Dr. Michael G. Mensoian. Honorable, dedicated, kind, knowledgeable, humble and teacher. This is how I will remember Dr. Mensoian. Even now, I cannot bring myself to simply call him Michael, although every time I saw him, he would insist. It is almost the 40th day remembrance, or karasoonk, for this man who entered my life when I was 18 years old, unimaginable after 40 years of his presence whether distant or in close proximity. 

I joined the Armenian Students’ Association (ASA) when I was a high school senior in 1979 and that is when I met Dr. Mensoian. Immediately I was awestruck. After all, he was on the organization’s Board of Trustees, and from what I could see, he commanded great respect from all who knew him. I discovered that he was a professor which immediately placed him in the role of teacher and mentor for me. And this continued until the last time I saw him at the Hairenik building where I had just started as editor of the Weekly.

Dr. Mensoian directly influenced my willingness to serve in any leadership role with the ASA, both locally with the Providence branch, and later in life as a Board member. His gentle encouragement and unending belief in my abilities, even when I doubted myself and succumbed to my insecurities as a young woman, led me to spread my wings knowing that he would be there to guide me and catch me if I stumbled…and I did. And of course, he did. Dr. Mensoian’s prodding, along with a few others, led me to accept the position as public relations director for the ASA, a job that honed skills acquired as an undergraduate and preceded career opportunities that otherwise would have been left unrealized.

Within the last decade, my organizational journey included a tenure on the Central Executive Board (CEB) of the Armenian Relief Society (ARS), a daunting role that challenged me in many ways, some anticipated and others unexpected. And there was Dr. Mensoian, an avid supporter and member of the ARS, arriving at the Hairenik during my first CEB meeting, specifically seeking me out to encourage me in this new role and of course to gently and firmly remind me of the importance of the ARS to our community and homeland. After that, how could I not rise to the challenge? 

Finally, last fall I began at this venerable newspaper, an opportunity I never expected yet always envisioned. Once again, Dr. Mensoian walked through the door filling my heart with joy. Forty years after our first meeting, the teacher who guided me through some of the most daunting tasks through the decades, was here again, enveloping me with a warm hug of support and smiling in his kind, understanding way. Throughout the years, I would see Dr. Mensoian at various events, and we would reconnect as though time stood still. I avidly read his articles in the Weekly whenever possible, as always seeking and admiring his wisdom and perspective. Perhaps selfishly, I was eagerly anticipating office chats, maybe over a cup of coffee or two, discussing the issues of the day and continuing to ask his guidance and opinion. Now, like so many others, I grieve for the man who will forever remain the Dr. Mensoian of my youth.

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Pauline Getzoyan

Pauline Getzoyan is an active member of the Rhode Island Armenian community. A longtime member of the Providence ARF, she is also a 15-year member of the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) having previously served on the Central Executive Board. Pauline has been a long-time advocate for genocide education through her work with the ANC of RI. She is co-chair of the RI branch of The Genocide Education Project, as well as a member of the RI Holocaust and Genocide Education Coalition. Pauline holds a BA in Communications from Rhode Island College and an MA in Education from Roger Williams University. She has been an adjunct instructor of developmental reading and writing in the English department at the Community College of Rhode Island since 2005.

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The Armenian Cultural Association of America (ACAA) is honored to aid the Lebanese Armenian community in their time of need. To date, the ACAA has raised over $60,000 and will be transferring these funds to the Armenian Relief Society Eastern Region (ARS-ER) Lebanon Relief Fund which has raised $50,000 for this effort. The ACAA and ARS-ER have collectively raised well over $110,000 for the benefit of the Lebanese Armenian community.

The ARS-ER, for over 100 years, has served the Armenian people and been at the forefront of humanitarian relief for Armenians around the world. The money raised will assist in feeding families in need, rebuilding the infrastructure of the Armenian community and ease the financial hardship now gripping Lebanon. The funds raised are critical to the preservation of a community that has served as the lifeblood of all Armenian communities around the world.

The ACAA supplies major grants to the Hairenik and Armenian Weeklies and funds projects in Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora for the cultural, educational and humanitarian benefit of our nation.

Those wishing to donate to the Lebanon Relief Fund can do so through the following links:

https://arseastusa.org/donate/

https://givebutter.com/acaa_lebanon

Those wishing to support the activities of the ACAA can donate here – https://acaainc.org/donate/

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Guest contributions to the Armenian Weekly are informative articles written and submitted by members of the community, which make up our community bulletin board.

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Today marks the centenary of the signing of the Treaty of Sèvres for peace between the Allies and Turkey.

The Treaty of Sèvres is the only treaty signed by both Turkey and the Republic of Armenia, with the free will of the Armenian side. Not only does the Treaty of Sèvres recognize Turkey as responsible for its war crimes, it also demands that Turkey take steps to facilitate the process of punishing those directly involved in the crime. The Treaty also demands that Turkey repeal the 1915 Abandoned Property laws and the supplementary provisions thereof, compelling it to return all confiscated properties to individual or community owners. Finally, the Treaty of Sèvres provides a legal basis for the arbitration appeal to US President Woodrow Wilson to determine the Armenia-Turkey border.

For the past 100 years, Turkey has continued and continues to deny its crime against humanity, the Armenian Genocide. Not only has Turkey avoided and continue to avoid responsibility for the crime and its consequences, it also continues to treat Armenia as an enemy since the republic’s 1991 independence, and in recent days it has intensified its belligerent rhetoric against Armenia, Artsakh and Armenians in general through threats of possible military aggression.

The Treaty of Sèvres is a valid international treaty. Although it has not been ratified by all signatories, it has not been legally replaced by any other international instrument. At least from the point of view of the Armenian Cause, and the interests of the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian nation, it remains a legal obligation based on international law, compelling it to return all confiscated properties to individual or community owners.

Moreover, the arbitral award of the President of the United States of America Woodrow Wilson, published on November 22, 1920, continues to be the only international document delineating the legal border between Armenia and Turkey.

100 years after the signing of the Treaty of Sèvres, the Republic of Turkey continues to show hostility towards the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian people. Until Turkey fulfills its obligations under the provisions contained in the Treaty of Sèvres based on international law, Turkey is obliged to:

1. End the 27-year illegal land blockade of the Republic of Armenia
2. Stop its aggressive steps against Armenia, especially recently
3. Stop its anti-Armenian policies within Turkey – including on our historic and occupied lands – or outside, against the Armenian diaspora formed as a result of the Genocide

We are confident that the day will come when, as the author and perpetrator of the Armenian Genocide, Turkey will have to bear its responsibility and compensate all losses of the Armenian people.

We declare that as in the past and also in the future we, in cooperation with other Armenian political forces, and especially with the Republic of Armenia, will continue our struggle until the restoration of historical justice.

