The Armenian Relief Society (ARS) Cambridge “Shushi” Chapter celebrated Mother’s Day on May 7 with more than 200 guests in attendance. Guests from the Greater Boston community as well as from Providence, R.I., came together for an afternoon of humor and laughter with Dottie Bengoian.

The ARS Cambridge ‘Shushi’ Chapter celebrated Mother’s Day on May 7 with more than 200 guests in attendance.

The event was full of excitement and laughter provided by the warm and witty Bengoian, who has been called the “First Lady of Armenian Comedy,” the “Armenian Queen of Comedy,” and the “Ambassador of Joy.” She is an educator, humorist, and motivational speaker and has been making audiences laugh for over 30 years. And she certainly did not disappoint.  Everyone enjoyed her show.

A portion of the program was dedicated to the “Year of Service,” proclaimed by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia. “Shushi” chapter President Ungherouhi Heather Krafian hosted the program luncheon and congratulated all those in the room for their many years of dedicated service to the ARS and the Armenian nation, toasting “With the people, for the people!” She also noted that the ARS has been serving the Armenian community for 106 years.

Ungerouhis Rosemary Khachadoorian and Armen Lachinain-Ferrel were honored for their 40 years of service to the ARS Cambridge “Shushi” Chapter. As a token of appreciation for their service, the chapter presented them bouquets of flowers, as well as personalized ARS bangles. The bangles were the work of ARS Ungerouhi Nicole Alashaian from the Bergen County, N.J. Chapter. Unfortunately Khachadoorian was unable to attend, though a warm thank you letter of appreciation was read on her behalf to express her gratitude for the chapter’s acknowledgement of her 40 years of service, as well to announce her gift of $300 towards the ARS “Artsakh Fund.”

Guests from the Greater Boston community as well as from Providence, R.I., came together for an afternoon of humor and laughter with Dottie Bengoian.

Artsakh was on the minds of all those present. Everyone could contribute to the ARS Artsakh fund by making contributions of their choice to the bar for their beverages. About $775 was raised at the bar and the chapter will contribute another $225 for a total donation of $1,000 to the ARS “Artsakh Fund.” An additional $2,250 was collected from many generous donors and will be added to the fund on behalf of the ARS Cambridge “Shushi” Chapter.

The Mother’s Day raffle helped support the fundraising initiative for the ARS Sosse Kindergarten in Stepanakert, Artsakh. Thanks to the generosity of HR Jewelers for their diamond Ring donation (valued at $1,200) and Artinian Jewelers for their fresh water pearl necklace (valued at $550), over $1,300 was raised for the Sosse Kindergarten.

The Mother’s Day event was a huge success. Many charitable ARS projects will be well funded due to the generosity of all those in attendance. As Krafian mentioned in her closing remarks, the event is not merely a fundraiser but a “Friendraiser,” as noted at an ARS seminar event in March. Everyone in attendance became a friend of the ARS that afternoon, as everyone supported the ideals of the ARS through their generosity and support. Anyone who was not an ARS member was encouraged to join and help assist in the humanitarian, social, and educational needs of the Armenian community around the globe.

Joghovoortees Hed, Joghovoortees Hamar! (With the people, For the People!)

Children at the center

A three-year-old boy runs every morning to the door waiting for his mother to return, but she never does. A seven-year-old girl who has lived with her family underground due to economic difficulties has never had a bath throughout her life. Two pre-teenage brothers have been sexually abused for many years. These are just some of the hundreds of neglected children who have been protected, housed, treated, educated and loved at Yerevan’s Children’s Center during the past 16 years. This compassionate and unique institution has been created, sponsored, and financed by the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR), since its inception.

On April 28, “Friends of the FAR Children’s Center” hosted an elegant luncheon at the Charter House in Weehawken, N.J., with more than 100 ladies in attendance to benefit the Children’s Center. The tables of the event were decorated with beautifully created white ceramic trees. Small framed photos of some of the children were draped along its branches. The luncheon began with an invocation by the Very Rev. Fr. Papken Anoushian, Pastor of St. Thomas Armenian Apostolic Church in Tenafly, N.J.

A Home, a Lifesaver

Mistress of Ceremonies Mrs. Mary Cruikshank warmly welcomed the guests, and related that young neglected children who have suffered so greatly in the last decade and a half since Armenia’s independence from physical and sexual abuse, abandonment, poor nutrition, homelessness, single family homes, have been cared for in this ideal refuge by a staff of dedicated educated, medical, and cultured professionals. “The Children’s Center is like home for these children, a lifesaver,” she said with emotion, and added that the “Friends of the FAR Children’s Center” has sent money and gifts during all the holiday periods to the Center.

Since January, more than 180 children have been sheltered for various periods at the Children’s Center; 100 of these families do not wish to have their children returned to them, Mrs. Cruikshank revealed. In addition to helping these children, the Center also helps the families by offering them medical and economic assistance, she said.

FAR’s Extraordinary Efforts and Achievements

Cruikshank also informed the audience that FAR succeeded in sponsoring and editing several bills for the protection of children in Armenia’s Parliament, all of which were passed. “This was an extraordinary accomplishment for a newly independent country.”

A highlight of the event was an enthusiastic revelation by John Leonard who is married to Christine Mekhitarian. The couple, who has visited Armenia several times, initiated a project of introducing photography as a healing tool. “The imagery of nature makes people feel healthy,” he said. The project called “Changing Landscapes,” sponsored by the FAR “AYO” organization, takes the Center’s children on photography trips where they photograph the wonders of nature which are abundant in Armenia. The first photographs by these children were framed and donated to hospitals throughout Armenia. “It focused on beauty and its healing effect,” Leonard related, and added with a smile that one child said he wanted to be a photographer.

Friends of FAR Children’s Center committee

Several of these framed photos—displaying flowers, landscapes, khachkars, and Mount Ararat—were available for purchase at the luncheon, and were quickly scooped up.

Another highlight, a video displaying the life, education, affection shown to the children by the Center’s staff, prepared by FAR’s communications team, delighted the audience. Also on the luncheon program was a fashion show, and a silent auction of valuable gifts. Several vendors were also present, and donated a percentage of their sales to the afternoon’s fundraising effort.

The inspiring event concluded with the benediction by the Very Rev. Fr. Papken Anoushian.

The dedicated members of the “Friends of FAR Children’s Center” include Honorary Chair Sirvart Hovnanian, Co-Chairs Nadya Garipian and Sylva Torosian, and members Nivart Arslan, Sonya Bekarian, Yegsa Bestepe, Talin Berberoglu, Annette Choolfaian, Mary Cruikshank, Magda Najarian, Sossie Najarian, Anita Temiz, and Alice Yigitkurt.

