Category: 2021

The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region sent a congratulatory letter addressed to Senator Scott Wilk (R-21) on being unanimously voted in as the new head of the California State Senate Republican Caucus.

A member of the California Armenian Legislative Caucus, Sen. Wilk has been a strong advocate of the Armenian Cause in the state legislature, ranging from his calls to divest California’s public pension funds from Turkish government to condemning the most recent aggression waged by Azerbaijan against the Republic of Artsakh.

Endorsed by the ANCA-WR for the 2020 and prior elections, Senator Wilk has previously traveled to Armenia and Artsakh as part of the ANCA-WR led delegation in 2013. He is also a member of the bipartisan State Senate Select Committee on California, Armenia and Artsakh Mutual Trade, Art and Cultural Exchange chaired by Senator Anthony Portantino (D-25).

“The ANCA-WR Board of Directors wholeheartedly congratulates Senator Scott Wilk for his unanimous election as Minority Leader of the Republican caucus in the California State Senate,” remarked the organization’s Chair Nora Hovsepian, Esq. “We are certain that he will continue to capably serve all Californians in his new post. Senator Wilk and his wife Vanessa Safoyan Wilk have been close friends and supporters of the Armenian Cause for several years, and we look forward to continuing our work together to address the concerns of California’s Armenian community.”

The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region is the largest and most influential nonpartisan 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 in pursuit of the Armenian Cause.

Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte launches eponymous foundation and announces the establishment of the Initiative to document and research financial, personal, and property losses of the Armenian population of Artsakh Republic incurred during the Artsakh War.

WESTBROOK, Maine—Author, lawyer, lecturer and human rights advocate, Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte, launched the “Anna Astvatsaturian Foundation,” a Nonprofit Corporation that will focus its efforts on community initiatives in Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh and the Armenian Diaspora.  The first project of the Foundation will work toward determining the impact of Azerbaijani aggression on the Artsakh population.

Over the past decade, with the support of her growing fanbase and her trusted community partners, Astvatsaturian Turcotte spearheaded dozens of humanitarian, development, cultural, environmental and educational projects worldwide to support the community and to benefit the vulnerable population in Armenia and Artsakh Republic.  These include but are not limited to the following:

• Renovation of 7 school bathrooms with Paros Foundation in Khndzoresk, Armenia
• Planting a forest with Armenia Tree Project in Talin, Armenia
• Supporting the Artsakh Ballet College with 300 ballet costumes, clothing and hundreds of dance shoes.
• Supporting women’s group initiatives across Armenia
• Provide medical eye care, surgeries and eyewear to two villages in Syunik region of Armenia
• Bath/kitchen portable unit for Artsakh border post with Armenian Wounded Heroes Fund (AWHF)
• Hundreds of military grade medical kits for Artsakh border posts with AWHF
• Solar power banks for Artsakh border posts with AWHF
• Organizing, collecting and sending handknit items to children of the rural population of Artsakh
• Financial assistance to Baku Armenian refugee families residing in Artsakh and in Armenia
• Art supplies, play costumes to Artsakh children in Shushi Kindergarten
• Armath Laboratory with 3D printers, computers, furniture and software for Stepanakert School #8
• Building 2 bomb shelters for civilians in Tavush Province, Armenia with Pahapan Foundation
• Medical and humanitarian supplies to Artsakh and Armenia through AWHF
• Financial assistance to 200 Artsakh refugee families
• Christmas gifts to 1500 Artsakh refugee children

To maximize the impact of her work, Astvatsaturian Turcotte took the first steps to formalize the Foundation in the spring of 2020.  With the Tavush attacks in the summer of 2020 and the Artsakh War in the fall of 2020, the work of the Foundation will be more vital to Armenia’s future than first foreseen.  The humanitarian disaster currently faced by the people of Artsakh is unprecedented.  As Artsakh and Armenia begin to rebuild in their post-war reality, the Foundation will continue Anna’s work to strengthen the Armenian Nation independently and in collaboration with her trusted partners.

This first project is a detailed and well-planned initiative to collect empirical data on the displaced and affected population of Artsakh.  The project began in December 2021 in partnership with Armenia’s Association of Social Workers, and in collaboration with the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of Republic of Armenia, the Ministry of Housing and Social Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh and the Offices of Armenia’s and Artsakh’s Human Rights Ombudsmen.  Individuals interested in contributing to this project should contact the Foundation. The Foundation’s website is www.astvatsaturian.org and the organization will have an active social media presence.

The “Anna Astvatsaturian Foundation” is organized as a public benefit corporation under the Maine Nonprofit Corporation Act, Title 13-B M.R.S., as amended, and will carry on business and operate anywhere within the State of Maine or in any state where it has a legal authority to carry on business and operate.  The Foundation is intended exclusively for charitable purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.  The “Anna Astvatsaturian Foundation” is based in Westbrook, Maine, United States of America.

Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte is an author, lecturer, lawyer, business woman and a human rights advocate.  She is an Armenian refugee from Baku, Azerbaijan. After fleeing Baku in the fall of 1989 due to ethnic cleansing of Armenians, Anna and her family spent three years in Armenia as refugees before coming to United States in 1992.

Anna received Bachelor of Arts degrees in English & Literature and Philosophy & Religion, a minor in Russian Language & Literature from the University of North Dakota. She received her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Maine School of Law. As a law student Anna received an Outstanding Law Student of the Year by Who’s Who American Law Students.  In 2004 Anna was one of the first Americans to clerk at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands after working toward and observing the ICC’s creation at the United Nations in New York.

In 2012 Anna published her book, titled “Nowhere, a Story of Exile,” which she wrote at the age of 14 as her family settled in North Dakota as refugees. The book is based on the childhood diaries she kept as her family was fleeing Baku, Azerbaijan and during the years as refugees in Armenia.  In April, 2013 Anna successfully spearheaded the recognition efforts of Nagorno-Karabakh independence at the State of Maine House of Representatives.   In November, 2015 she was elected to the Westbrook Maine City Council by a 64% landslide.  In 2017 the Russian translation of Anna’s book was published. She was re-elected to the Council in November of 2018 and is currently serving as a Vice President of the Council.

Anna is the recipient of Mkhitar Gosh Medal, Republic of Armenia’s highest civilian honor awarded by President Serge Sargsyan for exceptional achievements in the political-social spheres, as well as outstanding efforts in the fields of diplomacy, law, and political science. Anna also received a Gratitude Medal from the President of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, Bako Sahakyan, Vahan Cardashian award for her contributions within the Armenian Diaspora from ANCA-WR and Activism Award from ANCA-ER for enhancement of human rights, democracy, truth and justice.

Over the past decade, with the support of her growing fanbase and her trusted community partners, Mrs. Astvatsaturian Turcotte spearheaded dozens of humanitarian, development, cultural, environmental and educational projects worldwide to support the community and to benefit the vulnerable population in Armenia and Artsakh Republic. Aside from speaking worldwide on genocide prevention, refugee issues, international law and human rights, Anna has a 16-year career in banking regulatory compliance and risk management, currently as a Vice President, Senior Risk Manager at Androscoggin Bank. Anna lives in Westbrook, Maine with her husband John and their son and daughter.

On Monday, January 25, the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region kicked off its Spring 2021 Internship session with 14 interns. The Interns will work for the next 15 weeks with staff members on different initiatives that focus on government affairs, genocide prevention, genocide and Artsakh education, grassroots advocacy, and other related fields.

A portion of the program is also dedicated to weekly lecture series featuring guest lecturers, including public officials and Armenian-American community leaders and professional development workshops. All of the interns joined the program in early September and assisted the ANCA-WR during the wartime with advocacy, media monitoring, raising awareness through social media campaigns, and other initiatives. They all expressed their interest in continuing their internship to maximize the opportunity to serve their community for another term.

“The ANCA-WR Internship Program is proof of our organization’s unbending commitment to cultivating future leaders for our community and nation” remarked Verginie Touloumian, ANCA-WR Community Outreach Director. “We are excited to resume another session, where the interns will gain valuable skills and have a direct impact on the advancement of Armenian American issues” she continued.

Over the past 15 years, close to 150 Armenian-Americans have completed the ANCA-WR’s Internship Program, having gained a variety of new skills ranging from conducting in-depth research, to working with the media, meeting with representative officials and  engaging in politics and diplomacy. Most importantly, they have all had the opportunity to contribute and impact the Armenian-American community. For most of them, their activism still continues today in a variety of capacities.

The interns will once again participate in the program virtually, due to COVID-19.

The ANCA-WR Spring 2021 Interns are:
Mary Andranikyan, Cal State University of Northridge (CSUN)
Fiyouneh Bazgosha, Glendale Community College (GCC)
Arin Boyadjian, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Christina Chiranian, University of California, Irvine (UCI)
Knar Geghamyan, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Mischa Gureghian-Hall, Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School
Anush Hakobyan, University of Portland (UP)
Christine Hakobyan, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Shaunt Kludjian, University of Southern California (USC)
Hovig Manoyan, Cal Poly Pomona (CPP)
Serena Pelenghian, Occidental College (Oxy)
Serlie Pouladian, Pasadena City College (PCC)
Christopher Rybus, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Peter Tangikyan, Brown University (BU)

Established in summer 2006, the ANCA Western Region Internship Program is a selective part-time leadership program, which introduces college students and recent college graduates to all aspects of the public affairs arena. The program provides an opportunity for student leaders and activists to gain an in- depth understanding of the American political system, Armenian-American issues and advocacy efforts on the local, state and federal levels. Summer session of the program will begin in June of 2021; interested students can find more information on the program’s website.

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.