Social Democrat Hunchakian Party Central Committee
Bureau of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun
Armenian Democratic Liberal Party (Ramkavar) Central Committee

August 10, 2020

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Guest contributions to the Armenian Weekly are informative articles written and submitted by members of the community, which make up our community bulletin board.

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The co-founders of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative Noubar Afeyan, Vartan Gregorian and Ruben Vardanyan, and the chair of the Aurora Prize Selection Committee Lord Ara Darzi have announced that Aurora will donate $200.000 to support citizens of Beirut, Lebanon and will launch an online fundraising campaign for the Armenian community of Beirut by #AraratChallenge, Aurora’s global humanitarian crowdfunding platform. 

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic explosion in Beirut and join the global effort to help Lebanon immediately. Just as Lebanon stood in solidarity with Armenians after the Armenian Genocide of 1915, we stand in solidarity with all the Lebanese people today. As the representatives of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, we call on all humanitarian organizations to do their utmost to support Lebanon and urge Armenians across the globe to assist all the people of Lebanon, as well as its Armenian community,” stated the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative co-founders and the Aurora Prize Selection Committee chair.

The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative will urgently direct $100,000 for humanitarian assistance to alleviate the suffering from the immediate impact of the explosion through the Lebanese Red Cross and the Near East Foundation. In addition, the #AraratChallenge campaign will provide $50,000 to the Armenian Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia to tend to the needs of Armenian community. Starting on August 10, 2020 and continuing for at least two months, #AraratChallenge will also help mobilize donations from the global Armenian community by leading an international fundraising campaign, with all the money received during that period to be directed to help the Armenian community in Beirut. Through this fundraising effort, an additional $50,000 is expected to be contributed to the reconstruction projects that will be selected later.

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Guest contributions to the Armenian Weekly are informative articles written and submitted by members of the community, which make up our community bulletin board.

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The Together for Anjar fundraising campaign has donated $10,000 (USD) to the Armenian Relief Society’s Appeal for Lebanon campaign. The amount was transferred to the Watertown, Massachusetts-based international Armenian relief organization over the weekend.

The Together for Anjar campaign’s pledge of $10,000 toward Beirut disaster relief came within hours of the tragic explosions that rocked Lebanon’s capital last Tuesday and left at least 220 people dead, 7,000 injured and 300-thousand homeless.

“On behalf on the people of Anjar and its supporters, the #togetherforanjar campaign pledges $10,000 toward Beirut disaster relief. We stand shoulder to shoulder with our sisters and brothers in Beirut at this most challenging of times for Lebanon,” read the group’s statement on its social media channels. Several Armenian families from Beirut and its suburbs have temporarily relocated to Anjar since the situation in the country has deteriorated. During the Lebanese Civil War and beyond, Anjar has maintained an “open-door policy” to Armenians across the Middle East and has remained a haven for those escaping persecution, war and other catastrophes.

The Together for Anjar fundraising campaign was launched in late May by a group of concerned Anjartsis from across the world. The campaign is backed by local Mousa Ler Associations in various cities, to help the people of Anjar, Lebanon in their time of need during Lebanon’s economic crisis, which saw the drastic depreciation of the Lebanese Pound and the skyrocketing price of food and basic necessities.

To date, the campaign has raised $154,100. To learn more about Together for Anjar and to donate to the campaign, visit https://givebutter.com/togetherforanjar.

The “Together for Anjar” campaign was spearheaded by a group of concerned Anjartsis from across the world and is supported by the Mousa Ler Association of Los Angeles, California; the Mousa Ler Bay Area Association; the Mousa Ler Association of Fresno; Anjartsis of Montreal, Cambridge, and Toronto (Canada); the Mousa Ler Association of Detroit, Michigan; Anjartsis of New York and New Jersey Area; the Mousa Ler Association of France; Mousa Ler Youth Association of Armenia; Anjartsis of Australia; and the Anjartsis of Dubai.

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Guest contributions to the Armenian Weekly are informative articles written and submitted by members of the community, which make up our community bulletin board.

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As a result of the devastating explosion in Beirut, Lebanon on August 4th, the Armenian Relief Society of Eastern USA (ARS EUSA) has thus far raised over $25,000 from among its chapters, members, and individual donors as part of the Armenian Relief Society, Inc.’s Emergency Appeal for Lebanon. 

The ARS EUSA Regional Executive Board has mobilized into action to collect donations for disaster relief efforts through this campaign. The destruction resulting from the explosion has sadly caused substantial deaths and injuries, structural damage to homes, offices and Armenian community structures and extensive homelessness as many homes were subjected to irreparable damage.

The impact of this catastrophe has had a tremendous impact on Armenians in Lebanon and abroad. The ARS EUSA Regional Executive Board appeals to its members, supporters and communities to assist in helping Lebanon, a country many Armenians call home. It is our duty to offer humanitarian aid in this time of grave emergency, to help and address the needs of our Lebanese Armenian brothers and sisters.

Donations can be made online at www.arseastusa.org/Lebanon or by check payable to ARS EUSA. Please note Lebanon Emergency Fund in the memo and mail to the ARS Eastern USA, 80 Bigelow Ave. Suite 200, Watertown, MA 02472.

Your contribution, in any amount, will make a difference to many of our Armenian Lebanese families and help to rebuild their hopes and lives.

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Armenian Relief Society Eastern U.S.

The ARS Eastern USA has 32 chapters located throughout the New England, Mid-Atlantic, Midwestern, and Southeastern regions of the United States. Please contact the ARS Eastern U.S. Regional Office (arseastus@gmail.com) if you would like more information about a chapter near you.

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With the efforts of the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF), an additional shipment of 75 non-contact infrared thermometers (NCITs) was delivered to the Ministry of Health of Republic of Artsakh (MOH) on August 8, 2020 to help in confronting the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Representatives from the ARS and ARF of Artsakh delivered the thermometers to the Ministry of Health. The shipment was sent in a joint effort between the ARS and the ARF. All expenses were covered by the ARF Central Committee of Canada.

The ARS thanks all ARS donors, entities and members who show their continuous support to its ongoing efforts in assisting our brothers and sisters in Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora. 

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Armenian Relief Society International Inc.

Armenian Relief Society, Inc. (ARS) is an independent, non-governmental and non-sectarian organization which serves the humanitarian needs of the Armenian people and seeks to preserve the cultural identity of the Armenian nation. It mobilizes communities to advance the goals of all sectors of humanity. For well over a century, it has pioneered solutions to address the challenges that impact our society.

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When the sun rose on a battered Beirut the morning after last week’s deadly explosion, hundreds of undaunted, albeit traumatized young Lebanese Armenians descended on the ravaged capital’s unrecognizable streets to restore some semblance of home.

“Beirut is not going to be the same ever again,” said longtime resident Patyl Kevorkian. “Beirut as a physical entity does not exist anymore,” she continued. Kevorkian was one of hundreds who immediately took the initiative to clear Beirut’s predominantly Armenian neighborhoods of the wreckage caused by the deadly explosion at the port that left thousands injured and hundreds of thousands homeless.