Those wishing to contribute to the FAR Children’s Center should contact the New York FAR office, by calling (212) 889-5150, or visiting www.farusa.org

Asdghig ‘Starrie’ Alemian of Weymouth at age 7 in an orphanage in Aleppo is on the far right. Her sister, Anna, age 9, is on the far left. The two women in the center were her two cousins

WEYMOUTH, Mass. (Wicked Local, Weymouth)—The Genocide Education Project will host a training workshop for high school teachers on how to teach the Armenian Genocide, on June 10 in Watertown, Mass., with Asdghig “Starrie” Alemian, a survivor of the genocide, as a special guest.

The daylong event, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., will be held at the Armenian Library and Museum of America, 65 Main St. in Watertown Square. The museum is accessible by the MBTA bus lines.

“Understanding the Armenian Genocide from Primary Sources” will include half a dozen speakers, including Dikran Kaligian, Ph.D., history instructor at Worchester State University, who will speak about “Genocide and the History of the Armenian Genocide.”

Sara Cohan of the University of Southern California Shoah Foundation will speak on “Testimony: The educational power of Armenian Genocide survivor interviews.”

The event is being hosted by The Genocide Education Project (GenEd), Boston Public Schools, Watertown Public Schools, The Armenian Library and Museum of America, and the National Association for Armenian Studies, with the participation of the USC Shoah Foundation.

Asdghig Alemian surrounded by loved ones

AGBU is pleased to announce the addition of ANI to its growing AGBU Education Innovation platform.

AGBU is pleased to announce the addition of ANI to its growing AGBU Education Innovation platform. The program—founded in September 2015 by Australian Armenian siblings Ray and Meline Nazloomian—joins English-speakers in the diaspora with English-learners in Armenia to help improve English proficiency in the country. Seeing their program grow exponentially in its first year, the Nazloomians chose to partner with AGBU to help further grow and develop ANI.

This partnership is the latest initiative to reach the program’s goal of connecting students in Armenia with native English speakers across the globe. ANI connects coaches and students for a free, once-a-week, 30-minute to 45-minute, one-on-one Skype session, during which students have the opportunity to practice and improve their English outside the classroom. The curriculum is broken into 12-week blocks and students and coaches can continue their work together for as many blocks as they choose. “We were startled by the fact that only four percent of Armenians in Armenia could speak English fluently. Knowing how important speaking English is in an increasingly globalized world, we were interested in leveraging modern technology to mobilize the more than nine million Armenians in the diaspora to improve English proficiency in Armenia. Our vision is that by 2020, 100 percent of Armenian students can speak English fluently,” said Ray Nazloomian.

By April, the program included 60 students from across Armenia and 60 coaches from Australia, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States. ANI also has a rich connection with the AGBU New York Summer Internship Program (NYSIP), with co-founder Meline and many of the current coaches being NYSIP alumni. Now with the support of AGBU, the program is in the process of increasing its number of coaches and students. AGBU Armenian Virtual College (AVC) has already begun work in Armenia to encourage more students to participate in the program. To register as a coach or a student, please visit www.myani.org.

Established in 1906, AGBU (www.agbu.org) is the world’s largest non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through educational, cultural and humanitarian programs, annually touching the lives of some 500,000 Armenians around the world.

For more information about AGBU and its worldwide programs, please visit www.agbu.org.

CHICAGO, Ill.—As part of its mission to revitalize the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem, the Chicago-based non-profit organization Save the ArQ made a contribution to the Sts. Tarkmanchatz secondary school in Jerusalem to strengthen its educational mission. Earlier this year, Save the ArQ donated 20 desktop computers and one projector as part of Save the ArQ’s dedication to improve the educational standard of the Armenian community of Jerusalem.

Save the ArQ made a contribution to the Sts. Tarkmanchatz secondary school in Jerusalem to strengthen its educational mission

This is not the first time that Save the ArQ contributes to the educational objectives of the school. In 2014, the organization donated laboratory equipment in order to strengthen the scientific curriculum of the school. In the past year, Save the ArQ has been active in raising funds for the school. The Chair, Mary Hoogasian said, “Save the ArQ has been fortunate to work with many talented Armenians both within Jerusalem’s Armenian community and here in the U.S. to raise much-needed funds which have recently benefited the children at Sts. Tarkmanchatz School—they are the future of a vital Armenian community within Jerusalem. It is also critical that we support and rebuild our shrinking community within the Old City of Jerusalem. We cannot take this for granted.”

One of the major problems facing the school is its inability to enroll more students due to its physically small classrooms. Save the ArQ is currently in discussions with the school administration regarding its pending plans to enlarge classrooms to be able to enroll more students. Earlier this year, Prof. Bedross Der Matossian, co-Chair of Save the ArQ and alumni of the school, visited Jerusalem and met with the Dean of Sts. Tarkmanchatz secondary school Fr. Norayr Kazazian and was briefed about the latest developments in the school and the ways in which the organization can contribute to the further development of the institution. Fr. Kazazian said, “We are deeply touched by the interest and appreciativeness that Save the ArQ showed in the work of our school. We owe much of our achievements to kind-hearted donors, whose help and encouraging attitude towards our school inspires us with a great sense of security and solidarity.”

Der Matossian also met with the Real Estate Director of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem Fr. Baret Yeritzian, and discussed the Patriarchate’s plans to expand classroom space in order to increase student enrollment. Der Matossian said, “In the past decade and under the tenure of Fr. Norayr Kazazian, the dean of Sts. Tarkmanchatz, the school has experienced major transformations in terms of staff, curriculum, and renovation of the school grounds. These improvements will make Sts. Tarkmanchatz one of the best private schools in Jerusalem. Currently, one of the outstanding issues is the expansion of the kindergarten and the secondary school classrooms. Save the ArQ is eager to be a part of this exciting project. We are committed to strengthening the school as part of our larger commitment to revitalize the Armenian community of Jerusalem.”

In the past few years and with the support of hundreds of donors, Save the ArQ has been able to raise funds in order to implement these projects. As part of its development efforts, Save the ArQ has organized lectures, symposia, as well as fundraisers highlighting the works of Armenian artists from the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem. It is noteworthy to mention that contributions have been made by the Save the ArQ’s Honorable Board members who include international artisan Michael Aram, James Beard Award Winner Chef Carrie Nahabedian and Michael Nahabedian—owners of the prestigious Michelin star Naha and Brindille Restaurants both in Chicago.  Hoogasian said, “Save the ArQ’s Board and Honorable Board hold deep admiration and pride for Jerusalem’s Armenian Quarter—as do our incredible supporters.  As Armenians, it is our duty to sustain and maintain this incredible piece of Armenian history.”

