FROM PROTEST TO ADVOCACY TO NETWORKING, ANCA INTERNS TAKE WASHINGTON BY STORM
Thursday, July 3rd, 2014
>From Left: Alina Sarkissian, Inna Mirzoyan, Armen Sahakyan, Raffi
Karakashian, Congressmen Eliot Engel (D-NY), His Grace Bishop
Anoushavan Tanielian, Sevan Agopian, and Anahis Kechejian.
WASHINGTON–The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) 2014
“Leo Sarkisian” interns quickly immersed themselves in the full range
of Armenian American advocacy activities, as the program kicked off
its 29th season of youth leadership training in the nation’s capital.
“The ANCA Leo Sarkisian interns have had an incredibly busy two
weeks – working on everything from securing legislative support for
‘Return of Churches’ legislation to campaigning for Armenian American
candidate Hrant Jamgochian, to protesting Turkey’s targeted attacks
on the Armenian community in Aleppo, Syria,” said ANCA Legislative
Affairs Director Raffi Karakashian. “Their energy, creativity, and
tenacity all speak powerfully to their awesome potential as our next
generation of leaders.”
>From Boston and Los Angeles to Vancouver and the American Midwest,
this year’s intern group includes: Sevan Agopian, Tamar Alexanian,
Anahis Kechejian, Inna Mirzoyan and Alina Sarkissian. All have been
active in various Armenian American organizations such as the Armenian
Youth Federation (AYF) and the Armenian Student Association (ASA).
Within hours of arrival, the interns hit the ground running, joining
with the ANCA of Greater Washington DC in calling on the White House to
take immediate steps to stop the Turkey-supported bombing of Armenian
communities in Aleppo, Syria. Then, the team turned their attention
to pending Congressional foreign aid legislation, urging key Senate
and House appropriators to support Artsakh assistance and a host of
other Armenian American community priorities. Last week, their focus
turned to the Turkey Christian Churches Accountability Act (H.R.
4347), which was adopted overwhelmingly by the House Foreign Affairs
Committee.
In between, interns honed their networking skills, participating in
a professional development seminar organized by the the ANCA’s Hovig
Apo Saghdejian Capital Gateway Program and AGBU Young Professionals
DC. In their rare off-hours, they volunteered for Hrant Jamgochian’s
campaign for Maryland State Delegate.
The Leo Sarkisian Internship Program is an integral part of a
growing effort to provide Armenian Americans greater opportunities
to explore careers on Capitol Hill, in the foreign policy field, and
in key Washington, DC, think tanks. It is a part of the larger ANCA
“Hovig Apo Saghdejian” Capital Gateway Program, which is designed
to help university students and graduates find internships and
permanent positions in Congressional offices as well as a host of
other government agencies and political and policy-related groups.
Interns, who each participate in a wide variety of projects based on
their individual interests, are given the opportunity to gain hands-on
experience within the American political system. They participate
in a bi-weekly lecture series featuring guest lecturers, including
U.S. and Armenian officials and Armenian American leaders.
For up to date photos, blogs, and information on the 2014 Leo Sarkisian
interns, follow the ANCA Facebook page as well as the Asbarez and
Armenian Weekly websites.
>From Top Left: Tamar Alexanian, Raffi Karakashian, Anahis Kechejian.
Front Row: Alina Sarkissian, Inna Mirzoyan, Sevan Agopian.
Spotlight on the 2014 Leo Sarkisian Interns Sevan Agopian is originally
from Vancouver, Canada and is currently residing in Toronto. She is
studying Marketing Communications at York University and hopes to
pursue a career in media and public relations.
Agopian is responsible for strengthening the Vancouver AYF “Arshavir
Shiragian” chapter and is also the chapter president of York
University’s Armenian Student Association.
“I hope that through the Leo Sarkisian Internship, I can amplify my
passion and unceasing efforts to better help the Armenian culture
and cause in both Vancouver and Toronto, in addition to learning and
gaining invaluable experience under the guidance of our veteran ANCA
DC team,” says Agopian.
Tamar Alexanian hails from the suburbs of Chicago and is currently
enrolled in Vanderbilt University with a double major in English
and Human and Organizational Development. Since the age of ten,
Alexanian has been engaged in her local AYF Chicago “Ararat” chapter,
where she has held many key leadership positions. As a Junior member,
she served as president for three years, and as an AYF Senior, she has
served on the Central Educational Council. She is currently serving
as treasurer of her Chicago chapter. Alexanian is a proud graduate
of the Taniel Varoujan Armenian School.
“I am honored to be one of the Leo Sarkisian interns this summer
because I enjoy grassroots organizational work and believe strongly
in the purpose and goals of the ANCA,” notes Alexanian. “I know that
the skills that I develop during this internship are valuable for me
personally, but also for my larger community.”
Anahis Kechejian of Boston, Massachusetts is a sophomore at
Northeastern University studying Behavioral Neuroscience. She has been
an active member of the Boston community, engaged in the AYF Greater
Boston “Nejdeh” Chapter. She is a proud graduate of St. Stephen’s
Armenian Saturday School as well as St. Stephen’s Sunday School. She
also has strong ties to AYF Camp Haiastan, where Kechejian spent
six years as a camper and one year as a counselor. In 2012 she
started the project “Stand Up For Your Survivor” which has been an
important component of the annual Massachusetts State House Genocide
Commemoration ceremony.
“It’s an honor to be serving the Armenian community. I hope to
collaborate with my fellow Leo Sarkisian interns on current Armenian
issues and how we as the Diaspora can be involved in advancing our
Cause. It’s exciting to explore the perspectives of young American
Armenians from all over the country,” said an enthusiastic Kechejian.
“I hope to absorb as much information as I can while in Washington DC.”
Hailing from Glendale, California, Alina Sarkissian attends California
State University, Northridge, where she is studying Business.
Sarkissian currently serves as the President of her university’s
Armenian Student Association, the largest chapter in the country.
Sarkissian is also an elected official for her Associated Student
government, a University Ambassador, and the University liaison for
the American Association of University Women.
“Through the LSI experience, I hope to gain life skills and
opportunities that are tailored specifically to my Armenian-American
passions,” says Sarkissian. “I hope to give back to the Armenian
community through this inspiring grassroots powerhouse, and I look
forward to forming close relationships and lifelong friendships with
my fellow interns.”
Inna Mirzoyan is from Detroit, Michigan, and recently graduated
from Michigan State University with a degree in Social Relations and
Policy. At the University, Mirzoyan played an active role re-starting
the Armenian Club, even repainting the school rock in honor of the
Armenian Genocide on April 24th. She attended the AGBU Alex and Marie
Manoogian school for fourteen years, where she developed a strong
knowledge of Armenian history, culture and language.
“I wish to learn more about grassroots activism and to teach the
general public that being Armenian is not just an identity but also
a cause, with issues that are important to all Americans’ shared core
values,” says Mirzoyan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
