GLENDALE—California State Assembly Member Anthony Portantino (AD-44-D-Pasadena) will be joining the Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region for its inaugural “Meet & Greet” dinner next Wednesday, June 8th at 6:00pm in Glendale at Phoenecia Restaurant. Portantino has been a longtime supporter of Armenian American issues from his time as on the La Canada Flintridge City Council where he served eight years to the California State Assembly where he is currently serving his third term.
The ANCA-WR developed this event series to provide a forum for prominent elected officials and community leaders to meet with the Armenian American community in a more casual, accessible environment. The events are also designed to promote networking among the event participants. Following the formal program guests are welcome to mingle with the featured guests, ANCA-WR leadership and fellow professionals and attendees.
As a member of the State Legislature, Portantino serves as Chair of the Select Committee on the Preservation of California’s Entertainment Industry as well as the Committee on Higher Education, for which he previously served as Committee Chair in addition to several other standing, Joint, and Select committees of the Legislature.
“It has been an honor to have worked closely with the ANCA-WR as a City Councilmember and as a State Assembly Member. The ANC is engaged in many issues of concern for Armenian Americans and the greater community of the San Fernando and San Gabriel Valleys,” said Portantino.
“It is important for me and the ANC that not only do organizations and institutions have formal and productive relationships with their representatives but individuals personally connect with me and my office so that I can learn from my friends and neighbors and be well prepared to represent all of residents that I serve. That is why events like this are important,” he added.
“I look forward to attending this event with many of our ANCA Professional Network supporters,” noted Sevag Demirjian, who Chairs the ANCA PN Executive Committee. “Wednesday’s event will be a great opportunity for fellow professionals from a range of fields to get to know Portantino better and discuss issues that impact us whether we are small business owners, lawyers, in the entertainment or service industries, or in the medical field.”
This past April, Portantino partnered with recently elected Assembly Member Katcho Achadjian (AD-33-R-San Luis Obispo) in coordinating the California State Capitol Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. Together they worked in collaboration with colleagues in the State Assembly and State Senate, both Democrat and Republican as well as the ANCA-WR.
The day’s events featured commemorations on Assembly and Senate Floor chambers, an exhibit in the Capitol Rotunda featuring the humanitarian efforts of the Near East Foundation as it responded to the Armenian Genocide, and a State Capitol screening of the documentary “The River Ran Red” by the late Dr. J. Michael Hagopian.
To RSVP, individuals may email dinner@ancawr.org. The requested donation amount for the evening dinner is $30. Proceeds will go toward the ANCA-WR and advancing issues of importance to the Armenian American community.
The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy 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 ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.
