by HovikGas on July 29, 2009
Kavarian, Nalbandian and Simounian joined by ANC-WR Executive Director Andrew Kzirian.
LOS ANGELES–The Armenian National Committee Western Region (ANC-WR) Internship-Externship Program (IEP) commenced its spring session on January 22nd. Participating in the regional program are three students from Crescenta Valley High School. Assigned a range of projects, the participants will work with ANC-WR staff and board members between now and early May.
The spring session interns include Patil Kavarian, Ani Nalbandian, and Sara Simounian. Nalbandian will be contributing as a Community and Government Affairs specialist, assisting the regional staff with its educational outreach as well as its leadership development programs. Kavarian and Simounian will be covering the various activities of the ANC-WR in the coming months as Public and Media Affairs interns.
Over the next several weeks, the interns will participate in weekly lectures, workshops, and seminars. During their first week in the program, they attended a lecture about anti-genocide advocates Raphael Lemkin and Vahan Cardashian at the Glendale Public Library.
Kavarian is a graduating senior interested in pursuing pre-medicine studies at college. She recently graduated the ANC Glendale Internship Program and looks forward to continuing her work with the ANC’s regional office. Simounian, a former ANC-WR volunteer, is a high school junior participating in her first internship program. Nalbandian, an active member of the AYF, rounds out the group and is also a graduating senior.
“We look forward to having Patil, Ani, and Sara work with us this spring,” said Haig Hovsepian, ANC-WR Community Relations Director and internship program coordinator. “With the start of the new legislative cycle and several community events in development these coming months, they will have an opportunity to see grassroots activism first hand,” he added.
Established in June 2006, the ANC-WR IEP hosts three sessions throughout the year. The application for the upcoming 2009 Summer Session is now available online.
The Armenian National Committee – 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 ANC-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.
by HovikGas on July 29, 2009
LOS ANGELES, CA – Sara Simounian recently joined the Armenian National Committee – Western Region’s Internship-Externship Program (ANC-WR IEP) as one of its newest interns this spring. As part of the program, Simounian will be specializing in Public and Media Relations. Only a few weeks into the program, Simounian has jumped into action assisting the ANC staff with several projects ranging from press releases to event promotion.
“Through the program I am learning more about current issues dealing with Armenia and Armenian communities all over the world,” noted Simounian. “Though I am dealing with present community concerns, doing so has made me feel a greater appreciation for my heritage,” she added.
Simounian is a third year student attending Crescenta Valley High School in Glendale. She intends to continue her academic studies at Glendale Community College before heading off to university. In addition to her projects, Simounian has also had the opportunity to learn more about the ANC as well as valuable work environment skills through the internship program’s lecture, workshop, and seminar series.
Simounian learned about the internship program through her brother, an ANC-WR IEP alumnus. She had regularly volunteered for the ANC-WR in the past year and as soon as Simounian heard about the 2009 Spring Session of the internship program she quickly submitted her application.
“One of the best things about this program is that I get to work with friends who feel just as strongly as me about making a positive difference in my community,” said Simounian.
The Armenian National Committee ’s 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 ANC-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.
by HovikGas on July 29, 2009
Patil Kavarian Raises
LOS ANGELES–As a member of the ANC-WR Internship-Externship’s (IEP) 2009 spring class, Patil Kavarian has been working with the ANC-WR staff and her fellow interns to advance Hai Tahd. Kavarian is a Public and Media Relations intern focusing on community activities and education, and has reported on community stories such as youth involvement in the recent local elections and helping to raise awareness of the Armenian Genocide.
“The ANC-WR has given me the opportunity to help impact both the local community and activists throughout the region,” stated Kavarian. “By assisting activists cover their activities in different parts of the western United States, I am facilitating communication about how their fellow colleagues are stepping up during this important time,” said Kavarian.
Kavarian has teamed with staff to reach out to her peers to encourage more participation in community events and opportunities for civic engagement. Kavarian engaged various community efforts ranging from the upcoming ANC Orange County’s Walk for Remembrance to voter registration and the ANC-Western Region’s Issues Awareness Caucus in Sacramento, California set to take place April 22-23, 2009.
Kavarian is a graduating senior at Crescenta Valley High School in Glendale, California. An aspiring pre-med college student, she is still dedicated to community service and currently serves as her high school’s Armenian Club president. This past autumn Kavarian successfully completed the ANC Glendale Internship Program.
“Patil has really benefited from the ANC-WR internship program and made a difference,” noted Haig Hovsepian, the ANC-WR’s Community Relations Director and coordinator of the internship program. “This program provided Patil with a tremendous opportunity to compliment her experiences at the local level with a regional perspective.”
