Friday, October 23, 2015

Registration 5:30PM to 7:30PM

Film & Arts Panel 7:30PM to 9:30PM

Actor, playwright, and novelist of Armenian descent and a Pulitzer Prize finalist for his play Talk Radio, Eric Bogosian will discuss his experience with utilizing cinema and writing to spread awareness about various humanitarian issues, especially highlighting his recent book Operation Nemesis: The Assassination Plot that Avenged the Armenian Genocide. The panel will be moderated by award-winning playwright and director Aram Kouyoumdjian.

Welcome Reception 9:30PM to 11:00PM

Enjoy an evening of networking and socializing with fellow Grassroots Conference attendees at our Welcome Reception. The reception will be hosted at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel. No host bar.

Saturday, October 24, 2015

Registration & Continental Breakfast 8:00AM to 9:00AM

Complimentary continental breakfast is included with your Grassroots Conference registration. Breakfast will be served at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel.

Western Armenia & The Hidden Armenians Panel 9:00AM to 10:15AM

There are more than 7 million Armenians living outside of the bounds of Armenia and Artsakh, in addition to the estimated 2 million “Hidden Armenians” who are the descendants of Genocide survivors who were forcibly converted to Islam and continue to live in present-day Eastern Turkey, only recently having the courage to reveal their true identities. This dynamic panel will discuss identity politics and the issues plaguing the preservation of heritage for Armenians everywhere. The panelists are author and filmmaker of Armenian issues, minority rights, and freedom of speech, Aris Nalci; geographical and demographic researcher of Western Armenia, George Aghjayan; civil engineer, pianist and founder of Project Rebirth, which helps hidden Islamized Armenians reclaim their Armenian roots, language, and culture, Raffi Bedrosyan; and Kurdish human rights activist Baris Alen. Best-selling author Matthew Karanian, who wrote the English language books Armenia and Karabakh: The Stone Garden Travel Guide and Historic Armenia After 100 Years: Ani Kars and the Six Provinces of Western Armenia, will moderate the panel.

Marching On For Justice Panel 10:30AM to 11:45AM

The Marching On For Justice panel will feature a discussion on the national and regional priorities of the Armenian National Committee of America, in addition to the grassroots efforts enacted to build on the successes of community activism, post Genocide Centennial, with ANCA National Board Member Raffi Hamparian, ANCA-WR Board Member Nora Hovsepian, and ANCA-WR Executive Director Elen Asatryan. The panel will be moderated by ANCA-WR Grassroots Conference Co-Chair and Asbarez Editor, Ara Khachatourian.

Lunch 11:45AM to 1:00PM

The Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel will offer Grassroots attendees with a wide variety of lunch options for sale. Please download the hotel menu to review available lunch options.

Century Plaza Hotel Lunch Menu

Road to Reparations Panel 1:00PM to 2:15PM

Noted human rights advocate and author of the recent book, An Inconvenient Genocide: Who Now Remembers the Armenians?, attorney Geoffrey Robertson QC and international legal expert Karnig Kerkonian, Esq., will explore the legal potential for Genocide reparations, especially with regard to the Armenian Cause. Through the co-sponsorship of this panel by the Armenian Bar Association, attorneys attending the panel discussion will receive 1.5 hours of CLE credit. The panel will be moderated by ANCA National Board member Steven Dadaian, Esq.

Armenians & Politics Panel 2:30PM to 3:45PM

Congressman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), California State Assemblymember Katcho Achadjian, and Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Krekorian will discuss grassroots activism, the changing landscape for political involvement by Armenian-Americans, and community organizing to maximize civic participation. Glendale City Clerk Ardashes “Ardy” Kassakhian will moderate the panel.

Alternative Activism Panel 4:00PM to 5:15PM

Photographer and author of New York Times and LA Times bestseller, Yes We Can: Barack Obama’s History-Making Presidential Campaign, and There is Only the Earth: Images from the Armenian Diaspora Project Scout Tufankjian, Senior Lecturer of the Holocaust, the African American struggle, and the Armenian Genocide at UCLA, Professor Paul Von Blum, and Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America Aram Hamparian will talk about the changing face of community outreach through art, education, social media and other modern avenues. The moderator for the panel is former Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of Los Angeles and expert in mass communication and democratic movements Dr. Lucig Danielian.

Grassroots Networking Mixer Hosted by ANCA-PN 6:00PM to 11:00PM

Enjoy an evening of networking and socializing with fellow Grassroots Conference attendees at the ANCA-PN Grassroots Mixer. The mixer will be hosted by the ANCA Professional Network at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel. No host bar.