AGBU Press Office
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New York, NY 10022-1112
Website: www.agbu.org
PRESS RELEASE
Thursday,
THE MANY NATIONS OF AGBU CONVENE IN BRAZIL FOR ITS 10TH FOCUS SUMMIT
On the weekend of July 18-21, the Brazilian city of São Paulo was transformed
into a hub for the most internationally diverse group of Armenian young
professionals ever to attend the AGBU FOCUS summit, a global gathering held in
a different destination city every two years. The group of young innovators and
community leaders, along with hundreds of members and friends from the
worldwide AGBU Young Professionals (YP) groups hailed from such unlikely places
as South Korea, Lithuania, Chile, and Cyprus, joining counterparts from North
and South America, the European Union, the Middle East, Australia and Armenia.
Representing 26 countries in all, together they created a vibrant presence to
match the dynamic tempo and color of São Paulo, Brazil's most populous
metropolis with a thriving cosmopolitan cultural life and distinctive
architectural tradition.
"We are here to celebrate the friendship, legacy, and values of AGBU," said
Haig Apovian, Chair of AGBU Brazil. "We see FOCUS as our vehicle to
reinvigorate our communities not just in Brazil or South America, but all over
the world."
The attendees had much to experience during the event-filled four-day affair,
orchestrated by AGBU Central Office and AGBU YP Brazil group. The organizers'
aim was to encourage this special segment of Armenians to explore their
Armenian identity in the global age, broaden their social and professional
networks, and unite behind a worthy cause through a global fundraising effort.
This time around, it was the women of Armenia who stood to benefit from AGBU
Women Entrepreneurs (W.E.)-an economic development program providing qualified
women in rural and urban Armenia with the tools and support to start or grow a
micro-enterprise or home business.
YP Leadership Kickoff
The weekend officially began with an assembly of 37 leaders in the YP network,
who gathered not only to reflect on their accomplishments but also to consider
the challenges of mobilizing their communities at home. To that end, they
participated in skill-building exercises in leadership and exchanged ideas and
information on local strategies.
"This was a chance for so many of our community organizers to put faces to
names," Heghine Musayelyan, the coordinator of the AGBU Young Professionals,
explained. "It was a way to compare and contrast respective experiences in
local communities." Through sharing stories of success and challenges, these YP
representatives empowered one another to pursue new avenues for strengthening
their YP networks. Particularly benefitting from these candid exchanges were
participants from prospective YP groups in Santiago, Chile and Montevideo,
Uruguay.
Perspectives Panel Discussion
Later that evening, conversations were extended to the general FOCUS attendees,
who gathered in São Paulo's eclectic Museu da Casa Brasileira. an impressive
structure in the city center flanked with AGBU pennants, for a forum called
Perspectives. The panel focused on the future of Armenian identity, moderated
by Opera Mundi journalist and former adviser to the Permanent Mission of Brazil
to the UN Patrícia Dichtchekenian and featuring diverse discussants: Natasha
Der Avedissian, an event coordinator for the Institute for the Future at the
University of Nicosia (Cyprus); Mikael Djanian, Associate Partner at McKinsey &
Company (Brazil); Solange Merdinian, soprano and Artistic Director of New
Docta (USA); and Sarkis Semerdjian, architect and owner of Pascali Semerdjian
Arquitetos (Brazil). Among the themes explored were the realities of
assimilation, the prospects of repatriation to the homeland, as well as
preserving the Armenian heritage and keeping it relevant to the times.
"Being Armenian is a choice," Der Avedissian asserted. "Reconnecting, getting
involved with YP, being part of something greater than me is a choice I made to
stay grounded in an identity that is otherwise sometimes fleeting."
FOCUS 2019 Conference and Competition
The following day, attendees had the opportunity to participate in an
interactive conference designed to facilitate action, based on the insights and
ideas presented during Perspectives. This activity follows a tradition set at
FOCUS 2017 in Beirut in which brainstorming and collaboration result in
creating tangible proposals for new programs that speak to the theme "Building
for the Future."
"These group activities are uniquely effective in acquainting participants with
existing AGBU programs and involving them in rallying support among their
peers," observed Rafael Balukian, the treasurer of AGBU São Paulo and one of
the key organizers of the weekend. "In order to energize and grow our
communities, we need to build on what we already have and make them even
stronger."
The conference also set the stage for the highly anticipated Noubar Nazarian YP
Innovators' Fund Pitch Competition, presented by Nazarian's own grandsons Serge
Kassardjian and Carl Balouzian. Celebrating Nazarian's leadership in AGBU
Lebanon and his special efforts to encourage youth participation and
leadership, his family created the eponymous fund to help support innovative
young Armenian entrepreneurs.
