FLORIDA – Expanding Armenian American activism in South & Central Florida, Armenian National Committee of America, Eastern Region (ANCA ER) Director Karine Birazian spent a week visiting several Congressional offices, as well as meeting with several new Armenian activists. Meetings with the Florida delegation included Kathy Castor (D-11), Ric Keller (R-8), Ron Klein (D-22), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-18), and Debbie Wasserman Shultz (D-20), reported the Armenian National Committee.

Birazian began her trip in the Fort Lauderdale area and had an opportunity to meet with the Armenian National Committee of South Florida team as well as the local Armenian community. Birazian also spent time in Tampa, Orlando, and Miami where there has been a steady growth in the Armenian population.

Traveling 180 miles north to Orlando, Birazian met with activists and updated them on the current activities undertaken by the ANCA. Birazian, Vagan Mikaelian, 2006 ANCA Leo Sarkisian Intern and Vice President of the Ocala Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) Chapter, and Armenian activist John Shahinian visited Congressman Ric Keller’s office. The 30-minute meeting provided the office with pertinent information regarding the genocide legislation as well as the growing Armenian community in the Orlando area. Following the meeting, Mikaelian commented: “After having gone through the ANCA Leo Sarkisian Internship and the plethora of congressional meetings associated with it, I was thoroughly prepared to not only meet with Congressman Keller, but to successfully interact with him on a level previously unknown to me.”

Traveling 90 miles Southeast to Armenia Ave. in Tampa, FL, Birazian met with activist Dikran Kalaydjian, constituent of Congresswoman Castor. There they met with both the District Director and Outreach Director to discuss H. Res 106, the ongoing genocide in Darfur, and other current issues regarding Armenia. Kalaydjian also talked about the exhibit about the Armenian genocide at the Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg, Fl. Birazian had been working with Kalayjian for the past few months and had met with him during her first fieldwork trip to Florida this past January.

In the heart of the ANC of S. Florida, Armenian activists Siran Der Bedrossian and Hasmig Eskandarian, along with ANC Chairman Albert Mazmanian and 2004 ANCA Leo Sarkisian Intern Mike Toumayan met with District Director Felicia Goldstein of Congressman Klein’s office. There, constituents Eskandarian and Der Bedrossian had an opportunity to raise awareness of the pressing issues facing the Armenian community. Der Bedrossian shared letters she received from Klein regarding H. Res. 106, and urged that he sign on to the legislation and take a stand in recognizing genocide. “It is vitally important that Congressman Klein takes a stand and co-sponsors the legislation. As a co-chair of the newly created Anti-Semitism task force, we’re hoping that the Congressman will also address the rising issue with the National ADL Headquarters and urge them to push for legislation recognizing the Armenian genocide,” commented Der Bedrossian.

Kevin Epranian-Burgoyne, a constituent of Congresswoman Wasserman Shultz had recently gotten in touch with the ANCA to take action on H. Res 106. Following the meeting with her District Director, Jodi Davidson, Burgoyne commented: “I really appreciated the opportunity to meet with Jodi in Congresswoman Wasserman Shultz’s office. Having the chance to talk in length about the Armenian genocide legislation and other concerns we have in the district opened the doors to creating a stronger relationship with the Congresswoman.” Interested in becoming more involved, Burgoyne was in contact with Birazian prior to the meeting, and plans to continue working on issues important to the Armenian community.

Birazian and Toumayan also met with Sandra Lalaian, an Armenian activist and constituent of Congresswoman Ros Lehtinen, Ranking Member on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. There they met with Chief of Staff Art Estopinan in the Miami office. Lalaian had an opportunity to thank the office for the Congresswoman’s continued support on human rights issues, and further discuss her support for the legislation. Birazian was in contact with Lalaian after she responded to the first ANCA call in day that took place earlier this year on June 27th. The call in day generated thousands of phone calls into Congressional offices urging their support of H. Res 106.

“Overall I view this trip to be a huge success. This trip allowed the ANCA to build relationships with so many new American Armenian activists and further advance the Armenian cause. We will continue to work to strengthen Florida and build Congressional support,” reflected Birazian following the weeklong outreach.

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.

Photo Captions:
Left to Right: Keri Eisenbeis, Outreach Director for Rep. Castor, Chloe Coney, District Director for Rep. Castor, ANCA ER Exec. Director Karine Birazian, Dikran Kalaydjian

Left to Right: Kevin Epranian-Burgoyne, Jodi Davidson, District Director for Rep. Wasserman Shultz, ANCA ER Exec. Director Karine Birazian, ANC of S. Fl activist Mike Toumayan