Save the ArQ® is the only non-profit specifically dedicated to Jerusalem’s Armenian Quarter. It was established to help revitalize the vastly dwindling community and to promote Armenian life and culture that has existed in this area for nearly two millennia. For more information or to make a donation, visit www.savethearq.org.

BELMONT, Mass.—The National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) held its 62nd Assembly of Members on Sat., May 14, in Belmont, and welcomed five highly accomplished new members to its 27-member Board of Directors. The newly elected Board members are: philanthropist Edward Avedisian of Lexington, Mass.; author and activist Nancy Kricorian of New York City, N.Y.; co-organizer of the first Armenian Genealogy conference George Aghjayan of Westminster, Mass.; engineer and community activist Jirair Balayan of Auburn, Mass.; and distinguished scholar Dr. Bedross Der Matossian of Lincoln, Neb.

“We are honored to welcome Board members of this caliber as we set our course for the next 60 years,” said the new Chairman of the Board Yervant Chekijian, of Watertown, Mass. Chekijian replaces Raffi Yeghiayan, who is stepping down after six years of faithful service and conscientious leadership as chairman. Yeghiayan will remain active as an advisor on NAASR’s Executive Committee.

2016 NAASR Board

Engaging Talk by Amb. Rouben Shougarian

Preceding the Board elections were thoughtful remarks from former Ambassador Rouben Shougarian of Tufts University’s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Armenia’s first Ambassador to the United States (1993-99). Amb. Shougarian acknowledged the increasingly fruitful cooperation he has enjoyed with NAASR as he began his talk entitled, “Building a New Generation of Armenian Leaders through the Tavitian Scholarship Program at the Fletcher School.” All 15 of the current Tavitian scholars from Armenia, as well as alumna Olya Yordanyan, were present as NAASR’s guests, and introduced themselves. This is the 17th group of Tavitian scholars, who now number over 250, most in key leadership positions in Armenia, as Amb. Shougarian pointed out. While detailing several major crises Armenia has faced recently, he found cause for hope in Armenia’s strong response and in the talent of the first generation of scholars born in independent Armenia. Ani’s of Belmont catered the luncheon.

Reports were also presented at the Assembly concerning NAASR’s ongoing efforts to further Armenian studies, research, and publication. The outgoing Board members were thanked for their dedication and commitment: Dr. Geri Lyn Ajemian, of Watertown, Director of Curriculum, Littleton Public Schools; Adi Ignatius, of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Cambridge, Mass., Editor-in-Chief, Harvard Business Review; Bertha Mugurdichian, of Providence, R.I., retired nurse educator and NAASR member since 1958; and Dr. James Russell, of Cambridge, longtime Mashtots Professor of Armenian Studies, Harvard University.

Distinguished New Board Members

The newly elected NAASR Board members are each highly distinguished in their fields. Edward Avedisian, of Lexington, Mass., is a musician, academic, investor and philanthropist, retired after 30 years as clarinetist with the Boston Pops and 43 seasons with the Boston Ballet Orchestra.  He is a 2016 recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor and a member of the NAASR Leadership Circle. He is active with the American University of Armenia, and the Armenian Missionary Association of America, and is the key benefactor of numerous schools and education centers in Armenia, including the Khoren and Shooshanig Avedisian K-12 School and the Community Center in Malatia-Sepastia. He was twice awarded the Movses Khorentasi Medal by Armenia’s President Serge Sarkisian for Contributions to Education, Culture, Literature and the Arts.

Nancy Kricorian, of New York City, is a novelist, poet, activist, and longtime member of the NAASR Leadership Circle. Her novels include Zabelle, Dreams of Bread and Fire, and All The Light There Was, set in the Armenian community of Paris during World War II. She has taught at Yale, Columbia, and Barnard Colleges, among others, and received numerous awards and fellowships for her writing. She is also on the Executive Committee of the Armenia Tree Project.

George Aghjayan, of Westminster, Mass., retired in 2014 after a career in insurance and structured finance. He is an active member of NAASR and was one of the organizers of the recently concluded 2016 Armenian Genealogy Conference. He is currently chairman of the Board of Trustees of Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church of Worcester, and has done extensive research on Armenian demographics in the Ottoman Empire, which has led to several articles in English and Turkish.

Jirair Balayan, of Auburn, Mass., is a Senior Nuclear Engineer at Engineering Planning and Management. Born and raised in Cairo, Egypt, he received his early education at the Nubarian Armenian School. He has been an active NAASR member for several years, and has been a volunteer Armenian School teacher for the last 10 years at the Armenian Church of the Holy Translators in Framingham, Mass.

Dr. Bedross Der Matossian, of Lincoln, Neb., is an associate professor of History at the University of Nebraska/Lincoln. Born in Jerusalem, he graduated from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and completed his Ph.D. in Middle East History at Columbia University. He is the author of Shattered Dreams of Revolution: From Liberty to Violence in the Late Ottoman Empire (Stanford University Press 2014), which received NAASR’s Dr. Sona Aronian Book Prize for Excellence in Armenian Studies. His articles have appeared in numerous academic journals.

For more information, contact Sarah Ignatius, 617-489-1610, sarah@naasr.org, or visit www.naasr.org.

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Armenia Fund U.S. Western Region announced that a total of $1,102,357 was raised during the 6 hours of its Help Artsakh! emergency telethon aired on May 14 in Los Angeles.

Volunteers picking up donor calls at Armenia Fund’s emergency telethon on May 14

“Armenia Fund is an organization that was born amidst a humanitarian catastrophe in Artsakh in 1992, when hundreds of thousands of Armenians from Artsakh and Azerbaijan became refugees with no shelter, food, heat or means to survive,” stated Maria Mehranian, chair of Armenia Fund’s Board of Directors. “Armenia Fund stood by Artsakh through war and peace and will continue to do so. I would like to thank the worldwide affiliates of Armenia Fund, specifically Armenia Fund in New York, Toronto, Paris, and Sao Paolo, for their participation in our Telethon with funds raised by their emergency fundraising activities that added $490,000 to the total raised,” added Mehranian.

Airing on all major Armenian American television stations, the emergency telethon highlighted stories of bravery, courage, and hope through the destruction of war. The video segments produced in Artsakh showed the massive damage caused by indiscriminate shelling of villages as well as the valor and bravery of young Armenian conscripts who courageously withstood a massive military aggression of the Azeri armed forces along the entire border with Artsakh in early April.

“Given the situation in Artsakh, this telethon was organized to solely provide short-term humanitarian relief to the victims of war. Artsakh’s needs are immense ranging from immediate medical care for the wounded to rebuilding destroyed housing and infrastructure. I want to thank all Armenians for their wholehearted support of Artsakh,” said Sarkis Kotanjian, executive director of Armenia Fund.

