NOR OR, LOS ANGELES – On Thursday, August 9, 2018, the second cohort of interns of the AGBU Los Angeles Media Internship Program (LAMIP) gathered one final time at the AGBU Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Center in Pasadena. The summer internship program concluded after eight successful weeks of internships, workshops, and activities. Western District board members and supervisors from the host companies were in attendance as well.

The diverse group of interns represented schools like UPENN, UC Berkeley, and USC among others. Each intern was matched according to their major and professional goals to a company in the greater Los Angeles area. The 2018 host companies included Aris, Dogbone Design Studios, IMN Creative, Marbled LA, and Sync Yoga + Cycle.

The evening started with an introduction from Suzanna Sargsyan, the program coordinator, who thanked all of the participating interns and companies and invited AGBU Western District board member, Shahan Yacoubian to the podium. Yacoubian explained the District’s desire to create opportunities in the popular and competitive entertainment and media industries, which became the foundation for the launch of this program in 2017. After Yacoubian, AGBU LAMIP Alumnus, Nazan Titizian, spoke about her experience in the program last year. Titizian was matched with KMR Talent and was fortunate enough to land a job after the completion of her internship. “I had a lot of personal and professional growth there. I would have never received such an incredible job opportunity like the one I have if it wasn’t for this internship program. Having this job became a gateway for me to pursue other jobs in the entertainment industry, it has instilled confidence in me and taught me how to manage a successful work life simultaneously with a school life,” she recalled as she discussed her experience at the talent agency. Titizian is now transferring to USC’s Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism as a Public Relations major.

Following the speeches, Sargsyan introduced all of the interns and presented each intern with a certificate of completion. The evening concluded with the opportunity to network with the board members, host companies, and other interns who were in attendance.

A couple of the interns were fortunate enough to be offered continuing internships after the conclusion of the program. The program will continue into its third summer next year. 2019 applications for the program will launch in the winter. For more information, you may contact Suzanna Sargsyan at ssargsyan@agbuca. org.

On the occasion of the decennial of the award, International Hrant Dink Award laureates came together at the international conference titled ‘Looking into the Past, Envisioning the Future’ that addressed the issues of human rights, justice and freedoms. The conference took place in Istanbul at Lütfi Kırdar International Convention and Exhibition Center on September 14th, Friday.

Following Hrant Dink Foundation Board Member Sibel Asna’s welcome speech emphasizing the importance of solidarity for human rights struggle, Kathryn Sikkink, faculty member at Harvard University, and renowned human rights specialist, delivered the keynote speech. Sikkink underlined that human rights and treaties have always been earned through struggles and that we need a new coalition of actors and new international allies to sustain and develop the struggle, even if hope for the current situation of the world is weak.

In the first session titled ‘Seeking Justice Against All Odds’ moderated by the Executive Director of Human Rights Watch and member of the 2014-2015 Hrant Dink Award Jury Kenneth Roth, 2012 laureate İsmail Beşikçi and 2014 laureate Şebnem Korur Fincancı delivered speeches. Emphasizing that the official ideology is the main determinant element of the Turkish politics, Beşikçi highlighted that science is the basic foundation of his struggle. Fincancı underlined the importance of continuing struggle for justice and considering impunity, torture and violations as parts of a whole.

Bekir Ağırdır, Board Member of the Hrant Dink Foundation, chaired the second session titled ‘The Role of Journalism and Information in a Polarized World’. The session started with the letter from 2011 laureate Ahmet Altan, which he sent from Silivri Prison. Altan emphasized that the number as well as the impact of the intellectuals are decreasing in the face of growing nationalism; and there is an urgent need for an intellectual opposition which can be an antidote to the current situation. 2009 laureates Alper Görmüş and Amira Hass were also panelists in the session.

In the third session titled ‘Collective Memory, Truth Seeking and Perseverance’, 2018-2019 jury member Ercan Kesal hosted 2012 laureate International ‘Memorial’ Society, 2013 laureate Saturday Mothers / People, and 2018-2019 jury member Albie Sachs. İkbal Eren, who spoke on behalf of the Saturday Mothers / People, stressed that coming to terms with the past forms the basis of a solid future. As their ‘disappeared’ relatives do not have a grave they can visit, Eren emphasized the symbolic and personal importance of visiting Galatasaray Square every week, with the hope that similar incidents will not take place again. Representing ‘Memorial’ Society, a collective that works on the issues of human rights, education, and history in the Soviet republics and Russia, Boris Belenkin detailed how the Russian state had intervened in the construction of collective memory and established absolute polarisation among the society.

In the fourth session ‘Defending Human Rights, Freedom, and Equality’ moderated by Ali Bayramoğlu, Chair of the Award Committee between 2009 and 2015, the panellists were 2010 laureate Conscientious Objection Movement in Turkey, 2015 laureate KAOS GL, 2016 laureate Theresa Kachindamoto and 2017 laureate Eren Keskin. Representing the Conscientious Objection Movement in Turkey, Davut Erkan underlined that conscientious objection is not only a legal term, but a movement to create a stand against militarism. Ali Erol from KAOS GL mentioned that they have started their struggle 25 years ago, with a demand for equal citizenship. Erol stated that LGBTI+ individuals still face many problems concerning their access to healthcare and a safe shelter. Kachindamoto, a Malawi tribal chief, talked about her struggle against child marriages and for education rights. Referring to the tension between human rights and local traditions, she detailed how she revoked the marriage of more than three thousands girls through establishing dialogue with the local chiefs and signing legal contracts. Lawyer and activist Keskin stressed the importance of continuously questioning the values we defend during our fight, and stated that she sees human rights as the most emancipatory form of struggle.

The conference emphasized the significance of the role of the NGOs in establishing solidarity for the future of human rights, despite the rising nationalism and on-going human rights violations.