Armed with nothing more than the resolve to help their Armenian communities, these young people, many of whom hail from local Homenetmen and Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) chapters, visited the mixed commercial and residential neighborhoods of Achrafieh, Bourj Hammoud, Gemmayzeh and Mar Mkhael, sweeping the floors of shattered glass and removing debris and bricks from demolished walls. Others distributed food to those in need, like members of Antelias Homenetmen who have been preparing food for displaced residents of Beirut. Some of them even kept watch for vulnerable homes as a form of security in the absence of windows and doors that were destroyed on impact.

“The first day I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t even drink water,” recalled Homenetmen Beirut member and American University of Beirut physics student Levon Kalaydjian, who was napping at his home in Mount Lebanon during the sudden explosion last Tuesday evening. “But the day after I realized that, khalas, what is done is done. We should move on from that. I personally never give up on anything. So I wasn’t going to give up on my home.”

In the grim aftermath of the blast and amid incalculable loss, Kalaydjian said it was heartbreaking to find abandoned pieces of Armenian family life and culture strewn about in a post-apocalyptic scene. In a pile of trash and rubble on the ground, he found a plaque that traditionally adorns Armenian living rooms with the prayerful message “God bless this home” (Ով Աստուաձ օրհնէ այս տունը). “You can’t understand how much of an emotional moment that was for me to know that an Armenian home has been destroyed,” described a tearful Kalaydjian.

After one day on the ground helping four families, Kalaydjian realized he could do more by consolidating the efforts of interested and able-bodied volunteers into a WhatsApp group to organize the arduous tasks ahead. The 18 year-old and his team of 130 volunteers have since helped restore more than 50 residential buildings, shops and schools. He says the majority of their work cleaning up the Armenian neighborhoods is relatively complete, but larger renovations are still needed.

“Out of all the misery that we are witnessing, it is very heartwarming to see that people, no matter their age, no matter their status, are trying to help in any way they can,” said Kevorkian on the compassionate, volunteer-led initiatives—a sign of hope in a country that is now even more infuriated with its seemingly apathetic government which has long been embroiled in accusations of corruption and gross mismanagement. “This is where the people have finally come together again in demanding some answers…and something to take place in order to foster change, positive change,” said Kevorkian, who also noted the absence of government officials and public administrators in the active recovery efforts. “Lebanon has suffered so much,” she continued. “No one was expecting something like this.”

This tragedy will forever be a heavy burden for the people of Beirut. Donations have been pouring in from every Armenian community around the world to keep “the heart of the Diaspora” beating. In addition to the immediate response from international humanitarian organizations including the Armenian Relief Society (ARS), there’s even a grassroots relief effort powered by the youth on social media called Together for Lebanon, which will be covering renovation expenses and providing emergency relief for residents in Mar Mikhael, Gemmayze, Karantina and Bourj Hammoud among other neighborhoods that are reeling from the blast.

“I can’t express how proud I am of my community right now,” said Kalaydjian. “It will never be Beirut as we used to know it, but it will be ours.”

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Leeza Arakelian

Assistant Editor

Leeza Arakelian is the assistant editor for the Armenian Weekly. She is a formally trained broadcast news writer and a graduate of UCLA and Emerson College. Leeza has written and produced for local and network television news including Boston 25 and Al Jazeera America.

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Prof. Khatchig Mouradian will offer an online seminar on “Apologies, Non-Apologies, and Reparations” starting August 26. 

Organized by St. Leon Armenian Church, the four-week multimedia seminars will explore why we apologize; the elements of an effective apology; how to repair the long-term consequences of discrimination, slavery and genocide; and whether resentment and unforgiveness can be a virtue. The class will examine these questions by surveying research in the fields of history, sociology, linguistics, philosophy, political science and psychology. Professor Mouradian will analyze apologies offered and reparations made by governments, political leaders and other public figures, ascertaining their weaknesses and strengths, and their reception by various parties.

This is the second in a series of courses offered by Prof. Mouradian. In July, more than 50 people from across the U.S. and a few from Europe attended the online course titled “Monuments, Names, and Racism.” Participants included artists, authors, journalists, professors, members of the clergy, PhD, undergraduate and high school students, and professionals from all walks of life.

Classes will be held via Zoom on Wednesdays starting August 26 at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (US and Canada).

Tuition for four sessions (75-minute classes) is a $50 donation per household to St. Leon Armenian Church. 

The course is open to adults and high school students alike.

Register here. For questions, call Ara N. Araz at 917-837-1297 or email ara@edrcorp.net. 

Khatchig Mouradian is a lecturer in Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies at Columbia University, where he also heads the Armenian studies program. His book, The Resistance Network: The Armenian Genocide and Humanitarianism in Ottoman Syria, 1915-1918 is forthcoming in 2020.

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Guest contributions to the Armenian Weekly are informative articles written and submitted by members of the community, which make up our community bulletin board.

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The Armenian Relief Cross of Lebanon (LOKH) had just finished up for the evening on August 4 when the blast occurred, and the gravity of the situation brought the staff and members to the Araxi Boulghourjian Socio-Medical Center to help the wounded. The volunteer force of young and old community members stepped in wherever necessary, distributing masks to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 as people had left their homes with only the clothes on their backs and holding up their cell phone flashlights to aid physicians and nurses performing first aid. Night turned into morning, and all patients were treated and sheltered. In the morning, more injured arrived, and the agonizing search began for missing compatriots, along with the unending cleanup from the shattered glass and rubble caused by the explosion.

“The pressure on our center was unbearable,” said LOKH chair Silva Sabounjian. “From our hallways to the sidewalks of nearby streets, the area was overcome by the injured who were in excruciating pain. Soon after, our medical supplies were exhausted, and our doctors were forced to suture wounds without the use of anesthesia under the guiding lights of cell phones because the power was out,” she continued in her description of the horrific scene. In all, 240 seriously injured patients received care and hundreds more were treated with minor injuries.

Since the Boulghourjian Socio-Medical Center did not sustain prohibitive damage, it remained open to continue offering treatment to the wounded. There was, however, extensive damage to the Dekermendjian kitchen and cafeteria where LOKH members and staff had been providing homemade meals for the elderly and needy due to the pandemic and economic crises. Prior to the blast, 3,000 meals were either delivered or picked up each week, and ARS sister organizations were vital in assisting with delivery. Despite the impossible circumstances, 1,000 meals were prepared for pickup and delivery to community centers and homes the Friday after the blast.

After learning the news, the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) Central Executive Board (CEB) mobilized its team, produced a statement regarding the needs of the Armenian community and instantly began a fundraising campaign for the Lebanese Armenian community. The most pressing goal was to raise enough funds to help those in need of immediate medical attention. 