Representatives from the greater Armenian-American community and prominent members of Congress and government appealed during the Telethon, voicing their strong support for Artsakh.

For the last quarter century Armenia Fund has been uniting the global Armenian community for the development of Armenia and Artsakh resulting in more than $350 million in large scale humanitarian relief and infrastructure development.

The Society for Armenian Studies (SAS) announced that Dr. Shushan Karapetian has been chosen to receive the SAS Distinguished Dissertation Award for 2011-14 for her dissertation titled, “‘How Do I Teach My Kids My Broken Armenian?’: A Study of Eastern Armenian Heritage Language Speakers in Los Angeles.” The SAS Award is accompanied by a $1,000 prize.

Shushan Karapetian

The selection committee had this to say about Dr. Karapetian’s dissertation: “The committee found the dissertation to be timely and well researched and a welcome addition to the body of knowledge. In its examination of Armenian as a heritage language it addresses an issue of great contemporary relevance through solid scholarship, and it stands a valuable contribution to an under-analyzed topic.”

Karapetian received a Ph.D. in Near Eastern Languages and Cultures from UCLA in 2014, where she has taught Armenian Studies courses over the past six years. This year, she began her tenure as the first Postdoctoral Fellow in the UCLA Armenian Studies Program, which entails the expansion of her research on Armenian heritage speakers and the development and instruction of an entirely new course entitled “Language in Diaspora: Armenian as a Heritage Language.” Her research interests focus on heritage languages and speakers, particularly on the case of Armenian heritage speakers in the Los Angeles community, on which she has presented and lectured widely. She is currently serving on multiple committees in the Los Angeles Armenian community aimed at reforming Armenian language instruction and promoting the use of the Armenian language.

The SAS chose Dr. Sona Haroutyunian’s dissertation, “An Analysis of Dante’s Tenses in the Armenian Translations of the Divina Commedia,” for honorable mention. Dr. Haroutyunian is professor of Armenian language and literature at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice.

Vahe Sahakyan was named as the recipient of the graduate student SAS Best Conference Paper, for his work “From Extra-Territorial Communitarianism to Ethno-Territorial Nationalism Emergence of Armenian Revolutionary Parties in the 19th Century.” Sahakyan is a graduate student in the Department of Near Eastern Studies at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. The SAS Best Conference Paper award is accompanied by a $500 prize.

The Society for Armenian Studies (SAS), founded in 1974, is the international professional association representing scholars and teachers in the field of Armenian Studies. The aim of the SAS is to promote the study of Armenian culture and society, including history, language, literature, and social, political, and economic questions.

The SAS publishes the peer-review Journal of the Society for Armenian Studies and published a semi-annual Newsletter and organizes panels and conferences on Armenian Studies.

SAS is headquartered at the Armenian Studies Program at California State University, Fresno and its website can be found at societyforarmenianstudies.com.

Edward Avedisian

PARAMUS, N.J.— This year, Edward Avedisian was not only one of the distinguished recipients of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, but was one of a very select few invited to give his personal remarks at the ceremony. The ceremony was held on Ellis Island on Sat., May 7.

The Ellis Island Medal of Honor has been awarded each year since 1986. It recognizes individuals who have made it their mission to share with those less fortunate their wealth of knowledge, indomitable courage, boundless compassion, unique talents, and selfless generosity; all the while maintaining the traditions of their ethnic heritage as they embody the American Dream.

The professional career of Mr. Avedisian spans four disciplines: a performing symphonic musician, a university-level teacher, an arts administrator, as well as an investor and philanthropist. He retired after 30 years of service as clarinetist with the Boston Pops and 43 seasons with the Boston Ballet Orchestra. Outside of the United States, he has appeared as soloist with the Armenian State Philharmonic, the Armenian Radio and TV Orchestra, and the National Chamber Orchestra of Armenia, and was visiting artist to Boston’s sister city of Hangzhou, China, in 1998.

Avedisian’s success as a private investor led him to establish endowments and award grants to a number of nonprofit organizations. At the American University of Armenia (AUA), he fully funded the Center for Health Studies and Research and the Center for Business Research and Development. He was principal benefactor and chair of the construction committee (2005-2009) of the new 100,000 sq. ft. Paramaz Avedisian Building, and was appointed to the Presidential Search Committee for AUA by Dr. C. Judson King, former Provost of the University of California and Chair of the AUA Board of Trustees.

He is also the founder and principal benefactor of both the Khoren and Shooshanig Avedisian K-12 School and Community Center in Malatia-Sepastia, Armenia (a seven-building complex), and sole benefactor and chair of the AUA Oversight Committee for the Nork Marash Medical Center (bringing the Hospital up to U.S. standards in 2004-5). Mr. Avedisian also serves as Trustee for the American University of Armenia, and as Board member of the Armenian Missionary Association of America. As a founder and sole supporter of the Friends of the American University of Armenia, his contributions include a complete renovation of the High School in Haghtanag Village (2008-9) and the installation of a cluster of lights and trees at the Didzernagapert Armenian Genocide Memorial. He has twice been awarded the Movses Khorentasi Medal by Armenia’s President for Contributions to Education, Culture, Literature and the Arts in 2008 and 2014. In the United States, he established the Paramaz Avedisian Pharmacy Scholarship at the University of Rhode Island, Boston University (BU) Medical School (Chobanian Professorship), and BU Tanglewood Scholarship, and an endowed chair for the Boston Ballet Orchestra.

Mr. Avedisian was born in 1937 in Pawtucket, R.I., where he attended public school and served as president of his graduating class. He furthered his education on a scholarship to Boston University where he earned his BM and MM degrees. Edward is married to Pamela Wood and they currently reside in Lexington, Mass.

By Elizabeth Akian

On May 15, nearly 300 guests gathered at the Villa Amalfi Restaurant in Cliffside Park, New Jersey to celebrate the 110^th anniversary of the Holy Cross Armenian Church of Union City.

Sub-Diaconate ordination of Matthew Bagdat by His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian

The celebration commenced earlier in the day with a special Divine Liturgy presided by His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern).  The Divine Liturgy was sung by members of the Gomidas Choir, led by Mr. Kris Kalfayan.

The service marked a significant milestone for Matthew Bagdat, currently attending Seton Hall University, who was ordained to the Holy Order of the Sub-Diaconate.

Dignitaries and Special Guests (L to R) U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, His Excellency Ambassador Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Mayor Thomas Calabrese of Cliffside Park N.J., and the Very Rev. Fr. Vazken Karayan (Missing: Dr. Vartan Abdo)

In addition, the right side altar was dedicated in memory of Mr. Nubar Dorian, with a special plaque blessed by Khajag Srpazan.  The late Mr. Dorian, whose family members were in attendance for this ceremony, was a dedicated servant on numerous levels to the Armenian community at large, as well as a beloved member of the Parish.

