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Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
[email protected]
www.ancawr.org
PRESS RELEASE January 29, 2014
Contact: Elen Asatryan
E-Mail: [email protected]
Direct: (818) 500.1919 Cell: (818) 859.2421
ANCA WR MEETS OVERFLOW CROWD AT HOUSTON TOWN HALL
Houston, TX- On Sunday, January 26, 2014, over 70 community members from
the Houston area gathered at Saint Kevork Armenian Church's Tcholakian Hall
for a town hall meeting organized by the Armenian National Committee of
America - Western Region. The event, which was preceded by a series of
similar town hall meetings in Boise, Fresno, Las Vegas, San Francisco
and Phoenix, was successful in the overarching effort to reactivate and
engage Armenian American communities throughout the Western United States.
"We were pleasantly surprised to see such a large and enthusiastic crowd
attend the town hall gathering. Everyone was very engaged in the
topics covered, including Genocide recognition, independence for Artsakh,
and U.S. foreign aid to Armenia, and it was most heartening to witness
their enthusiasm to participate locally," stated ANCA-WR Executive Director
Elen Asatryan. "We look forward to working closely with our friends in
Houston in the coming weeks and months to help them establish a strong
local chapter, the first of many to come in the Western United States,"
added Asatryan.
During the meeting, which lasted for over 2 hours and consisted of
continuous open dialogue, many issues essential to the Armenian cause were
discussed, including H.Res 227, the Armenian Genocide Truth and Justice
Resolution, a resolution that builds upon U.S. recognition of the Armenian
Genocide. Asatryan also presented the ANCA organizational structure, its
priorities for the coming year and the challenges facing the Armenian
American communities at the local, state and federal levels. Other noted
topics of discussion included the upcoming advocacy days in California and
Washington D.C., US recognition of independence for Artsakh, and AB-659, a
bill which bolsters the incorporation of oral testimony and teacher
training about the Armenian Genocide in California's public schools.
Finally, Asatryan discussed the various community service initiatives
launched recently by the ANCA-WR and its local chapters. The meeting
wrapped up with a Q&A session, followed by one-on-one discussions with
attendees on how they can get involved in organizing their local chapters.
A specific issue of concern raised by the Houston attendees included the
Harmony Public Schools in the area, a system of publicly-funded charter
schools highly criticized for spreading Turkish propaganda. Because these
schools are funded by Americans' tax dollars, they present an issue not
just to Armenian-Americans but to all Americans.
The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the largest
and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in
the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of
offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and
affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the
concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.
###
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
[email protected]
www.ancawr.org
PRESS RELEASE January 29, 2014
Contact: Elen Asatryan
E-Mail: [email protected]
Direct: (818) 500.1919 Cell: (818) 859.2421
ANCA WR MEETS OVERFLOW CROWD AT HOUSTON TOWN HALL
Houston, TX- On Sunday, January 26, 2014, over 70 community members from
the Houston area gathered at Saint Kevork Armenian Church's Tcholakian Hall
for a town hall meeting organized by the Armenian National Committee of
America - Western Region. The event, which was preceded by a series of
similar town hall meetings in Boise, Fresno, Las Vegas, San Francisco
and Phoenix, was successful in the overarching effort to reactivate and
engage Armenian American communities throughout the Western United States.
"We were pleasantly surprised to see such a large and enthusiastic crowd
attend the town hall gathering. Everyone was very engaged in the
topics covered, including Genocide recognition, independence for Artsakh,
and U.S. foreign aid to Armenia, and it was most heartening to witness
their enthusiasm to participate locally," stated ANCA-WR Executive Director
Elen Asatryan. "We look forward to working closely with our friends in
Houston in the coming weeks and months to help them establish a strong
local chapter, the first of many to come in the Western United States,"
added Asatryan.
During the meeting, which lasted for over 2 hours and consisted of
continuous open dialogue, many issues essential to the Armenian cause were
discussed, including H.Res 227, the Armenian Genocide Truth and Justice
Resolution, a resolution that builds upon U.S. recognition of the Armenian
Genocide. Asatryan also presented the ANCA organizational structure, its
priorities for the coming year and the challenges facing the Armenian
American communities at the local, state and federal levels. Other noted
topics of discussion included the upcoming advocacy days in California and
Washington D.C., US recognition of independence for Artsakh, and AB-659, a
bill which bolsters the incorporation of oral testimony and teacher
training about the Armenian Genocide in California's public schools.
Finally, Asatryan discussed the various community service initiatives
launched recently by the ANCA-WR and its local chapters. The meeting
wrapped up with a Q&A session, followed by one-on-one discussions with
attendees on how they can get involved in organizing their local chapters.
A specific issue of concern raised by the Houston attendees included the
Harmony Public Schools in the area, a system of publicly-funded charter
schools highly criticized for spreading Turkish propaganda. Because these
schools are funded by Americans' tax dollars, they present an issue not
just to Armenian-Americans but to all Americans.
The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the largest
and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in
the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of
offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and
affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the
concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.
###