Many compatriots have been left homeless with only temporary shelter. There are countless windows that need to be replaced, homes refurbished, damages repaired, community centers rebuilt and businesses repaired and reopened. “This too shall pass” has become a hopeful message for the community on social media outlets.

“The work ahead of us is extensive,” stressed CEB chair Nyree Derderian, Ph.D. “We can only rebuild with a unified effort, all together hand in hand. Your partnership with the ARS shows that this 110 year-old organization still serves in our communities in 27 different countries. The ARS is the heart of our communities, always with the people and for the people.”

The ARS has been at the helm of large-scale humanitarian efforts since its very first convention in 1910, when members asked US President Woodrow Wilson to intervene on behalf of the ravaged and endangered Armenian community of the Ottoman Empire. Many years later in 1988, it would answer the call of thousands of victims in the Spitak earthquake. “Today, 110 years later, that same institution is actively providing immediate aid in [the] aftermath of the Beirut explosion that killed 150+, wounded 5000+ and created over 300,000 homeless people,” said Weekly contributor Raffy Ardhaldjian in a Facebook post shared widely. He went on to stress the needs of the community in Lebanon, home to Armenians since the 1915 Genocide. As a global organization in 27 countries, the ARS consistently receives unconditional support from its entities during crises such as this. Derderian reminded the Armenian Weekly that the call to action during catastrophic times and the desire to “reach our people at times of crisis is in the blood of the ARS ungerouhi.”

Demonstrating the desire of the global ARS entities to offer immediate assistance, as well as the willingness of various organizations and individuals to partner with the ARS in its efforts for Lebanon, Derderian offered some highlights beginning with the ongoing efforts of the regions which thus far have raised 300,000 USD. 

Code 3 Angels founder Joe Krikorian, whose nonprofit has provided extensive first aid training in Armenia and Artsakh, offered assistance in acquiring medical supplies for Lebanon, followed by Armenian Fund USA chair Maria Mehranian’s offer to sponsor a cargo shipment of those medical supplies to the stricken country. “Together for Anjar” and the Armenian Bar Association each committed thousands of dollars to partnering with the ARS appeal, as have longtime family supporters of the ARS, the Misserlians of San Francisco, CA., the Marashlians (Vicky Marashlian is former CEB chair), and the Basmadjian family of the ARS Eastern USA. And the list goes on and on.

California-based Armenian artist and third-generation ARS member Arpi Krikorian, known for her beautiful celebration of the Armenian culture, is donating profits from sales of her school supplies to the ARS for Lebanon. In a surprise benefit, Tro Krikorian of Pasadena, CA held a one-hour backyard concert on August 8 inspiring generous support from fans and friends.

Additionally, celebrities including singer/songwriter Sebu Simonian, System of a Down’s Serj Tankian, actress Arsinée Khanjian, broadcast journalist Araksya Karapetyan and comedian Vahe Berberian have publicly promoted the ARS appeal for Lebanon. Berberian’s August 9 edition of his weekly YouTube series airing Sundays at noon PST featured Voice of Van radio host Njteh Meguerdichian, LOKH chair Silva Momjian Sabounjian and Lorig Saboundjian Zadourian of Lebanese OTV and Radio Voice of Van discussing the situation on the ground at that time. On Saturday, August 15, the ARS CEB is planning a benefit concert to air on Yerkir Media and Facebook. Many singers from Armenia and the diaspora have already volunteered to participate. Further details will be made public soon.

“Thank you to all those who have donated, thank you to our entities and members who even during COVID-19 are our fiercest believers and supporters, thank you to the LOKH members who have put aside their personal pain and are on the front lines, thank you to all the community members in Lebanon who stood by the side of our injured, and thank you to everyone who has taken part to make our efforts a success,” concluded Derderian, overcome with gratitude. “We have just started the rebuilding process and there is much more to do as the road ahead is undefined, but the mission is rebuilding our community in Lebanon.”

Author information

Pauline Getzoyan

Pauline Getzoyan is an active member of the Rhode Island Armenian community. A longtime member of the Providence ARF, she is also a 15-year member of the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) having previously served on the Central Executive Board. Pauline has been a long-time advocate for genocide education through her work with the ANC of RI. She is co-chair of the RI branch of The Genocide Education Project, as well as a member of the RI Holocaust and Genocide Education Coalition. Pauline holds a BA in Communications from Rhode Island College and an MA in Education from Roger Williams University. She has been an adjunct instructor of developmental reading and writing in the English department at the Community College of Rhode Island since 2005.

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WATERTOWN, Mass. –  The Armenian National Committee of America Eastern Region in partnership with the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), the Armenian National Committee of Canada, Armenian National Committee of America Western Region, the Armenian Legal Center for Justice and Human Rights and the Armenian Bar Association will host a LIVE panel discussion on Facebook on Thursday, August 20 at 8 pm EDT marking the 100th anniversary of the Treaty of Sèvres.

The live panel discussion will be streamed on the ANCA Eastern Region Facebook page facebook.com/ANCAEasternRegion. Moderator Vicken Sonentz Papazian, Esq. will be joined by panelists Steve Dadaian, Esq. and Armen K. Hovannisian, Esq.

Panelists will provide viewers with an overview of the Treaty of Sèvres including a discussion of its legality and relevance to the present day, as well as a conversation on the impact the Treaty of Sèvres has on the viability of the Armenian nation.

Papazian, who will serve as the moderator, is an attorney in private practice, licensed in the State of California and the District of Columbia. Past Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America and past Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Armenian National Committee Western Region, he is a graduate of Bates College and Southwestern University of Law. Papazian studied international law at the University of Florence and has been active in the pursuit of the Armenian Case since the 1980s.

Dadaian, a trial attorney with almost 30 years of experience in government law and high exposure litigation, has spent the majority of his career as a trial lawyer and manager of a large litigation office responsible for defending the State of California in high value liability exposure.

A founding member of the Armenian Legal Center for Justice and Human Rights and a member of the Board of the Armenian National Committee of America, Dadaian is a former Vice Chairman of the Armenian Bar Association. He is admitted to practice in California as well as the United States Supreme Court.

Hovannisian, a three-time Chairman of the Armenian Bar Association, is the presiding Chairman of the Association’s Armenian Genocide Reparations Committee and a member of its Board of Governors.

He is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court to which the Armenian Bar has petitioned as amicus curiae with respect to genocide-related recovery efforts. Before his 20-year tenure at CHUBB, he held the post of Vice President, Environmental Claims for Markel West, directing its legal department and focusing on the resolution of complex environmental and product liability exposures. He also worked at the Los Angeles office of the New York-based law firm of Chadbourne & Parke LLP, where he received the firm-wide pro bono award for his representation of indigent clients, many of whom were Armenian immigrants who had just immigrated to the U.S. and were experiencing challenges. Hovannisian’s professional and academic works have appeared in various publications including The Environmental Claims Journal and The Armenian Review.