Following the Badarak, guests convened at the Villa Amalfi Restaurant for the celebratory banquet.  Mr. Hirant Gulian served as Master of Ceremonies and welcomed the attendees and introduced the honored guests seated at the dais—His Eminence Archbishop Barsamian, Armenia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations His Excellency Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Cliffside Park Mayor Thomas Calabrese, Dr. Vartan Abdo, the Very Rev. Fr. Vazken Karayan, Ms. Alice Bozoyan (Parish Council Chairlady), and Ms. Lori Zoklu (Banquet Chair).  The Invocation was led by Fr. Daniel Findikyan.

Banquet honorees Alice Yigitkurt, Diana Burggraf, and Alice Bozoyan

Mr. Gulian then introduced a special Kurdish delegation visiting the United States from Dikranagerd (Diyarbakir, Turkey) that presented the Holy Cross Parish with a mosaic artwork for this momentous occasion.

Greetings and reflections were then provided by Senator Menendez, Ms. Lori Zoklu, Ms. Alice Bozoyan, as well as Fr. Karayan.

The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Vartan Abdo, founder and director of the Armenian Radio Hour of New Jersey (ARHNJ), and Professor of Mathematics at Seton Hall University.  He reviewed the remarkable history of the Parish, including the accomplishments of the successive generations of pastors and lay leaders.

Ambassador Mnatsakanyan extended his congratulations to the Holy Cross Parish on the milestone anniversary, and stressed the vital importance of church life within the Armenian community.

The program then moved to a delightful variety of Armenian musical selections performed by Ms. Solange Merdinian (mezzo-soprano) and Mr. Hayk Arsenyan (pianist).

Musical Selections were performed by Mezzo Soprano Solange Merdinian (R) and pianist Hayk Arsenyan

This auspicious occasion was highlighted by honoring three prominent women for their outstanding service to the Holy Cross community over the years—Ms. Diana Burggraf (Women’s Guild chairlady), Ms. Alice Bozoyan, and Ms. Alice Yigitkurt (Parish Council vice chairlady).  The honorees were individually presented with a Pontifical Encyclical (Gontag) from Srpazan Khajag on behalf of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, as well as a jeweled pendant pin with Armenian initials, designed and donated by Mr. Gulian.  In their remarks, each of these human pillars gave thanks to their families, as well as to their Armenian heritage. They reviewed their experiences and impressions from the beginning of their affiliations with the Parish, through their respective commitments (Women’s Guild, Parish Council, Armenian School, Sunday School, ACYOA, Parish events, etc.) up to the present, and their hopes for the future of Holy Cross.

Banquet Executive Committee (L to R) Sercan Zoklu, Hirant Gulian, Lori Zoklu, Very Rev. Fr. Vazken Karayan, and Sylvia Bozoyan

The program came to a close with congratulatory remarks and a benediction by Archbishop Barsamian.

The Anniversary Committee was comprised of the Very Rev. Fr. Vazken Karayan (president), Lori Zoklu (chairlady), Sercan Zoklu (co-chairman), Sylvia Bozoyan (booklet/reservations), Hirant Gulian, Berch Manukian, Ann Dadaian, Elizabeth Akian, Sonya Bekarian, Ruby Gulian, Arsham Bekarian, and Nayad Manukian.

Guests at the Banquet

A crowd aged 11 to 91 gathered at Arlington Cemetery outside Philadelphia on May 14 to experience a walk through the city’s Armenian history. This is part of a growing trend throughout the diaspora in recent years to rediscover their history and piece together family trees torn apart by the genocide. Thanks to the digitizing of records online and the ability to connect through the internet, new information about the immigration and life of our early Armenian ancestors in America has come flooding to amateur sleuths and historians. This has led to initiatives such as the “Armenian Immigration Project” website which digitizes immigration records of Armenians from the 19th and 20th centuries, and the first ever Armenian Genealogy Conference which was held in Watertown, Mass., in April. The walk in Philadelphia was yet another example of the growing interest in learning about those who came before, creating the diasporan communities we have today.

A crowd aged 11 to 91 gathered at Arlington Cemetery outside Philadelphia on May 14 to experience a walk through the city’s Armenian history.

The first in a series of planned tours, the tour was a walk through Arlington to visit the graves of important figures in Philadelphia’s Armenian-American history, along with some of the notable non-Armenians buried there. Arlington has been a landmark for Philadelphia’s Armenians since 1907, when a major figure from its early history, Rev. Harutune Jenanyan, became the first Armenian buried there. Rev. Jenanyan was the founder of St. Paul’s Institute of Tarsus in Cilicia and traveled throughout the United States giving a speech called “The Suffering Armenians” about the Hamidian Massacres of 1895. He raised money and hosted many refugees at his Philadelphia home.

In the years that followed his death, numerous Armenians followed Rev. Jenanyan’s example by choosing Arlington as a final resting place—numbering more than 3,000 today. The tour, led by local historian Paul Vartan Sookiasian, took participants on an over 1 mile walk from grave to grave, where he told the life stories of notable community members at their tombs. These included Dr. Mihran Kassabian, a pioneer of x-ray studies who alerted the world to their danger, dying in 1910 from radiation exposure due to his studies. Found just a few steps from each other are the graves of Dr. Lucy Gulezian, humanitarian and one of the first female Armenians to get a medical degree in the United States, and that of Karapet Sital, an author and folklorist who was popular in Soviet Armenia, best known for his epic “The Heroes of Kasht”.

A scene from the walk

The tour also explored unique stones, such as the cemetery’s oldest stone with Armenian lettering inscribed on it from 1913, and one with the figure of mythical hero Sasuntsi Davit carved on it. The group also learned that many of Philadelphia’s earliest Armenians are buried in unmarked mass graves, because as poor immigrants many could not afford stones. A special part of the tour was dedicated to notable non-Armenians buried there, including Miss America 1924, whose career was launched by Armenian photographer John Ivazian. Next to her is the grave of Henry Blank, a wealthy jeweler who survived the sinking of the Titanic, an event that has captured the imagination of the world for over a hundred years now. Buried next to the Temoyan and Jerrehian families of rug-dealers from Dikranagert is English-American Mary Lee, who volunteered as a nurse during the U.S. Civil War and tended to soldiers at many famous battles including Gettysburg and Antietam. The Armenians of Arlington Cemetery made a place in history and are surrounded by history there as well.

