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PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Young Armenian Professionals Take Windy City by Storm at Sold-Out AGBU
Focus 2009
Weekend Welcomes Close to 400 Guests & Raises Over $35,000 for AGBU Hye
Geen Pregnant Women’s Project in Armenia
AGBU FOCUS celebrated its fifth biennial affair with 400 participants
from 16 countries and dozens of American cities in Chicago, Illinois
from July 16-19 with much style and success. The four-day event took
place around the Westin Michigan Avenue Hotel, which is situated in the
city’s exhilarating downtown core and footsteps away from the relaxing
Oak Street Beach on Lake Michigan.
Networking, cultural and social activities throughout the weekend
exposed guests to Chicago’s unique history and present happenings. In
addition, through the pre-event efforts of the FOCUS Organizing
Committee, the AGBU program raised over $35,000 for the AGBU Hye Geen
Pregnant Women’s Project in Armenia.
First initiated in 2001, FOCUS was created not only to bring together
young Armenian professionals to share their international perspectives
on a variety of important issues, but to showcase notable contributions
and achievements made by AGBU’s diverse programs. Over the years, this
biennial affair has become the most highly anticipated event for young
Armenian professionals across the globe with over 2,000 participants,
setting a standard for other gatherings of its kind and cultivating a
new generation of AGBU members. In fact, tickets for FOCUS events were
sold out well over a week before the festivities even began.
Raising Awareness & Giving Back
"While FOCUS is a great reunion of friends old and new, packed with both
cultural and social activities, it is also a time for our generation to
give back," said Arda Berberian who, along with Aline Markarian,
co-chaired the weekend.
Every two years, FOCUS highlights a specific AGBU program and educates
its attendees about the true spirit, generosity and diversity of the
organization’s work throughout the world, launching a large-scale
pre-event fundraising program with international donors.
"As young professionals, it was quite evident at FOCUS that we are
prepared and eager to continue AGBU’s mission into the next generation,"
said Markarian. "This year, we chose to honor the Hye Geen Pregnant
Women’s Project in Armenia and are so grateful to all the individuals
who supported our efforts and donated over $35,000 for this amazing
cause."
AGBU Hye Geen is a Los Angeles-based volunteer committee that works to
honor the achievements of Armenian women and provides a forum for them
throughout the world. Their Pregnant Women’s Project looks to help the
next generation in Armenia as a response to the country’s high infant
mortality rate, lack of nutrition and shortage of resources for
potential mothers. The first Pregnant Women’s Center opened its doors in
Gyumri in 2002, followed by the establishment of a second location in
Vanadzor in 2004. This year, through funds raised by FOCUS, there are
plans to reallocate resources from the first center to a new location in
Talin, where there are many poor and underserved villages.
The Hye Geen Project helped establish community-based health resource
centers that provide critical prenatal care to pregnant women who often
suffer from malnutrition, lack the funds for proper medical care, and
have limited access to accurate health information. Expectant mothers
can visit the centers daily to benefit from vital medical exams,
meetings with counselors, peer support, nutritious meals and vitamins.
To date, over 700 healthy babies have been born to the mothers who have
attended centers sponsored by AGBU Hye Geen.
"The FOCUS Organizing Committee is extremely grateful for the outpouring
support of the Hye Geen program. We are going to make a huge difference
in the lives of so many present and future mothers giving life and
opportunity to the next generation in Armenia," said Berberian.
Exchanging Perspectives and Defining the "AGBU YP" Generation
For this year’s festivities, guests flew to Chicago from Argentina,
Armenia, Canada, France, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Mexico, Russia, Spain,
Switzerland, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom,
Uruguay, and over twenty American states. The schedule of events
included: Thursday night’s Perspectives, a networking forum featuring a
panel discussion; Friday’s Club Night at a private club in the heart of
downtown Chicago; Saturday afternoon’s FOCUS on Art with an
architectural boat cruise; a closing Sunday brunch; and the weekend’s
most anticipated Saturday-evening Gala at the internationally renowned
and newly opened Modern Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Thursday’s Perspectives has become the traditional kick-off event of
FOCUS, bringing guests together to network and discuss a specific
current issue facing a generation of young Armenian professionals. This
year’s panel took place at the River East Art Center, which houses many
of the city’s art galleries. The evening’s discussion centered around
the legacy Armenian young professionals want to leave as Armenians to
the next generation and how the Armenian community can engage them to
take part and make a difference. The dialogue was moderated by ABC News
Dubai Correspondent/Digital Reporter Lara Setrakian, who was joined by
three guest speakers: Harry Onnig Madanyan from Chicago, Ignacio
Balassanian from Buenos Aires, and Valentina Poghosyan from London.
