Los Angeles, CA – On Sunday, June 2, 3013, over 50 community members from the Seattle area gathered at Holy Resurrection Armenian Apostolic Church for a town hall meeting organized by the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region. The event, which came after a series of similar town halls hosted in Boise, Fresno, Las Vegas, and Phoenix, gave attendees an opportunity to learn about the efforts and successes of the ANCA, the challenges facing the Armenian-American communities on local, state and federal levels, discuss local issues, and learn about ways through which they can get involved.

“We were pleasantly surprised to see such a diverse crowd attend the town hall gathering. From third and fourth generation Armenian-Americans to recent immigrants, the discussions around local needs varied from community education initiatives to reviving efforts on Genocide recognition and government affairs started long ago,” stated ANCA-WR Executive Director Elen Asatryan. “Given the overwhelmingly positive response and eagerness by attendees to start a local chapter in the area, we will be reconnecting with our new friends in the coming weeks to help them develop strategies and activate the Seattle Armenian-American community,” added Asatryan.

While Asatryan shared with the audience the history of the ANCA, its structure and programs, and ventures taken on by local chapters in other regions, ANCA-WR Legislative Director Haig Baghdassarian discussed current initiatives taken on by the organization and the challenges ahead. The meeting wrapped up with a Q&A session, followed by one-on-one discussions with attendees on how they can get involved in organizing their local community.

“The audience was very engaged and inquisitive about the topics covered, including Genocide recognition, independence for Artsakh, and U.S. foreign aid to Armenia. They were particularly interested in learning more about our advocacy on a national and regional level, and it was most encouraging to witness their enthusiasm to participate locally,” stated Baghdassarian.

The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.