The tour ended with a reception featuring Armenian delicacies. The success of this Armenian Tour has created interest for more such events. Another historic Philadelphia cemetery, West Laurel Hill, is planning an Armenian Tour of its own, where Armenians can be found buried amongst the graves of Philadelphia’s most elite and prestigious families. Arlington is also planning for more Armenian Tours due to the demand. Through such initiatives, Philadelphia’s fascinating Armenian history is being brought to light for new generations, making sure their stories will remain alive.

BOSTON, Mass.—Edvard Pogossian is his father’s keeper—a chip off the same musical block.

Twenty-six years after his dad debuted with Armenian Night at the Pops, on comes the son to apply the same finesse with his cello.

The young Julliard virtuoso snatched his own limelight May 27 with an exhilarating rendition of Tchaikovsky’s “Variations of a Rococo Theme,” in Symphony Hall.

Cellist Edvard Pogossian performing

On the eve of the First Independent Republic of 1918, conductor Keith Lockhart acknowledged Armenia’s Independence and looked to Pogossian to carry the show.

“This amazing young man will blow you away on the cello,” Lockhart said in his introduction. “One of the things I truly enjoy as conductor is some of the friendships our Pops has built upon with the Armenian community and the people it brings together.”

On came Pogossian to display his wares.  Without any sheet music before him, he wrapped himself around the cello and gave the piece an uncanny brilliance, eyes searching the audience but very much focused upon the matter at hand. One rehearsal with the Pops was all that time allowed.

“Mr. Lockhart made the whole experience as comfortable and professional as I could have imagined,” Pogossian said. “Being supported by such a world class orchestra as the Pops and such a great conductor was so unbelievably wonderful and a day I shall never forget.”

Edvard is no stranger to the “Rococo” classic, having performed it while winning the Julliard Concerto Competition in New York and again in Chicago with the Julliard Orchestra under the direction of Itzhak Perlman.

One might gather his father’s presence in Symphony Hall infused the spirit and motivation behind Edvard’s performance. In 1990, Movses Pogossian made his American debut performing the Tchaikovsky Concerto with the Boston Pops on the violin. The Boston Globe wrote it up and lauded the artist for an exceptional performance.

“My father is a wonderful musician and has definitely inspired me in many ways, both in music and in life,” said the son. “It was a great sentiment that he performed this very same concert 26 years ago. In the end, his impact and influence on me was much bigger than specifically this concert. For this performance, I tried my hardest to be able to make my own musical voice heard as successfully as I possibly could.”

Pogossian considers the “Rococo Variations” a challenging, yet amazing piece with such an exhilarating finale. In the end, it was clear he was deeply spent from his exuberance.

“To be completely honest, I was so pumped up and wired afterwards that I couldn’t sleep until very late into the night,” he revealed. “There is always a good amount of stress associated with concerts of this magnitude, especially for someone not yet on the professional level.”

If there’s a better Armenian cellist on the American scene, let them step forward.  Pogossian certainly made a case for himself on this evening before a packed house.  The 65^th anniversary of Armenian Night at the Pops was just the right occasion to lay out a stellar effort.

Edvard found it rather challenging to maintain other serious interests once he enrolled at a conservatory like Julliard. One passion he’s been able to continue is his love for soccer, whether it’s a pick-up game or watching matches.

Boston’s Symphony Hall (Photo: Javier Caballero)

He is also a dedicated fan of classical music and listens for hours at a time, no doubt the inimitable Yo-Yo Ma being on his list of favorite cellists.

Actually, when Pogossian was merely 4 years old, he wanted to play the double bass. To his dismay, his parents told him there were none his size and encouraged him to start with the cello.

“I completely forgot about the bass and have been playing cello ever since,” he said. “I have never encountered a single regret.  It’s by far my favorite instrument and I hope to play it for the rest of my life.”

Pogossian has always been appreciative of the support he has received from the Armenian community, whether it’s in Los Angeles, New York City or Boston.  He’s covered a lot of ground in such a short career that appears to have skyrocketed of late.

I encountered so much warmth and camaraderie during the Pops,” he added.  “For that, I am grateful.”

All it took was a trip out the door before being surrounded by a mass of Armenian fans.  At the other end of Symphony Hall, singer/actress Sutton Foster encountered her own fan club after her performance of Broadway show tunes following intermission.

Pogossian’s grandparents still live in Armenia where he has visited on several occasions. He says it’s always a treat to visit that country with its vast history and culture. His ultimate goal is turning music into a lifestyle, whether playing the instrument or teaching it.

This summer, he’ll involve himself with chamber groups and building up his resume.

“For now, I’m trying to attend school for as long as I’m able so I can be as honest and capable a musician as possible,” he brought out.

As far as Armenian Night goes at the Pops, Ara Arakelian remains buoyant about the past as well as the present and future. He looks with pride at the 65-year history and points to a number of performing artists who have enjoyed flourishing careers, among them another cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan, violinist Emmanuel Tjeknavorian and pianist Nareh Arghamanyan.

The chairman of Friends of Armenian Culture Society (FACS) points to the relentless support and enthusiasm as being key to his group’s success. In the coming year, FACS will embark on a project to explore the inspirations and influences of Armenian music and artists on other cultures.

“Occasionally, the opportunity arises for introducing a new work to Boston audiences,” said Arakelian. “Fellow Armenians from all walks of life gather to celebrate the emergence of a new talented performing artist. Our goal is to continue preserving the gems of Armenian culture and music in the most professional settings and venues.”

On May 30, ONEArmenia, a for-purpose organization focused on building a sustainable Armenian economy, launched a new campaign to accelerate the development of engineering labs throughout Armenia. The project is called “Hye Tech Kids,” and its goals are ambitious.

ONEArmenia has launched a new campaign to accelerate the development of engineering labs throughout Armenia. The project is called ‘Hye Tech Kids,’ and its goals are ambitious. (Photo: ONEArmenia)

In the past six years, the IT industry in Armenia has been growing by an average of 22 percent annually. The IT sector now employs more than 15,000 people, accounts for 5 percent of the country’s GDP, and is a solid bet in a landlocked country with strong math skills.

These realities, coupled with a few success stories for Armenian companies in the tech world, have caused some to go as far as dubbing Armenia “the Silicon Valley of the Caucasus”.

3,000 Vacancies and the Tragedy of Untapped Potential

While the country is struggling with high labor migration and an unemployment rate of 18.5 percent, sources indicate that there may be as many as 3,000 vacancies in the IT sector today.

“There is so much untapped potential,” says Patrick Sarkissian, ONEArmenia’s founder. “While IT firms are hiring, hundreds of young people leave Armenia every year to find work abroad.”

The problem is straightforward enough: Armenia’s IT sector has, in fact, grown so fast that now there is a lack of qualified workers to fill in the vacancies.

