New York, NY- The Armenian National Committee of America Eastern Region (ANCA-ER) is proud to announce that the ANCA-ER Executive Director, Karine Birazian, is a recipient of the 2009 Genocide Intervention Network “Carl Wilkens Fellowship.” Birazian, selected amongst hundreds of applicants, is one of twenty that was chosen to participate in an ongoing initiative to build in their communities sustained political will to end genocide.

“I am very honored and excited to be part of the first class of the Carl Wilkens Fellows,” commented Birazian. “Raising awareness on consequence of genocide and the need to end mans inhumanity to man is vital in today’s society, and I look forward to working with the other fellows to achieve this common goal.”

The program offered to young professionals is the first of its kind where activists throughout the nation will gather to work together in the creation of a permanent anti-genocide constituency. The fellowship is named after Carl Wilkens who was the only American to remain in Rwanda during the 1994 genocide. Wilkens did everything in his power to save and protect civilians from harm and as a result, hundreds of lives were saved. Since then, Wilkens has been active in working to help empower others to make a difference.

Birazian has served as Executive Director of the ANCA Eastern Region since September 2006. She previously was active with the ANC of Illinois, working to educate students and teachers on genocide. From 2003-2007, Birazian attended the National Council for the Social Studies and also presented forums on how teachers can incorporate genocide education in their classrooms. Birazian was also active in passing a mandate in Illinois on teaching genocide in 2005. Prior to working for the ANCA, Birazian worked in the Intensive Care Unit as a Registered Nurse in Illinois. She graduated from Glenbrook North High School in 2000, where she actively lectured to students then on genocide awareness.

Photo Caption: ANCA ER Director Karine Birazian with New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez at the 2008 Democratic National Convention