Los Angeles, CA – The Armenian National Committee of America — Western Region’s (ANCA-WR) announced that applications for its Internship-Externship Program’s 2007 Autumn Session are now available. Interested individuals can view and download copies of the application by visiting the “Capitol Gateway/Applications” section of the ANCA website (www.anca.org).

Established in June 2006, the ANCA-WR IEP is a selective and intensive program that provides student leaders and activists with an opportunity to participate in an intensive program designed to provide an in-depth introduction to Armenian American issues as well as advocacy efforts on the federal, state and local level. The program hosts spring, summer, and autumn sessions. The autumn session is a fourteen week program features a weekly lecture and seminar series as well as special events.

Program participants are assigned to various areas of specialization through which they work on Armenian American issues while learning more about grassroots advocacy. They also learn about the various local ANCs and their activities throughout the western United States. Participants are assigned to various projects ranging from media relations and genocide awareness to international trade and voter registration.

“The program was a great opportunity for me and my fellow interns, as students, to serve our community,” notes Andre Arzoo, a 2007 Spring Session program participant. “We traveled to Sacramento and to San Diego with the ANCA-WR and my fellow interns, making sure elected officials and even presidential candidates know about Armenian American issues. We came out of the program having learned a lot about our system of government and about how to be more effective advocates within it.”

The deadline for the 2007 Autumn Session is August 17th. More information and applications for these programs can be found online by visiting the “Capitol Gateway” section of the ANCA website (www.anca.org).

The Armenian National Committee of America 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 Caption: The recent 2007 Spring Session Internship-Externship Program class (from left to right) Andre Arzoo, Hovhannes Harutyunyan, Tina Avanessian, and Christopher Yemenidjian.