GLENDALE, CA — Long time community activist Talar Alexanian was one of 3 students participating in the 2010 Summer Session of The Armenian National Committee-Western Region Internship-Externship Program (ANC-WR IEP). She joined the program, which lasted from June 14 to August 20 this summer, as a Public and Media Relations Intern.
As a part of the Internship-Externship Program, Alexanian wrote articles and press releases featuring ANC activists and community organizations as well as reporting on events taking place in the Armenian-American community.
During her internship, Alexanian gained hands on experience using online media for youth civic engagement, using social networks, and traditional public relations strategies for outreach to Armenian-American students in the region. A graduate of the ANC Glendale Internship, Alexanian also learned how ANC advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a larger scale, especially through online media.
“As an ANC Glendale intern, I learned about the inner workings of the city government as well as how to directly influence and aid my surrounding community,” said Alexanian. “I was very excited to discover more about the different Armenian American communities within the Western region and how we can tailor our outreach efforts based on the different issues of interest, specific to each area.”
While completing her internship with the ANC-WR, she was fulfilling her externship requirement with Los Angeles City Council Member Paul Krekorian. As an intern in the Council Member’s North Hollywood district office, she assisted with event planning and outreach efforts.
Throughout her years at Crescenta Valley High School, Alexanian has been devoted to aiding both the Armenian and American Communities, completing over 1,000 hours of service while doing so. Valuing the importance of civic engagement, she volunteered on Krekorian’s Los Angeles City Council race as well as Nayiri Nahabedian’s Campaign for State Assembly. Furthermore, Alexanian was a news anchor and reporter for the school’s daily television broadcast, CVTV. Her experience in interviewing and scriptwriting prepared her well for the feature articles she wrote for during her ANC internship.
Alexanian is now attending California State University, Northridge (CSUN) where she will pursue a degree in public relations and political science this autumn. Alexanian plans to become a member of the Armenian-interest sorority, Alpha Gamma Alpha as well as the Armenian Student Association on campus. She will continue to be an active member in the AYF Glendale “Roupen” Chapter.
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.
This is very good news. I believe that the Armenian youth can learn a great deal about their culture and country just by looking on various sites like you tube and wikipedia. Some Armenian Americans merely hear of Mount Ararat and their country’s past through stories told by their family and friends. However, they can now not only keep up to date with the latest Armenian issues, but also contribute to their publicity via comments and videos.
A number of international newspapers almost on a daily basis have articles on Armenia from culture to politics.
We need educated Armenian of high calibre in order to defend our rights when it comes to political debates.
I see that Asbarez has almost 3,000 fans , presumably most of them young. It would be nice if they voice their concerns and offer ideas which would be both stimulating and challenging.Most of all I’m sure it would be welcoming and also an exercise for them in political, cultural and social debating.