“Understanding the Treaty of Sèvres is an indispensable part of understanding modern Armenian history, the legal issues addressed as well as the unique circumstances that gave rise to its formation. The Treaty of Sèvres continues to play an integral role in the pursuit of the Armenian Case today,” said Vicken Sonentz Papazian, Esq.

August 10, 2020, marked 100 years since the signing of the Treaty of Sèvres, an international treaty signed by both Turkey and the Republic of Armenia in 1920. The Treaty recognizes that Turkey is responsible for its war crimes and demands that Turkey take steps to facilitate the process of punishing those directly involved in the crime.

The Treaty also demands that Turkey repeal the 1915 Abandoned Property laws and the supplementary provisions thereof, compelling it to return all confiscated properties to individual or community owners. Finally, the Treaty of Sèvres provides a legal basis for the arbitration appeal to US President Woodrow Wilson to determine the Armenia-Turkey border.

For the past 100 years, Turkey has continued to deny its crime against humanity – the Armenian Genocide – exhibiting aggression toward the Armenian nation.

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ANCA-Eastern Region

The Armenian National Committee of America Eastern Region is part of the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots organization, the ANCA. Working in coordination with the ANCA in Washington, DC, and a network of chapters and supporters throughout the Eastern United States, the ANCA-ER actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.

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LOS ANGELES/NEW YORK—The Diamond Anniversary Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) Summer Soiree will be held virtually this year on August 15 to raise funds for the organization’s COVID Emergency Relief Fund. COAF has been at the forefront of rural development in Armenia for 16 years, providing youth with opportunities for advancement through improved infrastructure and state-of-the-art education, health, social and economic programs. 

COAF’s existing rural health and social services programs have been the focus of attention during the pandemic. Partnerships with the European Union (EU) Delegation in Armenia and the Austrian Development Agency have provided humanitarian assistance to vulnerable families throughout 64 beneficiary communities, along with medical equipment to village health centers. The organization has also increased online education programming for students and is in the process of assisting small rural businesses that have faced financial hardship. 

The COAF Summer Soiree is an annual benefit historically held in New York City. Like most fundraising events during the pandemic, this year’s Soiree will be available virtually, allowing Armenians worldwide to register for free to learn more about COAF and its COVID outreach in Armenia. Funds raised this year will be reinvested into COAF’s health infrastructure in rural Armenia, providing critical support to village medical facilities in the form of equipment, supplies and capacity-building.

This year’s Summer Soiree is being hosted by Araksya Karapetyan of Good Day LA on FOX 11 Los Angeles. Born in Armenia, Karapetyan moved to the US at a young age and was inspired to become a journalist after visiting her homeland for a summer vacation where she found herself documenting on camera the everyday reality of life there. Karapetyan also hosted the Annual COAF Holiday Gala last December in New York City, helping raise over $6 million.

Special performances this year include musician/singer/songwriter and one-half of the Los Angeles-based Indie pop duo, Capital Cities! Sebu Simonian toured the COAF SMART Center last year while in Armenia, where he met with students and treated them to a concert. Popular comedian Mary Basmadjian, a recent guest on COAF’s INSTALIVE series on Instagram, will also deliver a comedic sketch during this year’s Soiree. Conan O’Brien’s right-hand woman Sona Movsesian will also be featured with a special appearance.

COAF’s team of child musicians from Armenia will also participate, including kanon-playing duo Meri Musinyan and Kristine Yengoyan, along with pianist Armen Puchinyan & Friends accompanied by jazz sensation Narine Dovlatyan. Musinyan, Yengoyan and Puchinyan have all delivered memorable musical performances at past COAF galas in New York City.

This year has been marked by one crisis after another, whether the global pandemic, the civil rights movement in the US, the escalation of violence on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, and the devastation in Beirut. COAF is taking all necessary steps to prepare for the anticipated waves of COVID-19 infection expected in rural Armenia this fall/winter. All funds raised from the Soiree will go directly to the COAF COVID Emergency Fund, allowing COAF to step up efforts in combatting the COVID-19 crisis. The lives and livelihoods of thousands of people are at risk and your generous contributions will give COAF the opportunity to expand exceptional humanitarian assistance to more beneficiary villages.

Armenians worldwide are being encouraged to register for the Soiree and learn more by visiting link. Those who are unable to take part in the Soiree on August 15 can help by visiting our website.

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Children of Armenia Fund

The Children of Armenia Fund is a non-profit, non-governmental organization founded in 2003. Our community-based, comprehensive approach to reducing rural poverty has helped Armenian village youth access the resources to achieve and in turn, give back to their communities and the world.

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YEREVAN, AUGUST 12—On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Treaty of Sèvres, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation press service reports that 10 Armenian parties issued the following joint statement shedding fresh light on the possible international impact of the Sèvres Peace Treaty.

August 10, 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Sèvres. The Treaty between the victorious Allies of  World War I and Turkey solved a number of troublesome territorial issues, obliging Turkey, as the defeated side of the World War, to recognize the countries gaining independence from it and clarifying new borders with neighbors.

The Treaty of Sèvres is a document of powerful geopolitical importance aimed at establishing lasting peace in the Middle East, North Africa, and Eastern Europe, in the Balkans. Although further geopolitical developments did not allow the signatory states to ratify the Treaty of Sèvres, it nevertheless became the basis for the independence of many states and the delimitation of interstate borders. Therefore, we are dealing with an agreement that was only partially enforced and implemented, failing to be applied to Armenia.

The section of the Treaty referring to Armenia, inter alia, comprehensively refers to the interstate border between Armenia and Turkey.

It should be documented that on November 22 of the same year, the 28th President of the United States Woodrow Wilson, endowed with international mandate and arbitration, approved the Armenia-Turkey border with the Great Seal of the United States and handed over his decision to all state-signatories of the Treaty.

It is noteworthy that even today’s political behavior of Turkey, which leads to the destabilization of international relations and military and political tensions in the neighboring regions, is largely due to non-implementation of the provisions of the Treaty of Sèvres, including those referring to Armenia.

Consequently, in the background of Turkey’s increasingly aggressive, unpredictable military-political destabilizing actions, even a century later, the principles of regional coexistence of nations expressed in the Treaty of the Sèvres remain relevant as a guarantee of lasting and fair peace, as well as equal development of nations and states in this part of the world.