Bring Labs to Schools, and the Brightest Kids to IT

“Hye Tech Kids” is a program that will bring the latest technologies to classrooms in rural Armenia, and give every kid a fair chance.

ONEArmenia, in partnership with The Union of Information Technology Enterprises (UITE) will equip five schools with Armath labs, a made-in-Armenia engineering lab that includes a 3D printer, CNC devices, handmade mini-computers, a robot kit, and two educational coding programs.

The $57,882 raised via ONEArmenia will also be used to train and deploy coaches to each lab with the mission to teach, accompany, and inspire the kids who attend the after-school club. “Attendance isn’t mandatory,” explains Anna Sargsyan, project coordinator at UITE. “But the overwhelming majority of students who come once, come back for more.”

A prototype of this program was implemented from 2008 to present by UITE, and has proven to be successful with 500 graduates to date, 70 percent of whom are now working, or continuing their education in the IT field.

The curriculum is designed so that students are directly employable once they graduate. “Teenagers who attend for 3 or 4 years already acquire enough technical knowledge to find entry-level jobs in the IT sphere,” explains Anna Sargsyan from UITE. “And those who choose to study STEM related fields at university benefit from a big head start.”

From Potential to Growth

By connecting children and teenagers with the resources they need to work in IT, ONEArmenia and UITE capitalize on Armenia’s greatest asset: its brain power. To help them bring the latest tech tools to rural schools, and the brightest kids to the IT sector, check out their campaign, and donate, by visiting www.onearmenia.org/campaign.

Noubar Afeyan

On June 2, Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) Central Board Member Noubar Afeyan was elected to the Board of Trustees of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Afeyan, along with the nine other term members elected this year, will serve for five years, effective July 1. Afeyan will add his expertise to the 76 distinguished leaders in education, science, engineering, and industry already serving the MIT Board of Trustees.

Afeyan, who was elected to the AGBU Central Board of Directors in 2012, earned his Ph.D. in biochemical engineering from MIT, and has authored numerous scientific publications and patents. He is the founder and CEO of Flagship Ventures, a leading early-stage, life-science venture firm managing funds exceeding $1.4 billion. In his 30-year career, Afeyan has co-founded more than 38 life-science and technology startups, and is currently director or chair of several private and public company boards. Additionally, he co-founded the National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia, the UWC Dilijan International School, the Noubar and Anna Afeyan Foundation, and the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity. He also served as chair of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Chemicals and Biotechnology and its Emerging Technologies Council. Since 2000, Afeyan has been a senior lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management.

Established in 1906, the AGBU (www.agbu.org) is the world’s largest non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, the AGBU preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through educational, cultural and humanitarian programs, annually touching the lives of some 500,000 Armenians around the world.

Dr. Nanor Karageozian

As part of its commitment to academic excellence and its particular role in the promotion of Armenian studies, the Haigazian University administration recently announced the appointment of Dr. Nanor Karageozian as director of its Armenian Studies Department starting academic year 2016–17.

Dr. Karageozian, a Haigazian University (B.A.) and American University of Beirut (M.A.) graduate, completed her D.Phil. degree in international development at the University of Oxford in January. Her doctoral thesis is titled, “Long-term Diasporic Return Migration in Post-Soviet Armenia: Balancing Mobility and Sedentarism.” Her M.A. thesis at the American University of Beirut’s Department of Political Studies and Public Administration focused on the diaspora policies and the policy-making processes of post-Soviet Armenia.

Karageozian’s research interests include the Armenian Diaspora and homeland-diaspora relations; diaspora and migration studies; return migration and repatriation; social theory and its application to the study of (diasporic) return migration; ethnic identity and nationalism; forced migration and refugee studies; and international development in Armenia and the Middle East.

The Armenian Studies Department, which grants a B.A. in Armenian studies, coordinates its efforts with the Derian Armenological Library, the Haigazian Armenological Review editorial board, and the Armenian Diaspora Research Center.

Peace of Art, Inc., (www.peaceofart.org) is displaying a large-scale electronic billboard in Foxboro, Mass., thanking Germany for recognizing the Armenian Genocide.

Titled “Truth Vs. National Interest,” this billboard illustrates, on the left side, the German flag and, on the opposite side, the dome of the U.S. Capitol building, where the United States Senate and House of Representatives come together to debate and discuss national and political issues.

Titled ‘Truth Vs. National Interest,’ this billboard illustrates, on the left side, the German flag and, on the opposite side, the dome of the U.S. Capitol building, where the United States Senate and House of Representatives come together to debate and discuss national and political issues.

Peace of Art president Daniel Varoujan Hejinian stated that “with this billboard, we express gratitude on behalf of our organization for Germany’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide; simultaneously, we are  calling on the United States to follow Germany’s act of courage, and set aside its commercial interest for the sake of the truth.”

During World War I, Imperialist Germany was an ally of the Ottoman Empire and had its share of guilt in the implementation of the Armenian Genocide, by justifying and encouraging the crime against humanity.  In 1918, Hans von Wangenheim, the German ambassador in Constantinople, said in an interview with an American journalist, “I do not blame the Turks for what they are doing to the Armenians… They are entirely justified.”  It has been argued that this justification was the motivation for Hitler to organize the mass extermination of Jews during World War II.

The recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Germany this month was the answer to a question asked 75 years ago by Adolf Hitler: “Who today remembers the annihilation of the Armenians?”

Guest Speaker Lernik Hovhannisyan Discusses Artsakh

By Berj Gueyikian

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Chicago “Christapor” Gomideh organized an evening in celebration of the 98th anniversary of the independence of Armenia on June 4 at the Shahnasarian Hall of the Armenian Community Center. The guest speaker was Lernik Hovhannisyan from Artsakh, who is a member of Artsakh’s Parliament.

NKR MP Lernik Hovannisyan (Photo: Greg Bedian)

The evening started with the Homenetmen scouts marching in with the flags of the United States, Armenia, Artsakh, and the ARF. They then sang the national anthems of the U.S. and Armenia.

In her remarks about the Sardarabad, Bash Abaran, and Karakilise battles, Maral Abrahamian, the event’s MC, said that after 600 years of living under foreign rule, Armenia declared its independence on May, 28, 1918.

Next, she invited Raffi Killian to give an update about the Arajamugh project, which is being spearheaded by the Armenian Cultural Association of America (ACAA) Artsakh Committee. Killian discussed the importance of increasing the population of territories that are located in border regions such as Arajamugh.

He said the project proposes to build an additional 32 single-family houses in the Arajamugh village. The Artsakh Committee is soliciting donations to underwrite the cost of this project. He noted that the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) has committed to funding the extension of electricity and water lines to the newly built houses.