Featuring Harout Soghomonian

NOR OR, LOS ANGELES – The newly formed Tekeyan Cultural Association Metro Los Angeles chapter will kick off its inaugural event with an Evening of Comedy & Dinner slated for Saturday, October 27 at The Rococo Room.

Featuring performers from the greater Los Angeles community, the program aims to bring together all generations through laughter, camaraderie and insight. Headliner Harout Soghomonian will convey his signature wit and everyday observations while openers Maro Ajemian and Narine Avakian will perform selections from their one woman shows.

As an artist whose ties with the Tekeyan Cultural Association trace back generations, Soghomonian emphasizes the importance of comedy for everyone, particularly Armenians who “worry too much about their families and their work.” Laughter is an outlet for Soghomonian and he draws inspiration from daily life, always keeping an eye open to his surroundings. 

“Everyday I watch situations from a different point of view and whenever I see something funny or wrong, I like to address that back to the people so they can correct it through comedy.”

His influences include his uncle, Vahram Papazian, a longtime actor in Lebanon. Soghomonian followed his footsteps onto the stage, and remained an active member of the theater scene in Beirut and Los Angeles. Throughout his career, he has always maintained his own brand and style.

“I don’t imitate other people or other comedians,” said Soghomonian, “I always try to create my own style.”

A member of the TCA for over 35 years, Ajemian’s first exposure to comedy was through her mother who always told jokes. Over time Ajemian honed her own comedic skills and recognized the significance of comedy, especially for Armenians, “who are very reserved and may not always know how to show affection.”

“We are shy in public but should remember to be more open and laugh freely,” said Ajemian, who has performed in many Armenian plays through the AGBU Ardavazt Theater Company and now the AGBU Krikor Satamian Theatre Group.

Fellow stage actress Narine Avakian, who has also worked alongside Krikor Satamian, remarked on the ability of comedians to comprehend people and situations, allowing them to connect with their audience members. She, too, finds inspiration from her surroundings, including “something as vague as observing a crowd, or a sharp underlying thought that crosses my mind when I am in the midst of plucking my unibrow.”

Tying the need for laughter with the transgenerational effects of the Armenian Genocide on mental health, Avakian said it’s the “civic duty of comedians to help combat such predicaments by the daily introduction of humor, tchikeufteh, oghi and tabbouleh if you’re vegan enough.”

The Evening of Comedy will be the first of many cultural and educational events sponsored by the TCA in an effort to preserve the Armenian community in the Diaspora and champion historic moral and cultural values.

“I’m really happy that we have a new chapter of the Tekeyan Cultural Association in Los Angeles with a fresh new energy,” said TCA committee member Arno Yeretzian. “Tekeyan has always been a home away from home and I look forward to continuing its tradition of fostering a cozy environment for people from all over to come together and experience our rich Armenian culture and heritage.”

The TCA Metro Los Angeles Chapter’s Evening of Comedy will take place on Saturday, October 27, 2018 at The Rococo Room, located at  70 W. Union St., Pasadena, CA 91103. Cocktails start at 7:30 pm, dinner at 8:00 pm and program at 8:30 pm. Tickets for the dinner and comedy show are $60 per person. Checks can be made payable to Tekeyan Cultural Association. For reservations please contact Shahnour Hovsepian at 818.730.1100 or info@TekeyanLA.org. To stay up to date on the new TCA Metro Los Angeles chapter programming, meetings and cultural events, visit www.tekeyanla.org, email info@tekeyanla.org or follow on social media on Facebook at facebook.com/ TekeyanLA, Instagram @TekeyanLA and Twitter @TekeyanLA.

TALEEN BABAYAN

NOR OR, LOS ANGELES – Dear compatriots, beloved and esteemed Armenian Californians,

I would like to congratulate you wholeheartedly on the occasion of the Independence Day of the Republic of Armenia. On this very sacred day, I congratulate every Armenian family that lives in California, each Armenian individually, along with those Americans who have contributed to our homeland.

I am very proud of you, profoundly realizing that you are torchbearers of the nation, constantly carrying in your hearts and minds the spirit of our sacred country. When on September 21, 1991 the Armenian people adamantly demonstrated their collective will-power and, as a continuation of our independent statehood founded in 1918, determined to create a sovereign modern national state on a solid lawful ground, each of you brought your direct participation in fulfillment of our national aspirations. I’m speaking not only about those who expressed their will in Armenia through a decisive vote on this glorious day of September 21, but also those who cherished that dream though generations and away from the homeland, in California. In their hearts and minds, they took a direct part in making that historic decision and in starting the state-building process.  Geography and distance failed to separate us.

Our nation is incredibly proud of its progeny, who since independence have contributed to the establishing of Armenian statehood in a very practical manner. This is the day, when along with celebrating, we must pay a tribute of respect to all men and women, who did not spare any effort and fervor to turn this sacred goal into a reality.

27 years after declaring independence, our homeland reborn today projects a future of hope and light for each and every of us. Together, we need to pave the way towards our cherished future, towards new homeland and welfare society, based upon the values of democracy and security. Our brilliant youth with its high value system, our entire nation proved that it deserves a brighter future and will live up to it. I am not only calling upon you now to contribute with a new vigor to the development of our venerable Armenia. I rather urge you to share the responsibility for transformation and development of our homeland proudly called Armenia resting upon all those foundation stones that you dreamed about.

Along with my multidimensional diplomatic functions in the Western United States, I came to Los Angeles again as the new Consul General of the Republic of Armenia to serve you, the Armenian Californians and our compatriots in the West Coast, in the best interests of our homeland with a mission to build new bridges between California and Armenia.

Long live Independence of Armenia! Long live Armenia! Long live Armenian Californians, and Armenian people at large!