AIWA LA Luncheon Organizing Committee
More than 130 women gathered at Phoenicia Restaurant in Glendale for the AIWA Los Angeles Affiliate Luncheon in celebration of International Women’s Day on Friday, March 6. The event has become a cherished tradition for the Los Angeles affiliate of the Armenian International Women’s Association, organized in collaboration with the Consulate of Armenia in Los Angeles. The room was filled with an extraordinary cross-section of the Armenian-American community—attorneys, physicians, educators, civic servants, political activists, media personalities, and candidates for public office—alongside mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends. Together they represented the spirit of leadership and service that defines AIWA’s mission to empower, connect, and lead women across generations.
AIWA Los Angeles President Houry Aposhian opened the program with eloquent remarks, welcoming guests and expressing gratitude to the many supporters who made the event possible. She extended special thanks to benefactor Alice Navasargian and acknowledged the presence of representatives from numerous Armenian organizations, including the Ladies from the Diocese and the Prelacy, ARS, AGBU, Ararat Home, and the Armenian Assembly. Her words underscored the importance of unity and collaboration within the community.
Following the opening remarks, Silva Katchiguian, President of the AIWA International Board, presented an overview of the organization’s mission and highlighted several new initiatives aimed at strengthening women’s leadership, mentorship, and global connection within the Armenian diaspora. Board member Nadia Shamsi then introduced the afternoon’s guest speaker, Mimi Maloyan, the great-granddaughter of Armenian diplomat Diana Apcar. Through a compelling presentation accompanied by a slideshow, Maloyan shared the remarkable story of her great-grandmother’s life and humanitarian legacy. She recounted how Apcar tirelessly advocated to bring international awareness to the Armenian Genocide and personally assisted thousands of Armenian refugees who arrived in Yokohama, Japan, helping them secure passage on ships to the United States and the Middle East in search of safety and a new beginning.
The program also featured a message marking International Women’s Day delivered by Anna Poghosyan, Consul of Armenia in Los Angeles. She read a thoughtful statement written by Anna Avetisyan, the first female Consul General of Armenia in Los Angeles, reflecting on the significance of the day and the enduring contributions of women in shaping communities and nations. During lunch, guests enjoyed a musical performance by talented violinist Angela Amiryan.
Concluding the event, AIWA board member Nora Balikian thanked the attendees for their enthusiastic participation and support. She announced that the organization welcomed 50 new members during the luncheon and had received substantial donations to support its programs and initiatives. Balikian also invited guests to attend the upcoming AIWA International annual Meeting and Gala Banquet, scheduled to take place in Glendale, CA on May 2. In a poignant personal reflection, she shared that her husband’s grandfather had encountered Diana Apcar in Yokohama in 1919 and had been among those she assisted in traveling to the Middle East—an extraordinary reminder of the enduring impact of Apcar’s humanitarian work.
The gathering celebrated not only the accomplishments of remarkable women of the past but also the strength, ambition, and leadership of those shaping the future. With so many accomplished and engaged women in one room, the spirit of sisterhood and AIWA’s mission were unmistakably alive—an affirmation that the community’s movers and shakers continue to uplift one another and work collectively toward a brighter future.
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