"Perspectives 2009 was a timely and important discourse on the community
our generation wants to leave behind," Setrakian reflected. "Valentina
emphasized Armenian culture and history in the home, as our community
sees more families of mixed cultural backgrounds. Harry encouraged
building more ‘touch points’ between members of the diaspora and
community structures–opportunities to engage and participate at
different stages of life. And Ignacio pointed out the need to leverage
both social networking and face time as members of our generation
connect in person and online."
In addition to insight from Setrakian and the panelists, Perspective
featured a lively discussion which included a great amount of
participation from audience members who contributed their ideas on
issues like the importance of language on cultural sustainability, the
Genocide and its role in our consciousness, and how to live an Armenian
life in the 21st century. A speaker from France even described his
generation’s legacy as "a new pipeline," and the need to re-engineer the
way his peers engage each other and cross traditional community
barriers.
The discussion was followed by a catered reception amidst the fine art
setting.
Following Perspectives, Friday’s Club Night at Griffin Lounge gave
guests access to a private and exclusive venue to socialize and dance
until late in the evening. Everyone enjoyed a modern mix of music
supplied by a local DJ throughout the night and mingled in the club’s
uniquely decorated rooms.
Beyond the official FOCUS activities, the weekend was also the setting
for the AGBU Young Professionals (YP) Biennial Assembly. Twenty-five YPs
representing the leadership of a dozen YP groups and partner
organizations from seven countries (Argentina, Armenia, Canada, France,
Russia, the United Arab Emirates and the United States) convened Friday
morning to engage in cross cooperation and collaboration with the end
purpose in mind of strengthening and advancing the worldwide AGBU YP
Network.
Co-facilitated by YP Liaison Kim Yacoubian and YP Northern California
Member Alison Ekizian, YP representatives, several meeting for the very
first time, participated in an open exchange on partnership
opportunities and best practices, with a special presentation made by
AGBU YP Yerevan Chairman Harutyun Poghosyan on available projects in
Armenia. "Representing the largest and most diverse attendance for an
AGBU YP meeting ever with a clear focus on international cooperation,"
said Yacoubian, "this year’s Assembly is testament to the accelerated
growth and popularity of the YP Network, and the dedication of the young
Armenians belonging to it who are committed to working together as a
cohesive whole to give back to the community at large to preserve our
time-honored identity and heritage."
Cruising for Art and Celebrating an Achievement
After a successful debut during FOCUS Montreal in 2003, the fourth FOCUS
on Art event took place on Saturday afternoon with a popular
architectural boat cruise on the Chicago River. Guests enjoyed a sunny
afternoon and gourmet lunch while marveling at Chicago’s soaring towers
during a tour guide-led discovery of the city and its architectural
treasures.
"As a lifelong Chicagoan, I was happy to hear the participants’ reaction
to the cruise event and the weekend overall. They saw our architecture,
our treasures, enjoyed the food and culture and made new friends at the
same time," said Houri Gueyikian, the local member of the FOCUS 2009
committee.
The highlight and most anticipated event of the weekend was the
Saturday-night Gala, held at the newly opened Modern Wing of Chicago’s
Art Institute. Beginning with cocktails in the Museum’s Grand Staircase
surrounded by fine art, guests had the privilege to walk through the
Alsdorf gallery of South East Asian Art before being welcomed into the
soaring modern wing for a multimedia presentation on the Hye Geen
Pregnant Women’s Centers and an evening with the Kevork Artinian Melody
Band, which played a selection of Armenian and international music.
The evening’s master of ceremonies was Steve Odabashian from
Philadelphia, who introduced FOCUS Co-Chairs Arda Berberian and Aline
Markarian.