The Armenian National Committee – 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 ANC-WR promotes awareness of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.
by HovikGas on July 29, 2009
Elizabeth McIntyre
GLENDALE, CA– With the 2009 Summer Session of the Armenian National Committee-Western Region Internship-Externship Program (ANC-WR IEP) off to a fast-paced start, Elizabeth McIntyre joins the ANC-WR office as an Administration and Development Intern. Focusing on Armenian American civic engagement and community development initiatives, McIntyre will be working with her fellow interns as well as the ANC-WR staff and assisting local ANCs with summer projects.
“I wanted to participate in the IEP because I think the skills and experiences that I will gain in it will be invaluable to the things I want to do with my life,” says Elizabeth. “In the last few years I have become more interested in issues of policy, activism, and international opportunities. I wanted to participate in a program like this because I want to be equipped to do more with my career than make a paycheck and I am becoming more interested in Armenian things.”
McIntyre is researching on current and previous state legislation related to the Armenian American community. She will also be working with the ANC Professional Network where she will assist with their professionals panel series featuring careers in public service and public policy.
McIntyre received her Associates Degree at Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga where she also served in the student government and is currently a senior at CSU “Cal Poly” Pomona, where she is majoring in Finance. As vice president of Cal Poly Pomona’s Interdisciplinary General Education Student Organization, she helped to create, set up, and market various events. She feels that this campus experience helped her prepare for the ANC-WR IEP.
While McIntyre’s maternal grandfather is Armenian, she sees this internship as an opportunity to become more involved in the Armenian American community.
“I grew up with less knowledge of the issues and culture than one might expect of most Armenian Americans in southern California,” she says. “I am always looking to make a positive difference and want to be more engaged in this part of my heritage.”
In the past year, McIntyre joined the Armenian Student Association at Cal Poly and has been involved in the on-campus meetings and events. She is looking forward to her experience in the IEP and hopes to remain an active member of the ANC after she completes the program.
McIntyre hopes to professionally apply her academic training overseas where she can encourage sustainable business practices and economic development.
The Armenian National Committee – 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 ANC-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.
by HovikGas on July 29, 2009
ANC-WR IEP 2009 Summer Session Intern, Hovsep Hajibekyan
GLENDALE—Hovsep Hajibekyan, a senior at UC Berkley, is one of seven students participating in the 2009 Summer Session of the Armenian National Committee-Western Region’s Internship-Externship Program (ANC-WR IEP). He joins the program, which began on June 15th this summer, as a Public and Media Relations Intern. Through the program, Hajibekyan will not only be gaining experience in public and media relations but also learning about current Armenian American issues.
“I wanted to make a positive contribution to my community,” says Hajibekyan, “and the IEP provides me with a great opportunity to have hands-on experience with the day-to-day operations of the ANC-WR.”
As part of his involvement in the ANC-WR IEP, Hajibekyan is working on a series of individual projects. For his main project, Hajibekyan is working with the US Census Bureau to raise awareness of the upcoming 2010 Census and highlight its importance for the Armenian American Community.
“I am looking forward to setting up this community outreach event and it is an exciting opportunity to be able to work with a federal government office to help empower our communities,” said Hajibekyan
He will also be leading the ANC-WR media monitoring efforts this summer as well as writing press releases covering ANC events and activities in the community.
Hajibekyan is attending UC Berkley as a Political Science and Music major. He feels that the rigor of the classes at his school has prepared him well for his internship with the ANC-WR. He also believes that his musical studies have helped him strengthen his Armenian identity and influenced his involvement with the Armenian American community.
Along with being an active member of his UC Berkeley’s Armenian Student Association, Hajibekyan has been active with the Armenian National Committee of the San Francisco Bay Area. He has volunteered with the Armenian National Committee of America during which he assisted US Representative Jackie Speier’s election campaign.
“Several of my friends had been interns previously and they spoke about the rigor and effectiveness of the IEP program,” he says. “I knew from them that the interns become full participants in the civic engagement effort, not just spectators.”
Although Hajibekyan is not positive as to what he will do after he finishes at Berkeley, he does know that he will continue his education. He plans to attend either law school or graduate school to study diplomacy.
Hajibekyan also plans to remain active in both the ANC and the Armenian American community in general after completing the ANC-WR IEP. He feels that the experience in working with communities that he will gain from the program will help him stay involved in the future.
The Armenian National Committee – 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 ANC-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.
