in particular, recent university graduates -
    secure full-time jobs in policy-making and journalism positions in
    Washington, D.C. In doing so, the ANCA hopes to expand civic
    participation among Armenian-American youth, whose presence will
    `represent a highly efficient and effective means of leveraging the
    community's resources to achieve shared aims.'

    1x1.trans ANCA Capital Gateway Program: Paving the Way for Careers in
    Public Policy

    The CGP also builds on the Leo Sarkisian Summer Internship Program
    (LSI), an eight-week advocacy-training program at the ANCA offices in
    Washington Both college graduates and currently enrolled university
    students may participate in the program in one of three ways: an ANCA
    extended internship, which provides students with in-depth training on
    special projects that are catered to the intern's specific interests;
    an ANCA externship, which places students in semester-long internships
    in Congressional offices or foreign policy related institutions; and
    university internships, which are university-run internships based in
    D.C., such as the University of California (UCDC) program.

    The CGP also builds on the Leo Sarkisian Summer Internship Program
    (LSI), an eight-week advocacy-training program at the ANCA offices in
    Washington, where students attend Congressional hearings and conduct
    unique projects related to their specific areas of interest. The
    program also aims to encourage grassroots activism for the Armenian
    Cause.



    Advisory Board Committee

    The Capital Gateway Program Advisory Board Committee (CGPAC) provides
    mentorship and vast career-guidance resources for the interns' job
    searches. CGP alumni Mike Gedjeyan, Dan Stepanian-Bennett, Yelena
    Allakhverdov, and Arbi Vartan, with Program Director Raffi
    Karakashian, established the CGPAC to increase one-on-one personalized
    mentorship and job opportunities for CGP interns, or fellows. The
    program, which is reflective of the Board, has produced concrete
    results with over 45 interns attaining jobs in their respective
    fields. Today, the CGPAC Board is comprised of Dan Stepanian-Bennett,
    Aren Ghazarians, Shant Nahapetian, and Nareg Sagherian.

    One of the most valuable aspects of the CGP is the Lecture Series that
    takes place during the first two weeks of the program. Ghazarians
    attested to the resourcefulness of this component of the program when
    he was a CGP fellow. `These lectures helped me address issues I was
    having during my search for a job. By discussing how to strengthen a
    resume and cover letter and how to approach and prepare for an
    interview, I know the program is the reason I was able to find a job
    soon after moving down here to DC. Those who took time to speak to our
    group were a tremendous resource and I can't thank them enough,' he
    told the Weekly in an interview.

    1x1.trans ANCA Capital Gateway Program: Paving the Way for Careers in
    Public Policy

    The Capital Gateway Program Advisory Board Committee Sagherian
    recently left his position as a director of finance for a consulting
    firm in the D.C. metro for a position as a presidential fellow with
    the federal government.

    `The program has helped me and continues to help me throughout all my
    personal and professional pursuits, whether by being a point of
    reference or providing valuable advice. One thing you learn very
    quickly when you go through the CGP is that even though you may finish
    the program and move forward in your life, the ANCA is still there to
    support their fellow Armenians in whatever capacity is necessary. That
    is truly at the core of what makes this program and organization
    priceless to the Armenian community,' Sagherian told the Weekly.

    `Having gone through the Capital Gateway Program in 2010, I learned
    that there are always great people and organizations out there willing
    to help you achieve your goals. You just have to be willing to ask for
    help. However, with this help comes the personal obligation to put
    forth your absolute effort to succeeding in your chosen endeavors,' he
    continued.

    Sagherian advised future CGP fellows `to come into the program with
    the notion that they are going to put in whatever it takes in order to
    succeed and realize their career goals. This program is set up in a
    manner where you get out of it what you put in. Therefore, although
    there are many people in the community ready to help each and every
    fellow, a fellow has to first be willing to help themselves.'

    Ghazarians agreed, and encouraged future fellows to take advantage of
    the opportunities the program provides them. `We all are guilty of
    thinking that the way we are going about searching for a job is the
    right way and there is nothing to change. But once the fellows
    complete their Lecture Series and meet with their mentors, they
    quickly realize that there are changes they can make or there is a
    better approach to finding a job that they didn't realize,' he
    explained.

    `The ANCA staff and the members of the CGP Advisory Committee while I
    was a fellow did a tremendous job to show me my strengths and the
    improvements I could make to get over the bump and find a full-time
    job. They were a great resource and I would tell future fellows to
    give it a chance and utilize the resources at their disposal. We all
    want them to succeed and are here to help however we can,' he added.



    Hovig Apo Saghdejian Memorial Fund

    The CGP has been funded through the generosity of the Cafesdjian
    Family Foundation, the Hovig Apo Saghdejian Fellowship, Armenian
    American Veterans Post of Milford, Massachusetts (AAVO), longtime ANCA
    benefactors Mr. and Mrs. Frank and Barbara Hekimian, and
    Armenian-American activists from across the U.S.

    1x1.trans ANCA Capital Gateway Program: Paving the Way for Careers in
    Public Policy

    Hovig Apo Saghdejian
    The Capital Gateway House, which houses the fellows and LSIs during
    their three-month stay, was donated by the Saghdejian family, in honor
    of their son, Hovig, who passed away in a car accident at the age of
    23. The young activist was a member of the Homenetmen Armenian General
    Athletic Union and Scouts, and the Armenian Youth Federation. As a
    volunteer with the Land and Culture Organization, he traveled to
    Armenia during the summer of 2003 to work as a volunteer in Ayroum,
    developing infrastructure and self-sustainability for the impoverished
    village. Hovig's efforts helped bring hope to all he came in contact
    with that the future held better things for the people of Armenia.

    The Hovig Apo Saghdejian Fellowship Fund has for many years sponsored
    a Capital Gateway fellow, covering his/her housing and providing a
    full range of support services, from improving resumes and sharpening
    interview skills, to making the right introductions and integrating
    into the growing network of Armenian-American public policy
    professionals in the nation's capital.

    Typically, each fellow has been able to secure a full-time position
    within three to six months. The competitive program accepts anywhere
    between 10 to 25 interns, depending on funding and space availability.
    The winter application deadline for the CGP is Jan. 15. Applications
    can be accessed on the ANCA's website at www.anca.org.



    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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