The prize of $20,000 USD was at stake for the three finalists: Anna
Vartapetiance (United Kingdom); Narine Haroyan (South Korea); and Robin
Koulaksezian (France). They had only minutes to pitch their projects to their
peers before the electronic vote. From internet security combating hate speech
and creating an Armenian fellowship program in South Korea to compiling an
online discovery tour of little Armenian diasporas throughout the world, the
concepts could not have been more diverse. Before the conference concluded,
votes were cast with the winner to be announced at the FOCUS gala.
FOCUS on Art through Music
As much as the weekend was dedicated to professional development and
networking, social and cultural opportunities were also on the agenda. After a
fruitful day of conferencing, all were invited to enjoy a night on the town at
Sutton Club before gathering the following day for the FOCUS on Art performance
in São Paulo's posh neighborhood Itaim Bibi, Live music from Armenia and Latin
America was performed by Caio Simonian (Drums), Daniel Simonian (Guitar), José
Carlos Keremian Simonian(Saxophone and Flute), Ará Kedikian (Double Bass) and
Michael Sarian (Trumpet).
Tour and Taste Excursion
At every gathering, Brazilian Armenian hospitality was on full display. The
Tour and Taste São Paulo option included a private lunch and tour of Sourp
Kevork Armenian Church, built by Genocide survivors. Hosted by Surpazan Nareg
Berberian and AGBU long time member Monica Nalbandian, the visit gave the
guests an opportunity to reflect on the legacy guiding them beyond just the
FOCUS weekend.
FOCUS Gala and Major Announcements
FOCUS 2019 culminated at the Saturday evening Gala, held at the city's historic
Jockey Club. AGBU FOCUS São Paulo's committee co-chairs Natalia Hazarian and
Aram Apovian announced the results of the fundraising campaign for AGBU W.E.,
with funds generated from donors worldwide as well as the international Cycle 4
Women campaign, comprised of local spinning events in local YP networks. A
total of $120,000 -the most money raised in FOCUS history-was raised, allowing
more of Armenia's women to receive a one-year cycle of support including
entrepreneurship classes, mini-grants, mentoring, networking and follow-up
sessions.
"Everyone in this room can look to a strong woman in their lives to inspire
them to go a few steps further toward an empowered life," Hazarian said. "But
for every exemplary woman we do know, surely there are others who never had the
opportunity to shine because of gender inequality. AGBU W.E. will help create
more positive female role models in Armenia."
Before attentions turned to dining and dancing, Nazarian's grandsons
Kassardjian and Balouzian announced the winner of the YP Innovators' Fund.
Robin Koulaksezian's Little Armenias took the prize. This will enable him to
publish his online catalog with an interactive search dimension that enables
users to tap into a one-stop resource for maps, landmarks, churches, guided
tours, restaurant offers, and other points of interest in each community, along
with videos and photo albums.
Farewell Brunch
As the weekend dwindled into a farewell Sunday brunch, one question on
everyone's mind was Where to next? Ani Darbinyan, a third-time FOCUS
participant from Los Angeles, couldn't help but quote the renowned 20th century
Armenian poet, literary critic, and translator Paruyr Sevak: "We are few, but
we call ourselves Armenian." She went on to say, "No matter what part of the
world we meet in 2021, this sense of community is guaranteed."
In summing up the highlights of the weekend, FOCUS 2019 committee co-chair Aram
Apovian expressed both satisfaction and appreciation for a highly successful
event, saying, "If anything can encourage young professionals to go back to
their communities inspired to make a difference in the world as Armenians, this
year's FOCUS has given them the momentum to serve with pride, purpose, and a
more globally inclusive perspective."
To date, AGBU FOCUS has connected over 3,000 young professionals in eight
global cities: New York (2001, 2007), Montreal (2003), Miami (2005), Chicago
(2009), Paris (2011), San Francisco (2013), Toronto (2015), Beirut (2017) and
São Paulo (2019).
To learn more about AGBU FOCUS, please visit www.agbufocus.org. To learn more
about AGBU Women Entrepreneurs (W.E.) and to donate, please visit:
agbufocus.org/women.
The Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) is the world's largest non-profit
organization devoted to upholding the Armenian heritage through educational,
cultural and humanitarian programs. Each year, AGBU is committed to making a
difference in the lives of 500,000 people across Armenia, Artsakh and the
Armenian diaspora. Since 1906, AGBU has remained true to one overarching goal:
to create a foundation for the prosperity of all Armenians. To learn more visit
www.agbu.org.