ANC-WR Interns Conclude Summer Session with Community Service Project

Internship Graduates Pledge to Continue Activism

GLENDALE, CA—The 2010 Summer Session of the Armenian National Committee-Western Region Internship-Externship Program (ANC-WR IEP) came to a close on August 17th with the program participants delivering their final presentations to regional leadership, staff, and fellow program alumni.  The graduates reviewed their accomplishments over the previous ten weeks and fielded questions from the audience regarding their projects.

The 2010 Summer Session graduates are Maria Akopyan and Jennifer Movsessian who are students at the University of California, Los Angeles as well as Talar Alexanian, a graduate of Crescenta Valley High School who started her first year at California State University, Northridge this month.

“As an intern I was able to help build stronger grassroots as well as address important issues within our community,” said Akopyan.  “The weekly seminars gave me an opportunity to learn about other organizations active in our community as well as how to more effectively educate others about Armenian American issues.”

“Even though the internship is over, I look forward to staying involved as a volunteer with the ANC Professional Network using the skills and knowledge I acquired during the program,” she added.

In the final weeks of the session, the program participants organized a community service and fundraising project.  On Saturday, August 14th, the summer interns and friends spent the day volunteering at the Union Rescue Mission in downtown Los Angeles.

“The Union Rescue Mission community service project was an opportunity for us to give back to the community in which we live.  Doing so also allows us to help raise awareness about issues important to Armenian Americans among our fellow volunteers and community leaders,” noted Alexanian.  “Now, as an alumna of the program, I am excited to help future interns make an impact in our community.”

Over the course of the program the interns were assigned various individual projects ranging from research to community organizing and media monitoring to event planning.  Program participants completed externships with the Genocide Education Project, the ANC Professional Network, and the Office of Los Angeles City Council Member Paul Krekorian.

Interns also attended a series of weekly professional development workshops and lectures introducing them to community organizations with which the ANC works and support including the Armenian American Chamber of Commerce and the Committee for Armenian Students in Public Schools.  Each intern also completed an article that will be published on CampusCause.com.

“Not only did I learn a lot by participating in the program, but I was inspired by the experience and energized my commitment to my community,” remarked Movsessian.  “As an intern I really appreciated the importance of living up to our civic responsibility and I got a broader idea of what possibilities there are for careers in public policy, government, and even media.”

“There is nothing more rewarding than helping create a positive change in your community.  I was able to do that through my internship and I hope that my friends and peers will also intern with the ANC and get to feel that same sense of accomplishment and inspiration,” she concluded.

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.