Mission Statement

The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region (ANCA WR) is the largest and most influential nonpartisan Armenian-American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the region and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-Western Region serves all aspects of the Armenian Cause by organizing and developing local Armenian communities; promoting the political, legal, socioeconomic, cultural, and educational interests and rights of the Armenian American community at the local, state, regional, and national levels; seeking justice for the Armenian Genocide; advocating for the sovereignty, independence, democracy, security and economic development of the Republic of Armenia; advocating for the right of return, self determination, security and independence for the people of Artsakh; advocating for the protection and cultural preservation for the Armenians of Javakhk; and advocating for all aspects of the Armenian Cause through grassroots mobilization, political relationships, media presence, and education.

A Grassroots Organization

The Armenian National Committee of America- Western Region (ANCA-WR) is a grassroots public affairs organization devoted to advancing issues of concern to the Armenian American community. For nearly a century, the ANCA-WR has served to educate, motivate and activate the Armenian American community in the Western United States on a wide range of issues.

With its headquarters based in Los Angeles, California, the ANCA-WR enjoys broad-based community support through an extensive network of cultural, educational, athletic, charitable and youth organizations. In addition, the ANCA-WR is tied to a variety of media, including several of the leading Armenian media organizations in America and the largest bilingual Armenian daily in the United States-Asbarez.

With chapters throughout the State of California and in over a dozen other western states, the ANCA-WR works in cooperation with its national headquarters in Washington, DC, and its Eastern Region counterpart in Boston, to promote the concerns of Armenian Americans. The ANCA-WR is joined in these efforts by far-reaching network of international affiliates in Europe, Russia, South America, the Middle East, Australia, Armenia and Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).

Whether the focus is empowering our community by registering voters through the organization’s HyeVotes initiative, the drive for recognition, restitution and justice for the Armenian Genocide, educating the public on local, state, and federal legislation concerning issues in their local communities and the Republic of Armenia or advocating the legitimate right of self-determination for the people of Artsakh, the ANCA-WR is a robust force in advancing the Armenian Cause in the greatest democracy on earth – the United States of America.

Armenian National Committee of America | Western Region

The main goals of the ANCA WR are:

• To foster public awareness in support of a free, independent and united Armenia;
• To influence and guide U.S. policy on matters of interest to the Armenian American community;
• To empower and represent the collective Armenian American viewpoint on matters of public policy, while serving as liaison between the community and their elected officials and government institutions.

Political & Educational Activities

The Armenian National Committee of America Western Region is active in a number of areas and engages in a wide variety of political and educational activities, including:

Initiating legislation on issues of concern to the Armenian American community, such as strengthening Armenia as a secure, prosperous and democratic state; supporting Artsakh’s right to self-determination and independence within secure borders; increasing U.S. aid levels to Armenia to promote economic and democratic development; securing direct U.S. aid to Nagorno Karabagh; ensuring the appropriate commemoration of the Armenian Genocide; and encouraging Turkey and Azerbaijan to lift their blockades and adhere to international standards for human rights and humanitarian practices.

Participating in the American electoral process at the federal, state, and local levels by educating elected officials about Armenian American issues and providing Armenian American voters with up-todate information about the positions of candidates on Armenian American concerns. The ANCA regularly endorses candidates, organizes voter registration drives as part of its HyeVotes initiative, and distributes Candidate Questionnaires, Congressional Report Cards and Election Guides to Armenian American voters.

Developing and administering community education, outreach, development and mitigation programs through a series of “good neighbor” activities to increase public awareness and to ensure a civically engaged, prosperous Armenian-American community.

Publishing position papers, press releases, fact sheets, and regional newsletters.

Investing in local, regional and national internship and youth programs to foster a new generation of Armenian Americans who will advance – in a thoughtful and effective manner – the Armenian Cause with local, statewide and federal elected officials.