GLENDALE—After completing her third week in the 2009 Summer Session of the Armenian National Committee-Western Region’s Internship-Externship Program (ANC-WR IEP), Srbui Karapetian is already busy tackling the several community outreach oriented projects assigned to her. A sophomore at the University of California, Los Angeles, Karapetian joins the program as a Community and Government Affairs Intern.
“I decided to take part in the IEP, because I believe it offers a great opportunity for me as a young Armenian American to learn about the political, historical, and policy-related issues that affect my community,”says Karapetian. “In just these three weeks I have already learned about a small region in Georgia called Javakhk, which despite its large Armenian population, receives very little government support and remains in a state of impoverishment as well as current federal and state legislation concerning Armenian American issues.”
Karapetian currently is focusing on two main projects. Working alongside the Armenian National Committee of Hollywood, she is organizing a community issues briefing to help raise awareness about the 2010 Census in the Hollywood area. The event is scheduled for Thursday, July 16th and will be held at Karapetian Hall (1614 North Alexandria Avenue). She is also working on researching and writing separate articles which cover the 2010 Census as well as the current political and socioeconomic situation in Javakhk.
“I am looking forward to the rest of my time in the program, the work I do here at the ANC will prepare me for future community organizing and leadership roles,” says Karapetian. “Now that I am more aware about issues affecting the Armenian American community, I have become more enthusiastic about contributing to and being more involved in it.”
Throughout high school, Karapetian took part in the Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School Saturday Program. Her participation in the program exposed her to a wide variety of Armenian literature, plays, and music. At UCLA, Karapetian is a member of the school’s Armenian Student Association and takes part in their events.
Karapetian is currently double-majoring in Political Science with a concentration in political thought and English with a concentration in world literature. At UCLA, she was a reporter for the campus newspaper, The Daily Bruin. She feels that her experience in writing articles for newspaper has prepared her well for the feature articles she will have to write for the IEP.
Karapetian learned about the ANC-WR IEP at UCLA. She had heard of the program from a former intern at the school and received more information on the program from the ANC-WR Community Relations Director, Haig Hovsepian.
Hovsepian had given a presentation at an UCLA Armenian Student Association meeting in which discussed the IEP.
Karapetian plans to remain involved in the community after she completes the IEP, especially her local ANC the ANC of Hollywood.
The Armenian National Committee – Western Region is the largest Armenian American grassroots community 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 ANC-WR works to promote understanding regarding issues of concern to the Armenian American community.
Yes it is true that ” The Armenian National Committee – Western Region is the largest Armenian American grassroots community organization in the Western United States”.