How Fowler’s Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day event came together

by: Jason Takhtadjian

What started as a private community effort grew into something much larger. On April 26, the power of the community came together to recognize Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day.

The goal was to make sure the story that has long been part of Fowler was finally told. Educational displays, cultural artifacts, and historical exhibits were all aimed at sharing Armenian heritage with the community.

“Regular citizens of Fowler joining together with the Armenian community to make something really very beautiful,” Chairman of the Fowler Recreation Committee and member of the Armenian Genocide Commemorative Committee, Talene Kasparian-Cleveland, said.

Organizers said the event also became a revelation, even for members of the Armenian community who said they learned new details about their own history.

“I had no idea that between 1918 and 1920, the population of Fowler was 1,500 and there were 1,000 Armenians here,” Kasparian-Cleveland said.

That history stems from early Armenian immigrants who arrived in the US through cities like New York and Chicago before moving to the Central Valley to build new lives through agriculture.

“I felt the need immediately for people to be educated,” First Lady of Fowler Stephanie Mejia said.

The idea didn’t come from City Hall.

“A non-Armenian was very interested in putting together an Armenian genocide recognition event,” Kasparian-Cleveland said.

Groups of private citizens, along with the Mayor and First Lady, said simple conversations turned into action. 

“We went out to dinner… and Steph has the idea of what if we brought the remembrance or did an event for the genocide remembrance in Fowler,” Fowler Mayor Juan Mejia said.

From libraries to local church members and volunteers, the entire event came together in just about seven weeks. Now, plans are underway for a permanent genocide monument.

“We are working to try and secure the location. We do have an artist that we have been working with, Michael Aram,” Kasparian-Cleveland said.

Because the goal isn’t just remembrance, but to ensure Armenian history and culture remain part of Fowler’s future.

“In fact, there are many who have denied that it ever happened, which is obviously untrue. Fowler wasn’t about to be part of that message,” Stephanie Mejia said.

If you want to help bring an Armenian Genocide Monument to Fowler, click here, and here.

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