Santa Fe, New Mexico – The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR) announced early this week plans to host its first New Mexico Advocacy Day on August 11-12, 2015 at the State’s Capitol in Santa Fe.

Expected to draw community groups, members, and activists from across the State, this two day event is designed to connect constituents with their elected officials and bring the united voice of the Armenian-American community to the New Mexico Capitol.

“Our New Mexico Advocacy Day comes at a crucial time to educate our leaders about growing threats against Armenia, a small Christian country in a tumultuous region, from Azerbaijan on one side and the instability of its other unfriendly neighbor Turkey,” said ANCA New Mexico Co-Chair Ken Gleria. “Especially when paid foreign lobbyists are working overtime to lobby legislators in Santa Fe against the interests of peace and democracy,” added Gleria.

“We are excited to continue to expand our efforts throughout the region and work with our local chapters to educate legislators and make our collective voice heard.  The New Mexico Advocacy Day is the third of firsts this year, as we for the first time held advocacy days in Nevada and Texas earlier in the year, coupled with our longstanding Advocacy Day in California which brought over 600 Armenian-Americans to the State Capitol.  The increased advocacy days are a direct result in the ANCA WR efforts to activate our communities within the 19 states by hosting town hall meetings and providing local communities with resources to hit the ground running to advance the Armenian Cause,”  stated Elen Asatryan, ANCA-WR Executive Director.  “Our presence in Santa Fe is vital, particularly in the face of the continuous Azeri and Turkish lobby in the state that has made it to the front page of local newspapers recently.  It is our hope that community members from all walks of life will join us in pursuit of justice in few weeks’ time,” added Asatryan.

The day’s activities will include community briefings and meeting with state legislators.  During the meetings, participants will educate their representatives on the proud chapter in New Mexico’s history that saved the Armenian nation from annihilation during the Armenian Genocide and advocate for issues of importance to the Armenian-American community including recognition of the Armenian Genocide and recognition and self-determination of Artsakh amongst other topics.

To participate, register online at www.ancawr.org/NMAdvocacyDay. For more information about the 2015 ANCA WR New Mexico Advocacy Day email info@ancawr.org or call 818.500.1918.

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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