Los Angeles, CA – As one of five Interns for the Armenian National Committee – Western Region’s Summer 2008 Internship – Externship Program (ANC-WR IEP), Amy Kaladzhyan has gained valuable knowledge and experience within the public and media relations field. In addition to building media relationships, Kaladzhyan writes feature articles and press releases spotlighting ANC activists and various organizations.

In past weeks, Kaladzhyan and fellow Public and Media Relations Intern, Tamar Tavlian, have also been developing a promotional video detailing the Internship-Externship Program and are putting the finishing touches on two sets of video blogs featuring their fellow Interns and Externs.

“I feel that this program offers a great opportunity for Armenian youth to get involved in politics while, at the same time, helping out with a cause that they believe in,” said Kaladzhyan. “Working alongside the ANC-WR in Sacramento and in Santa Barbara, I feel that I have acquired skills that are necessary in my future line of work,” she added.

Kaladzhyan currently attends University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB) where she majors in Global Studies. After graduating, she plans to attend Law School and eventually enter the broadcast journalism field as a political reporter.

Besides being an Intern at ANC-WR, Kaladzhyan is also an intern at KTLA and is a member of the Armenian Students’ Association (ASA) at UCSB. While lobbying against the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) in Sacramento during Advocacy Day in April, Kaladzhyan learned about IEP from Haig Hovsepian, ANC-WR Community Relations Director, and was eager to sign up and continue her work with the Armenian community.

The Armenian National Committee – 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 organization around the country, the ANC-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.

Photo caption: ANC-WR Intern Amy Kaladzhyan at ANC-WR offices.