Based on the above, as well as the fact that the Pan-Armenian Declaration on the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide underscores the role of the Sèvres Treaty and Woodrow Wilson’s Arbitral Award in overcoming the consequences of the Armenian Genocide, we emphasize:

1. The Treaty of Sèvres is not just a historical fact. It is an international treaty signed between states that exist today (or are their successors), the implementation of which was suspended as a result of the shift in the military-political situation in the region.
2. International discussions on the Treaty of Sèvres should be promoted by the academic communities of the Republic of Armenia and the signatory states, and the political circles should demonstrate its importance in the context of the current geopolitical and regional processes.
3. There is no other multilaterally recognized international agreement between Armenia and the Republic of Turkey which legally resolves the border issue between the two countries.
4. On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Treaty of Sèvres and Arbitral Award of Woodrow Wilson, it is necessary to take political initiative, demonstrating:

• The hostile policy of Turkey towards the Republic of Armenia in international relations
• The illegal blockade of the Republic of Armenia by Turkey
• Consistent appropriation and destruction of Armenian historical and cultural heritage for more than a century with the complicity of the Turkish authorities
• Turkey’s aggressive military-political support to Azerbaijan and its unconstructive attempts to be involved in Karabakh conflict, which are often accompanied by war threats
• Destabilization of all neighboring regions of Turkey
• Violation of human rights, including the rights of national-religious minorities in Turkey, authorized by the state
• Incompatibility of the approaches of the Turkish authorities to modern political processes and challenges faced by humanity

5. It is necessary for the existing subjects of international law that signed the Treaty of Sèvres, as well as those whose subjectivity is conditioned by the Treaty, to express a position on the importance of the political and legal will of the states enshrined in the Treaty, as well as on the urgency of the issues under the conditions of fair coexistence of nations and its absence.

We, the undersigned parties –

Highlight the historical, political and legal mission of the Sèvres Peace Treaty for the security and future development of the Republic of Armenia and the entire region,

Deem it necessary to shed fresh light on the possible international impact of the Treaty of Sèvres,

Express our unconditional readiness to participate in this process of great national importance,

Call on political organizations and NGOs of the Republic of Armenia to join this initiative.

Signed by: ”Azatutyun” Party (Freedom Party), Democratic Party of Armenia, National Democratic Union, The Republican Party of Armenia, ”Prosperous Armenia” Party, Armenian Revolutionary Federation, Yerkir Tsirani Party, Fatherland Party, ”Heritage” Party and ”One Armenia” Party.

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BIRMINGHAM, Mich. — Today, State Representative Mari Manoogian (D-Birmingham) announced that she will deliver the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention. Manoogian will be speaking alongside 16 rising stars in the Democratic Party. The keynote address will kick off primetime programming on Tuesday evening at 9:00pm EST.

“I am honored to deliver this year’s Democratic National Convention keynote address alongside 16 other inspiring leaders from around the country. Together, we will represent a new generation of Democratic leadership to voters nationwide, proving the importance that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris put on building up a strong, vibrant, and inclusive Democratic Party,” state Representative Mari Manoogiansaid. “In this critical moment, I’m proud to speak to Americans alongside leaders in our party to prove that Democrats nationwide have the strength, decency, and empathy necessary to lead our nation forward.”

“So much is on the line this November. Donald Trump has grossly mishandled the pandemic and tens of thousands of Michigan businesses and workers are paying the price,” Manoogian said. “As our vice president, Joe Biden helped save the American auto industry, lowered prescription drug costs for Michigan seniors through the Affordable Care Act, and brought the world’s leaders together to tackle climate change. We have a chance to change the trajectory of our country this fall, and I’m going to do everything in my power to ensure that every Michigander knows why we need to elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.”

In 2018, Manoogian flipped a historically Republican, suburban Metro Detroit state house district from red to blue, winning the district with 56.5-percent of the vote. She is serving her first term representing the 40th District, which includes Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township, and a portion of West Bloomfield Township. She currently serves as Assistant Minority Whip for the House Democrats.

“I am so excited that Mari Manoogian has been selected as one of the rising stars in our party – something that we here in Michigan have known for quite some time – to deliver the convention’s keynote address,” former Michigan governor Jim Blanchard said. “Mari is a breath of fresh air and a natural leader when good leaders are so desperately needed given the challenges of today’s world. I cannot wait for America to have the opportunity to meet her on Tuesday night.”

This article is a press release submitted to the Armenian Weekly and has been published to our community news section.

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On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Treaty of Sèvres, the ARF Youth Office published a joint statement with socialist and social-democratic youth organizations of countries that signed the Treaty. The text of the statement is presented below:

Joint statement on the 100th anniversary of the Treaty of Sèvres

The Treaty of Sèvres represents the only international legal document which provides for just reparations of the Armenian genocide and which was signed between principle allied powers and Turkey following World War I during the Paris Peace Conference in 1920.

Based on the resolution that was unanimously adopted by the International Union of Socialists Youth (IUSY) World Council (2015) in Yerevan, which condemns the genocide of Armenians that was carried out by the Ottoman Empire․

We, as socialist and social democratic youth organizations of countries and successor states that have signed the inviolable document, reaffirm the importance of the Treaty of Sèvres and call upon the Republic of Turkey to begin the process of eliminating the consequences of the Armenian Genocide by initiating the restoration of the rights of the Armenian people.

We believe that this is the only way to create mutual trust between the people of both nations and to establish peace within the region.

Co-signed by the following organizations:

Armenia – Armenian Youth Federation – Youth Organization of the ARF-Dashnaktsutyun
Belgium – Young Socialists (Jongesocialisten)
Belgium – Movement of Young Socialists (Mouvement des Jeunes Socialistes)
Canada – New Democratic Youth of Canada
Croatia – Croatian Social Democratic Youth
Czech Republic – Young Social Democrats
France – Movement of Young Socialists (Mouvement des Jeunes Socialistes)
Greece – Panhellenic Socialist Movement – PASOK Youth
India – Young Voters Party
Italy – Young Democrats (Giovani Democratici)
New Zealand – New Zealand Young Labour
Portugal – Young Socialists (Juventude Socialista)
Poland – Union of Young Social Democrats
Republic of North Macedonia – Social Democratic Youth of Macedonia
Slovenia – Young Forum of Socialist Democrats (Mladi forum Socialnih demokratov)
Serbia – Youth of Freedom and Justice Party
Turkey – Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Youth

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SUDBURY, Mass.—Rising mathematician Zaven Kouchakdjian is celebrating an impressive accomplishment in his young academic career. The 13 year-old just achieved a perfect score of 120 on the 23rd annual international math contest known as Math Kangaroo.

“I like numbers and everything that’s related to them,” said the Curtis Middle School student during an interview with the Weekly. 

Back in May, Kouchakdjian was one of almost 25-hundred students in the US who participated in the 75-minute ‘Level 7’ exam, which included algebra, geometry and word problems. This year, a total of 35,171 students enrolled in the contest nationwide. Kouchakdjian has previously scored in the top 20 (nationally) on four separate occasions.  