Event MC Maral Abrahamian (Photo: Greg Bedian)

Following his presentation, Loucine Kendimian-Tokmakjian performed Arno Babajanian’s “Vagharshabad Dance” on the piano.

Abrahamian next invited the guest speaker, who addressed the audience in Armenian, and she asked Vazken Aivazian to act as translator.

Hovhannisyan said in his remarks that the independence of Armenia in 1918 is paramount in our modern history because without that first republic we would not have today’s independent Armenia and without Armenia we would not have the Republic of Artsakh.

The recent aggression by Azerbaijan against Artsakh was not unexpected, but it was not previously clear when such an attack would take place. Tensions had been building since August 2014, when there was a significant increase in the frequency and intensity of skirmishes along the border. However, the fierce attack on April 1 occurred on many fronts. Our soldiers fought bravely and repulsed the enemy, and despite being outnumbered we suffered relatively few casualties, he said.

Raffi Killian (Photo: Greg Bedian)

Responding to a question about the activities of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group, Hovhannisyan said that there is disappointment with the Minsk Group and their policy of maintaining a false parity for responsibility for the violence between the Armenians and the Azeris. This latest act of aggression by Azerbaijan has changed the dynamics of the situation, he said. The Minsk Group must now review its position and come up with new recommendations and proposals—and Artsakh must be part of the negotiations.

Following his presentation, a video was screened which talked about the dedication and bravery of the Artsakh soldiers.

A scene from the blessing of the Armenian flag (Photo: Greg Bedian)

At the conclusion of the evening, Father Ghevont Pentezian of the Armenian All Saints Church offered his remarks. Father Pentezian noted that May 28, 1918 marked the first time in 600 years that the Armenians had their own state. He stated that this achievement was brought about through the efforts of a 28-year-old youth, referring to the ARF which was formed 28 years earlier in 1890. He concluded his remarks by asking Hovhannisyan to convey the Chicago community’s message of support to the people of Artsakh and to tell them that we are with them all the way.

Following the presentation, members of the audience were invited to taste a selection of Armenian beers and brandies.

On Sun., June 5, there was a special flag blessing service at the Armenian All Saints Church to mark the 98th anniversary of Armenia’s independence. The newly blessed tricolor flag was marched out of the church by a combined AYF and Homenetmen honor guard, followed by a procession led by Father Pentezian and Sarkis Peltekian, who served as the godfather for the ceremony. Peltekian then raised the flag as the church choir led those assembled in the singing of “Mer Hairenik.”

A scene from the flag raising ceremony (Photo: Greg Bedian)

Most recently, the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund provided Artsakh’s Health Ministry with various types of medical equipment.

YEREVAN—The Hayastan All-Armenian Fund continues to send urgent medical assistance to Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabagh). Following the April war, the fund has provided the republic’s health ministry with 2 ambulances, which were donated by the French-Armenian community; as well as 13 tons of medicines and medical supplies, made possible through the joint efforts of the Armenian communities of France and Brazil.

In addition, the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund raised more than $1.1 million during its “Help Artsakh!” emergency telethon, which aired in Los Angeles. The proceeds—raised through the donations of Armenians in not only Los Angeles but also Toronto, New York, France, and Brazil—will be used to rebuild Artsakh communities that sustained extensive damage during the war.
Most recently, the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund provided Artsakh’s Health Ministry with various types of medical equipment. They include 2 hemodialysis machines, donated by the French-Armenian community; an ultrasound machine, donated by British Armenians; and a pulse oxymeter as well as 50 medical stands and 20 portable stretchers, donated by the Greek-Armenian community.

The Hayastan All-Armenian Fund is a non-profit organization established on March 3, 1992, with the aim of facilitating humanitarian assistance and infrastructure development in Armenia and Artsakh. The Fund has 25 affiliates worldwide.

BOSTON, Mass.—On June 4, Haig Hovsepian performed as the featured soloist with the New England Conservatory (NEC) Preparatory School Youth Philharmonic Orchestra’s (YPO) final annual concert at Jordan Hall.

Hovsepian captivates the audience at Jordan Hall with his performance of the Khachaturian Violin Concerto.

Hovsepian won the 2016 NEC Prep School Concerto Competition’s top most division and received the honor to perform with the YPO in its final concert. After an intense and dynamic performance of the concerto in three movements under the direction of Maestro David Loebel, Hovsepian received accolades of roaring and thunderous applause with standing ovations from the appreciative audience.

Hovsepian is a Belmont High School junior who also plays the saxophone and is a proud member of his school’s award-winning wind ensemble and Jazz Band.

A bill mandating genocide and Holocaust education in Rhode Island schools was unanimously passed by the Rhode Island Senate on June 5 and sent to the Rhode Island House of Representatives for approval; all bills require approval from both chambers. A companion bill also passed unanimously in the House of Representatives on May 5. Teaching of these subjects is required to begin in the 2017-18 school year.

A bill mandating genocide and Holocaust education in Rhode Island schools was unanimously passed by the Rhode Island Senate on June 5.

Ani Haroian, chair of the Rhode Island Armenian National Committee (ANC), stated that this act is a funded mandate, unlike similar bills that passed without funding and became just feel-good measures. “We extend a very big thank you to Speaker Matiello, President Paiva-Weed, all of our supporters in both chambers, and the sponsors of the bills, which include our own Rep. Katherine Kazarian, Rep. Aaron Regunberg, Sen. Gayle Goldin, Sen. Josh Miller, and Sen. Hanna Gallo. Sincere gratitude is also extended to our partners, most especially Marty Cooper of the Community Relations Council of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island. Without his leadership and guidance, this victory would not have been possible.”

Shortly after the 100^th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, a coalition was formed including representatives of the Armenian community, led by Pauline Getzoyan, co-chair of the Rhode Island Branch of the Genocide Education Project, Marty Cooper of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence, the Rhode Island State Council of Churches, and the Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center. The group has been meeting since last summer to research and collectively draft the legislation.

According to the bill, the state’s Department of Education is required to provide curriculum materials and guidelines regarding Holocaust and genocide education for all middle and high school students in public schools in Rhode Island, as well as private and charter schools. Included in this area of study are the Holocaust, the Armenian Genocide, as well as genocides in Cambodia, Iraq, Rwanda, and Darfur, among others.

The Rhode Island Department of Education, which provided testimony in support of the bill, has materials currently available online regarding the Armenian Genocide, originally provided by the Genocide Education Project. In order to assist in the implementation of the legislation, a commission will be formed to determine the subject matter to be included, as well as materials.

The signing ceremony will take place in the governor’s office in the coming weeks when Governor Gina Raimondo will sign the bill into law.