PASADENA,CA–The Armenian National Committee of Pasadena (ANC of Pasadena) recently welcomed community activist Ishkhan Boghossian as its Executive Director. Boghossian, who has been an activist in Pasadena’s Armenian American community for nearly a decade, will take a leading role in building on the organization’s impressive grassroots efforts across the City of Pasadena.
"We are excited to welcome Ishkhan to the Pasadena ANC," said Pasadena ANC Chairman Shahe Bezdjian. "We are confident that Ishkhan will bring valuable experience and perspective to our efforts. His longtime dedication to our community in Pasadena is indicative of the fresh energy and intellect he will bring to our organization and most importantly, to our community," Bezdjian added.
Boghossian is currently a student at the California State University of Northridge where he is pursuing a Bachelors degree in History and a Minor in Armenian studies. He has been an active member of the Armenian American community in Pasadena from a young age. Boghossian has served as chairman of the Armenian Youth Federation-Western Region Central ANC Council and has been an active member of the Pasadena Armenian Youth Federation, where he has served on the executive body as Chairman. He is also an active member of the Shant Student Association.
In April of 2008, Pasadena ANC led the effort to confront the Pasadena Star News for publishing an opinion piece written by Genocide denier Jason Epstein on the 93rd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. After meeting with the editor of the newspaper and expressing the community’s disappointment, the Pasadena ANC wrote an editorial titled "Armenian Genocide Still Haunts Turkey" which was published on the front page of the Pasadena Star News.
"I am eager to continue advocating for the Pasadena community," stated Boghossian. "I look forward to building on past accomplishmen’s and further advancing the interests of the Armenian American community in media and government," he added.
Pasadena has a large and very active Armenian American community. The city best known for the Rose Bowl Parade is also home to a number of major Armenian organizations and institutions, including the Armenian Relief Society, Armenian Youth Federation, Homenetmen, Hamazkayin, Tavlian Pre-School, St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church, St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church and the Armenian General Benevolent Union.
The Pasadena ANC 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.
