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LOCAL ANC PROFILE: ANC OF MICHIGAN
by Michelle Hagopian
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/03/19/local-anc-profile-anc-of-michigan/
March 19, 2013
This regular column will take a closer look at the Hai Tahd activities
taking place in local communities within the Eastern Region by our
volunteers. We had the opportunity last week to speak with Hovig
Kouyoumdjian and Lara Nercessian of the ANC of Michigan, and asked
them to shed some insights on the local community and Hai Tahd work
there. This community has been a steady contributor and asset to the
ANCA Eastern Region for many years.
ANC-MI, with the collaboration of the local April 24 committee,
is organizing the Armenian Genocide commemoration on April 27,
2013. We are hosting two prominent speakers-Baroness Caroline Cox
and Mourad Topalian.
MH: Who is involved with the ANC of Michigan team?
HK: The ANC-MI team is composed of six motivated members. The team has
two senior members, Narses Gedikian and GeorgiAnn Oshagan, and four
newly joined younger members, Hovig Kouyoumdjian, Lara Nercessian,
Toros Bardakjian, and Adi Asadoorian.
In addition to being members of ANC-MI, most committee members have
been involved in the ARF, the church, and in local organizations such
as ARS, AYF, and HMEM.
MH: What has the ANC of Michigan been up to lately?
HK: Lately we've been engaged in many ANCA Action Alerts by motivating
and encouraging our community to call local lawmakers and Congressmen
to advocate for Hai Tahd activities. We are also trying to reach out
to our community via e-mail and social media announcements and news.
Our Facebook page is attracting a lot of views and we strive to make
the page the voice of the Armenian community in Michigan, with its
all components.
ANC-MI, with the collaboration of the local April 24 committee, is
organizing the Armenian Genocide commemoration on April 27, 2013. We
are hosting two prominent speakers-Baroness Caroline Cox and Mourad
Topalian. Also, we are planning to initiate a series of meetings
with current and newly elected Michigan lawmakers to establish new
connections on the state and federal levels.
MH: What's your background with the Armenian community? Tell me more
about yourself.
HK: I came to Michigan to pursue my Ph.D. at Michigan State University;
hence my involvement in the Armenian community of the greater
Detroit area is recent, since 2011. Before that I was a member of the
Zavarian Student Association in Beirut for 10 years, where I was on
the executive for two years. Currently, I am part of the ANC-MI team
and an advisor of the local Detroit AYF "Kopernik Tandourjian" chapter.
LN: I have been involved since the fall of 2012 and am an attorney
here in Michigan. Specifically, I am an assistant prosecuting attorney
for Wayne County. I've been involved in the Armenian community since
I was a member of the Richmond "Roupen" AYF chapter, where I was on
the executive. When I moved to Michigan, I joined the Detroit AYF and
was again on the executive, and was later a junior advisor. I was
also on the Steering Committee for the 2000 AYF Senior Olympics. I
interned with the Armenian Assembly in 1998 and have been a member
of our local ARS "Zabel" Chapter since 2008, where I was chairperson,
treasurer, and now secretary. I have been on the mid-council for ARS
in Michigan for two years and a representative to the United Nations
for the ARS for three years.
MH: What do you want to see the ANCA do more of locally?
HK: I think the ANCA should especially reach out to the youth, and
should do its best to systematically incorporate Hai Tahd advocacy
workshops and training sessions, as well as coordinate with the
local AYF and other Armenian youth organizations. With the help
of our experienced members, this coordination can lead to a more
effective presence and a louder voice in the local and regional
political landscape.
From: Baghdasarian
by Michelle Hagopian
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/03/19/local-anc-profile-anc-of-michigan/
March 19, 2013
This regular column will take a closer look at the Hai Tahd activities
taking place in local communities within the Eastern Region by our
volunteers. We had the opportunity last week to speak with Hovig
Kouyoumdjian and Lara Nercessian of the ANC of Michigan, and asked
them to shed some insights on the local community and Hai Tahd work
there. This community has been a steady contributor and asset to the
ANCA Eastern Region for many years.
ANC-MI, with the collaboration of the local April 24 committee,
is organizing the Armenian Genocide commemoration on April 27,
2013. We are hosting two prominent speakers-Baroness Caroline Cox
and Mourad Topalian.
MH: Who is involved with the ANC of Michigan team?
HK: The ANC-MI team is composed of six motivated members. The team has
two senior members, Narses Gedikian and GeorgiAnn Oshagan, and four
newly joined younger members, Hovig Kouyoumdjian, Lara Nercessian,
Toros Bardakjian, and Adi Asadoorian.
In addition to being members of ANC-MI, most committee members have
been involved in the ARF, the church, and in local organizations such
as ARS, AYF, and HMEM.
MH: What has the ANC of Michigan been up to lately?
HK: Lately we've been engaged in many ANCA Action Alerts by motivating
and encouraging our community to call local lawmakers and Congressmen
to advocate for Hai Tahd activities. We are also trying to reach out
to our community via e-mail and social media announcements and news.
Our Facebook page is attracting a lot of views and we strive to make
the page the voice of the Armenian community in Michigan, with its
all components.
ANC-MI, with the collaboration of the local April 24 committee, is
organizing the Armenian Genocide commemoration on April 27, 2013. We
are hosting two prominent speakers-Baroness Caroline Cox and Mourad
Topalian. Also, we are planning to initiate a series of meetings
with current and newly elected Michigan lawmakers to establish new
connections on the state and federal levels.
MH: What's your background with the Armenian community? Tell me more
about yourself.
HK: I came to Michigan to pursue my Ph.D. at Michigan State University;
hence my involvement in the Armenian community of the greater
Detroit area is recent, since 2011. Before that I was a member of the
Zavarian Student Association in Beirut for 10 years, where I was on
the executive for two years. Currently, I am part of the ANC-MI team
and an advisor of the local Detroit AYF "Kopernik Tandourjian" chapter.
LN: I have been involved since the fall of 2012 and am an attorney
here in Michigan. Specifically, I am an assistant prosecuting attorney
for Wayne County. I've been involved in the Armenian community since
I was a member of the Richmond "Roupen" AYF chapter, where I was on
the executive. When I moved to Michigan, I joined the Detroit AYF and
was again on the executive, and was later a junior advisor. I was
also on the Steering Committee for the 2000 AYF Senior Olympics. I
interned with the Armenian Assembly in 1998 and have been a member
of our local ARS "Zabel" Chapter since 2008, where I was chairperson,
treasurer, and now secretary. I have been on the mid-council for ARS
in Michigan for two years and a representative to the United Nations
for the ARS for three years.
MH: What do you want to see the ANCA do more of locally?
HK: I think the ANCA should especially reach out to the youth, and
should do its best to systematically incorporate Hai Tahd advocacy
workshops and training sessions, as well as coordinate with the
local AYF and other Armenian youth organizations. With the help
of our experienced members, this coordination can lead to a more
effective presence and a louder voice in the local and regional
political landscape.
From: Baghdasarian