CITY OF INDUSTRY—The Armenian National Committee of the San Gabriel Valley last month met with California State Assembly Member Charles Calderon. Attending the meeting were ANC San Gabriel Valley Chairman Viken Pakradouni and Board Member Jack Hadjinian. The two, both constituents of the Assembly Member’s, thanked Calderon for work on Armenian American issues in Sacramento and Armenian Genocide education initiatives in the Montebello Unified School District.
“It was important that we took this opportunity to reconnect with Assembly Member Calderon,” noted Pakradouni. “In addition to discussing his continued support for Armenian Genocide affirmation and educational efforts, we were pleased to discuss ways in which the Armenian American community can increase its civic engagement in the district.”
The two discussed SB 234 also known as the Genocide Awareness Act with Calderon. The legislation promotes the inclusion of oral history component within California’s currently mandated genocide education curriculum. Both the current curriculum and SB 234 reference the Armenian Genocide.
Calderon invited students from the Mesrobian Armenian School’s high school program to participate in his district office internship program in the coming year.
“This is a vital program to engage young Armenians in the political world, public service, and understand how the process works. The community appreciated developing this educational opportunity with his predecessor, then Assembly Member Ron Calderon, and look forward to continuing this relationship with Assembly Member Charles Calderon,” said Hadjinian.
ANC of the San Gabriel Valley advocates for the social, economic, cultural, and political rights of the area’s Armenian American community and promotes increased Armenian American civic participation at the grassroots and public policy levels.