He tells the Weekly that his enrollment in the Russian School of Mathematics (RSM)—a highly-regarded and rigorous after-school program—has helped foster his love for the subject. “I can just learn a lot really quickly,” said Kouchakdjian, who is entering his tenth year at RSM where he will be studying pre-calculus in addition to his regular schoolwork at Curtis. To prepare for pre-calculus as well as number theory at Curtis, the incoming eighth grader has been studying trigonometry on the side, an area of math that he admits is proving to be a little more challenging to grasp.

Kouchakdjian is also involved in his local Armenian community. He serves as the corresponding secretary for the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) Middlesex County “Mousa Ler” (Junior) Chapter and attends both Saturday School and Sunday School at St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church. He plays the viola and enjoys spending time with his younger siblings.

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Leeza Arakelian is the assistant editor for the Armenian Weekly. She is a formally trained broadcast news writer and a graduate of UCLA and Emerson College. Leeza has written and produced for local and network television news including Boston 25 and Al Jazeera America.

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In the wake of George Floyd’s death and the resulting protests for change, there have been many scholarly and personal discussions on the subject of racism, including in the Armenian community. On June 23, St. Leon Armenian Church of New Jersey hosted a panel entitled, “Racial Injustice and Responsibility.” The response to that panel and the resulting conversations led to the recently concluded four-week multimedia online seminar “Names, Monuments, and Racism: A Global Perspective,” led by Dr. Khatchig Mouradian, lecturer in Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies (MESAAS) at Columbia University, head of the Armenian studies program. The Armenian Weekly was privileged to witness some of the sessions.

In his answers to questions submitted by the Weekly, Dr. Mouradian expanded on the premise of the course and its format: “As protests rocked the country, statues were toppled and institutions faced calls to drop racist mascots and names, we wanted to offer an opportunity for community members to engage in a month-long discussion on the legacies of slavery and the genocide of Native Americans. The course offered a global perspective, covering, for example, the Herero and Nama genocides and statues of its perpetrators in modern day Namibia and the discussions around Black Pete in the Netherlands.”

As the primary organizer of the original panel in June, Ara Araz from St. Leon Church explained the desire to delve more deeply into some of the topics examined by the panelists. “We wanted to continue the much-needed discussion and specifically wanted to engage our youth. Khatchig put together a provocative program that looked at race and incorporated additional elements such as genocide and the experience of women and Native Americans,” he noted.

The course was initially offered to high school students to explore the history and public discourse surrounding monuments, mascots and names. But within days of announcing the class, it became apparent that there was great interest in the course among university students and professionals, which prompted the creation of a second section for that demographic.

Describing the content of the course, Mouradian said, “The course allocated equal time to interactive lectures and discussion. We explored scholarly works such as Philip J. Deloria’s book Playing Indian and Karen L. Cox’s Dixie’s Daughters: The United Daughters of the Confederacy; we discussed statues such as the Emancipation Memorial in Lincoln Park, Washington, D.C. and the Roosevelt statue outside the Museum of Natural History in New York. We also explored how former Soviet republics, India, Namibia, and the UK have dealt with their own representations of the past.”

More than 50 people from across the US and a few from Europe attended the online courses. Participants included artists, authors, journalists, professors, members of the clergy, PhD students and professionals from all walks of life, all of whom brought their own experiences and perspectives enriching the discussions. In fact, these discussions sometimes continued for 30 minutes past the scheduled conclusion of each session and were a highlight for Dr. Mouradian, as well as the Weekly.

During the formal presentation of the course material and the ensuing conversations, some notable overarching lessons included understanding our inherent biases ingrained over years of traditional methods of honoring and commemorating historical events. In addition, those biases can serve to magnify our resistance to change, even if it is for the good of society by actively being anti-racist. As more than half the participants were of Armenian descent, it was inevitable that the conversation would turn to perceived shared experiences, also providing food for thought. Dr. Mouradian encouraged the discussions with skill, guiding participants to deeply explore their own upbringings as well as experiences in the larger global community, in some cases sharing his childhood memories of growing up in the Armenian community of Lebanon.

At the conclusion of the four weeks, Dr. Mouradian intrigued participants with mention of another course, leading the Weekly to ask what was next on the agenda. “Encouraged by the overwhelming success of the course, we are launching a course titled “Apologies, Non-Apologies, and Reparations: A Global Perspective,” answered Dr. Mouradian. Beginning on August 26, he explained that the course “will analyze apologies offered and reparations made by governments, political leaders and other public figures, ascertaining their weaknesses and strengths, and their reception by various parties.” This time the two demographics will be participating in the same course. “The intergenerational dynamic promises to provide an even more nuanced discussion and underscores that our youth are watching, participating and expect more from those of us who no longer qualify as youth,” Araz assured registrants.

The Weekly asked several participants of the “Names, Monuments, and Racism” course for their impressions. Below are their comments:

Rev. Dr. Susan A. Minasian, Pottstown, Pa:

Dr. Mouradian’s course was outstanding. He approached such a complex subject, confronting the illusions that have perpetuated a false narrative not only in the United States but around the world. His ability to convey his scholarship to such a diverse audience and inspire us to examine our own biases was excellent. Even though I have been intentional about my own learning on this subject matter in the United States, Dr. Mouradian’s ability to expand the conversation to recognize patterns that have no geographical boundaries served to bring even more insight into the global struggles and conflicts we experience today.

Alena Mikhaelyan, Budapest, Hungary:

The course was enlightening on many levels and provided a global overview on the issue of racism. Some of the examples were truly staggering, which allowed me to reconsider my perspectives on the surrounding world and sparked further interest in exploring the issues in depth. I very much enjoyed the group discussions and the community that has been formed within such a short time. I particularly appreciated Khatchig Mouradian’s approach to the course and look forward to the next chapter!

Lara Nercessian, Detroit, Mich.:

This class created a forum for us to not only think about the issues but freely speak about them, and spurred conversations for days after each session. I enjoyed the class because it did a great job of revealing the way culture is built and perpetuated by those in power who are able to rewrite history through monuments, and then decry any movement or revision of them as an attack on history.

Grace Experience Blewer, New York:

This was my first online class and I loved it. I was able to learn and contextualize so much. I was really impressed and grateful for Dr. Mouradian’s ability to teach, to engage a large group, and to facilitate meaningful discussions over Zoom.

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Pauline Getzoyan

Pauline Getzoyan is an active member of the Rhode Island Armenian community. A longtime member of the Providence ARF, she is also a 15-year member of the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) having previously served on the Central Executive Board. Pauline has been a long-time advocate for genocide education through her work with the ANC of RI. She is co-chair of the RI branch of The Genocide Education Project, as well as a member of the RI Holocaust and Genocide Education Coalition. Pauline holds a BA in Communications from Rhode Island College and an MA in Education from Roger Williams University. She has been an adjunct instructor of developmental reading and writing in the English department at the Community College of Rhode Island since 2005.

