CALIF. SUPERINTENDENT APPOINTS MURAD MINASIAN LIAISON TO ARMENIAN COMMUNITY
Murad Minasian
asbarez
Tuesday, September 13th, 2011
SACRAMENTO-This August, California State Superintendent of Public
Instruction Tom Torlakson appointed Murad “Mo” Minasian to serve as
the office’s liaison to the Armenian American community.
During the past several months Minasian has been working with The
Genocide Education Project, a non-profit educational organization
based in San Francisco and the Superintendent’s office to review
and ensure classroom compliance with the state-mandated curricular
to teach about the Armenian Genocide in California high schools. As
part of this effort and with the support of Raffi Momjian, Executive
Director of The Genocide Education Project, a survey is being drafted
for distribution to California teachers.
“The ANCA-Western Region is proud to have one of its activists
serve as Superintendent Torlakson’s liaison to the Armenian American
community,” said Andrew Kzirian, Chairman of the ANCA-Western Region
Board of Directors. “We applaud his work with the Superintendent
and The Genocide Education Project to make sure that the history is
accurately taught to all California students.”
Minasian is a long-time activist with the Armenian National Committee
of America’s San Gabriel Valley Chapter. His father, Michael Minasian
is a founding member of the Armenian Genocide Martyrs Monument in
Montebello.
This past April, freeway signs were erected on Route 60 designating
the exits providing access to the monument. This was made possible by
legislation passed in 2009 and authored by California State Assembly
Majority Leader Charles Calderon. Torlakson, then a member of the
California State Assembly, was a co-sponsor of the legislation.
Minasian was instrumental in the effort from the legislation to the
sign unveiling ceremonies which were jointly sponsored by the ANCA
SGV and the Armenian Monument Council which oversees and maintains
the monument.
Torlakson had previously served in the California State Assembly before
being elected Superintendent of Public Instruction, a state-wide public
office, in November 2010. The ANCA-Western Region endorsed Torlakson
in the race and actively mobilized Armenian Americans throughout the
state in support of his election.
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.