Englewood, NJ- Activists from New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia gathered on Saturday, March 21, 2009, for an educational workshop organized by the Armenian National Committee of America Eastern Region (ANCA-ER). The event entitled “Unlock Your Inner Activist,” was open to community members throughout the Mid-Atlantic to further their knowledge about the ANCA and organizing collectively on a grassroots level.

“The ANCA ER Board organized the workshop to encourage activists to expand their involvement locally and regionally,” commented ANCA ER Executive Director Karine Birazian. “We hope to expand these workshops to the Mid West as well as New England states, and continue to engage ANCA activists of the important issues we are dealing with.”

Shant Mardirossian, Chairman of the Near East Foundation, presented an informative and touching history of the Near East Relief Project and current projects that the organization is undertaking. Other presenters included ANCA Eastern Region board members, Dikran Kaligian, Ari Killian, Aram Sarafian, as well as members of the ANCA national headquarters, Raffi Karakashian, Garo Manjikian, and Phil Nigon, and Eastern Region Executive Director, Karine Birazian. Topics included chapter goal setting, strategic planning, organizing communities, utilizing technology, current legislative issues, local fundraising, as well as updates on the Anti Defamation League and No Place for Hate.

Daniel Stepanian-Bennett, ANCA Capital Gateway Fellow and former Michigan native commented, “the workshop gave me a valuable experience of everything I need to do in order to become a better activist in my local community. Each presenter encompassed a different aspect of value, which amounted to be a well informative event.”

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.