Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region 104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200 Glendale, California 91206 Phone: 818.500.1918 media www.ancawr.org

PRESS RELEASE +++ PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: April 4, 2013

Contact: William Bairamian Tel: 818-500-1918

CENTRAL CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY CONNECTS ON HAI TAHD CONCERNS AT ANCA TOWN HALL

FRESNO, CA – Fresno, the epicenter of the California Central Valley, known as the breadbasket of the United States, is home to one of the oldest and largest Armenian communities in the country. The birthplace of Saroyan and the final resting place of national hero Soghomon Tehlirian, the history of Fresno is intertwined with the history of the Armenian people. It is also where the ANCA-WR recently hosted an ANCA Town Hall.

Promoted by the active ANCA-CA Central Valley chapter, the event successfully brought together community members who were both longtime activists and newly interested to hear and discuss ways to advance the Armenian Cause. An open-dialogue, the Town Halls have provided an opportunity to grassroots supporters of the ANCA to meet and interact with each other and ask pressing questions integral to continuing dialogue.

“Our town halls, including this one in Fresno, have allowed us to not only report to our communities throughout the western United States about the work of the ANCA but also learn about the readiness of our community members to use their experience, conviction, and resources in the furtherance of the Armenian Cause,” said ANCA-WR External Affairs Deputy Tereza Yerimyan.

The community in Fresno, one of the oldest and most vibrant, was invigorated and excited as they left the Town Hall and talked about their next initiatives that would continue to inspire the community and continue to make the ANCA the strongest grassroots Armenian advocacy organization in the United States.

The strong team of activists led by ANCA-CA Central Valley chairman Paul Jamushian, including Arthur Hampar, Peter Sanikian, Stephanie Stockdale, Vahagn Bznouni, Sevag Tateosian, Nishan Der Kalustian, Garo Atikian, Levon Yepremian, and recently hired staffer Marine Vardanyan, left no question that the ANCA and the storied Armenian community in the Central Valley has a bright and promising future.

The next ANCA Town Hall meeting will take place in Phoenix, Arizona on April 7. The ANCA Town Hall meetings are being held across the nation consistent with the ANCA’s belief in grassroots organizing and activism.

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.

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Attached: Photos