"This year we invaded the Windy City and have had the pleasure of taking
in so many of its cultural attributes," said Berberian. "Tonight, we sit
amongst the artwork of one of the most well-known art institutions in
the world, while supporting an AGBU program. I hope you will take a
moment to take it all in."
The co-chairs’ enthusiasm for Hye Geen was also amplified by a video
presentation illustrating the stories and faces behind the centers.
"The efforts by the Los Angeles-based AGBU Hye Geen Committee are
exemplary and we stand here today to applaud their achievements," said
Markarian. "They saw a desperate situation and sought action. I am proud
to announce that the opening of a new Pregnant Women’s Center in Talin,
Armenia has been made possible by our generous donors of this year’s
FOCUS campaign."
Dr. Lucy Tovmasian from New Jersey was then invited to the podium to
speak about the importance of the Hye Geen program from her professional
understanding of its objectives and success.
"As a doctor, sometimes progress is best evaluated in numbers,"
Tovmasian said. "In 2001, Armenia’s infant mortality rate was an
unfortunate 41 out of 1,000 births. In 2008, this rate greatly improved
and, according to the CIA World Factbook, the infant mortality was
stated to be less than 21 out of 1000 births."
Tovmasian also quoted Hye Geen Chair Sona Yacoubian, who said: "What we
do through this project is keep two people healthy: the mother and her
newborn child. This way, mothers will be far less likely to abandon
their children and both will remain healthy. Just consider how strong
this will make the future generations of our nation."
Bonds of Friendship
On the final morning of a great weekend, guests came together for the
last time for a Sunday brunch on the sixteenth floor of the Westin
Hotel. The camaraderie of FOCUS certainly echoed throughout the room
amidst the continual goodbyes with excitement and eagerness to reunite
again soon and stay active in AGBU.
"The weekend was nothing short of fantastic," said first-time guest Alex
Grigorians from Los Angeles. "This was my first AGBU Focus and my only
regret is that I missed out on New York, Montreal and Miami. It provided
a great setting to connect and reconnect with young Armenian
professionals."
"All I can say is that FOCUS exceeded all my expectations," said Ohanes
Sangochian from Mexico. "I am eager to keep in touch with great
Armenians from so many places worldwide. It would be amazing to do
events like this more often to reinforce our Armenian heritage and
friendships."
Like previous FOCUS events before, Chicago 2009 helped unite Armenian
young professionals from around the world to nurture friendships and
strengthen their connection to AGBU, leaving a lasting impression on
their lives. Participants gain a better understanding of the world’s
largest Armenian nonprofit organization’s mission to preserve and
promote the Armenian identity and heritage.
"FOCUS 2009 used the same ingredients of success of the past four events
uniting and providing a sense of pride to all young Armenian
professionals around the world who participated," said Arnaud Attamian
from London, who has attended every FOCUS event since the first one was
organized in New York in 2001. "FOCUS is now a pillar of AGBU’s youth
programs by not only cementing friendship for longtime supporters, but
also adding new people with refreshing ideas to this powerful network."
To date, pre-event fundraising efforts for all five FOCUS events have
raised close to $200,000 for AGBU programs, including the three
AGBU-funded Children’s Centers in Armenia, the American University of
Armenia’s Digital Library, the New York Summer Intern Program, the
Generation Next Mentorship Program of Southern California, Camp Nubar in
upstate New York, the organization’s Scholarship Program and now the Hye
Geen Pregnant Women’s Centers.
The group of tireless FOCUS committee volunteers who worked diligently
behind the scenes for months leading up to a flawless weekend included:
Co-Chairpersons Arda Berberian and Aline Markarian and committee members
Natalie Gabrelian, Houri Gueyikian, Jenna Ishkanian, Talia Jebejian,
Vadim Krisyan, Ani Manoukian, Salpi Mekhjian, Sevana Melikian and
Monique Svazlian.
Plans are already underway for the 10th Anniversary of AGBU FOCUS in
2011.
To view photos from the weekend or learn more about FOCUS, please visit:
Established in 1906, AGBU () is the world’s largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU
preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through
educational, cultural and humanitarian program, annually touching the
lives of some 400,000 Armenians around the world.