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More than 54-thousand people tuned into the Armenian Relief Society’s “Stand with Lebanon” virtual benefit concert on Saturday afternoon August 15, which was part of the relief organization’s continued efforts in supporting the Lebanese Armenian community as it struggles to recover from the catastrophic explosion at the port of Beirut. The ARS has raised $600,000 USD so far.

“The Armenian Relief Society would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all those who supported this project with donations and voluntary assistance,” said ARS chairperson Dr. Nyree Derderian. “The raised funds confirm that the collective efforts of the Armenian communities worldwide are as strong as ever. It is the power of our people that keeps us alive. The Lebanese-Armenian community thanks you. ‘With Our People, For our People’ forever. We ask you to continue to support the ARS. Continue your help to our brothers and sisters of Lebanon. We pledge to continue our efforts so that our community in Lebanon may rise again to its former glory.”  

The successful artistic program was achieved in cooperation with Yerkir Media TV and the devoted participation of talented performers of both Armenia and the Diaspora. Our heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers who kept the project going despite time zone restrictions. This team of volunteers made it possible to coordinate and broadcast the program live. The event remains available to view on both the Yerkir Media and ARS Facebook pages.

In addition to the concert fundraiser, on August 17 the very first humanitarian flight to Lebanon was organized by the ARS, with the cooperation of the nonprofit Code 3 Angels and Armenia Fund USA.

The flight was loaded with two and a half tons of necessary items, including 171 cases of medical supplies and other needed items secured by the ARS. Code 3 Angels loaned its main office to gather the items and prepare the bundles. At the same time, Los Angeles-based Lebanese American organizations, Cedars Relief, American Lebanese Medical Association and Middle Eastern Pharmacy Association (Mepha), in cooperation with Lebanese groups, helped the ARS secure and deliver much-needed medical supplies to the Rafik Hariri University Hospital.  

Derderian noted that they expect the medicine and sundries will be delivered and immediately available to those in need over the coming days. The ARS is hopeful that soon, with the continued assistance of Code 3 Angels and All Armenia Fund USA, it will be possible to have additional humanitarian flights to Beirut and in this way remain in constant support of mending the wounds of our people.

On August 4, immediately after the devastating explosion in Beirut’s seaport, the ARS mobilized all of its entities and on the very same day declared its “Stand with Lebanon” fundraising project. The funds collected are used to secure help for the immediate needs of the community. As soon as further assistance becomes available, the ARS will announce how that aid will be readily available to the community.  

From the very start of the calamity, the Araxi Boulghourjian Sociomedical Center of ARS Lebanon, bolstered by the efforts of volunteers, has provided medical care and hot meals for hundreds of community members.

The spring bubbling and flowing from the maternal heart of the ARS shall always remain ample for the people, as we march in step with the people.

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Armenian Relief Society International Inc.

Armenian Relief Society, Inc. (ARS) is an independent, non-governmental and non-sectarian organization which serves the humanitarian needs of the Armenian people and seeks to preserve the cultural identity of the Armenian nation. It mobilizes communities to advance the goals of all sectors of humanity. For well over a century, it has pioneered solutions to address the challenges that impact our society.

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Thousands of Armenian Americans were beaming with pride Tuesday night during the Democratic National Convention (DNC) when a certain familiar face from Michigan appeared on-screen. The chyron read in big, bold letters—MICHIGAN STATE REP. MARI MANOOGIAN.

“I’m so grateful that our community was able to have that representation last night,” said Rep. Manoogian (D-Birmingham) during an interview with the Weekly the following morning. “Armenian Americans have been at the forefront of public service in this country since we came here, so to have that opportunity and to be recognized in this way was just so humbling for me to be the person that was the face of it,” she continued.

The 27-year-old was hand-picked by the presidential campaign for Democratic candidate Joe Biden to help deliver the keynote address on night two of the DNC along with 16 other elected officials and rising stars in the Democratic Party. “We can never let hard times turn us against each other,” she said during the historic virtual event as part of a pre-produced, 13-minute segment taped from her makeshift studio inside her home office with resources and technology shipped from the Biden campaign. 

Rep. Manoogian, who is serving her first term representing Michigan’s 40th district (Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township and a portion of West Bloomfield Township), highlighted small businesses and the auto industry in the broadcast. But it was her reference to Biden’s now-infamous colorful use of language from his 2010 aside with President Barack Obama upon the passage of the Affordable Care Act that arguably became one of the more memorable moments of the evening. Rep. Manoogian inched her head toward the camera and uttered convincingly, “That’s a big effing deal”—a scripted punchline that was emphasized in unison by a grid of four other elected officials. Manoogian, who is now the face of a viral GIF on social media, says all kidding aside, “The issue of making sure that every American has access to the care that they need was definitely important to be front and center.”

when you see Rep. @MariManoogian crush the keynote with 16 of the party’s brightest rising stars pic.twitter.com/OvtszmzFN6

— Roman (@Papa_Roman) August 19, 2020

A longtime supporter of Mr. Biden, Rep. Manoogian reflected on their first meeting several years ago when she tweeted about his book tour coming to Ann Arbor, Mich. Biden ‘liked’ Manoogian’s tweet and within moments, she was contacted by one of his staffers, who invited both Manoogian and her father—a labor union leader—to meet the Vice President. “That was the happiest I’ve ever seen my father…other than the night I won my election,” recalled Manoogian.

Speaking of Twitter, moments before Tuesday’s broadcast, Rep. Manoogian shared a heartwarming video of an Armenian girl named Karina who congratulated her role model before bedtime. “I was just floored,” exclaimed Manoogian tearfully. “I have very few words to describe it. As an Armenian American, there’s very few of us that have this opportunity. When you run for office, you hope that you can be a role model and that your message is getting out.” Manoogian also stirred the hearts of her Armenian audiences on Tuesday night when she was seen wearing a stunning gold «Է» necklace, the seventh letter of the Armenian alphabet and a symbol of Christianity for Armenians. It traditionally adorns the apex of Armenian church altars. “I want people to know without me having to say it that I am very proud of my heritage,” said Manoogian, who is often asked about the meaning behind her jewelry and uses it as a teaching opportunity.

I am legitimately tearing up. I cannot tell you how much it means to me that little Armenian girls see a bit of themselves in me. THIS is why representation matters. Getseh, Karina! #DemConvention https://t.co/fzZXYDpEQp

— Mari Manoogian (@MariManoogian) August 19, 2020

The great-grandchild of Armenian Genocide survivors says she’s proud to represent Diasporan Armenians and amplify her voice as a member of a political party that is trying to promote a message of inclusion and diversity. In addition to campaigning for Biden’s election, Rep. Manoogian is running for re-election herself. She says her plan for her second term in office would include restructuring public education in Michigan and developing regional public transit options. 

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Leeza Arakelian is the assistant editor for the Armenian Weekly. She is a formally trained broadcast news writer and a graduate of UCLA and Emerson College. Leeza has written and produced for local and network television news including Boston 25 and Al Jazeera America.

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