Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
[email protected]
Internet
PRESS RELEASE
January 8, 2009
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
COMMUNITY ORGANIZER GARO MANJIKIAN JOINS ANCA WASHINGTON, DC STAFF
WASHINGTON, DC – Campus and community organizer Garo Manjikian is
the latest addition to the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA) Washington, DC office, bringing years of grassroots advocacy
experience to the ANCA legislative affairs team.
"We are delighted to add Garo to our ANCA team in Washington, DC,"
stated ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian. "With his extensive grassroots
organizing skills and deep involvement in the Armenian community,
Garo will work closely with our regional and local teams to
maximize community participation in securing Armenian American
victories on Capitol Hill."
A graduate from the University of California Davis with a degree in
Philosophy and Religious Studies, Manjikian has worked as campus
organizer for CALPIRG at UC Santa Barbara, leading student and
volunteer efforts to plan, organize and implement public interest
campaigns on issues including global warming, hunger homelessness,
college affordability, youth voting, and ending the ongoing
genocide in Darfur. Specific campaign victories have included
working with the University of California system to commit to
climate neutrality and passing California Prop 1A, to bring high
speed rail to the golden state. As canvass director for the Fund
for the Public Interest, Manjikian and his team raised over
$300,000 and recruited thousands of members for progressive causes
including Environment California, CALPIRG, and the Human Rights
Campaign to advocate stronger policies for California Environment,
improve public transit, and build support for the employment non-
discrimination act.
During the 2008 presidential election season, Manjikian worked as a
lead organizer for Progressive Future, traveling to university
campuses throughout Pennsylvania and Virginia and encouraging tens
of thousands of students to register to vote.
"After working with a diverse group of grassroots human rights and
student groups over the past several years, I am excited to work
with the ANCA team in Washington, DC and around the nation to help
take our legislative agenda to new heights," said Manjikian. "A
new President and Congress will afford our community new
opportunities to seek justice for the Armenian Genocide, self-
determination for the people of Nagorno Karabagh and stronger U.S.-
Armenia relationship. I look forward to the challenges ahead."
A graduate of Mesrobian Armenian School in Montebello, CA,
Manjikian served as University of California Davis Armenian Student
Association president for two years, and was highly involved in
organizing multiple genocide awareness and action events on campus
through out his undergraduate term. He has been active with the
ANCA, participating the Capital Gateway program as an ANCA intern
in 2006 and later working with the ANC of Santa Barbara, to build a
stronger coalition in support of Armenian Genocide reaffirmation
efforts.