San Francisco, CA – ANCA Northern California, the largest chapter of the ANCA Western Region representing San Francisco, Silicon Valley, and Sacramento, hosted its annual Hye Tad Evening at the Khachaturian Armenian Community Center in San Francisco on Saturday, March 8, 2025. The event brought together community leaders, Armenian American activists, and Bay Area elected officials to focus on issues of particular interest to the Armenian American community.

Attendees were introduced to two Bay Area elected officials including CA Assemblymember Catherine Stefani and San José Councilmember George Raffi Casey. During an on-stage interview by ANCA NorCal board member Roxanne Makasdjian, attendees had the opportunity to hear Assemblymember Catherine Stefani speak about her years of collaboration with the ANCA and her Armenian American constituents. Stefani’s Assembly District #19 encompasses the western half of San Francisco, home to numerous important Armenian American institutions including Krouzian-Zekarian-Vasbouragan Armenian School, the Khachaturian Armenian Community Center, St. Gregory Armenian Church, St. John Armenian Church, Calvary Armenian Congregational Church, and the historic Mt. Davidson Cross.

“It is important that we teach about the stories of the Genocide and continue to speak up about the ongoing struggles of the Armenian people,” Stefani stated. “But more importantly, we must ensure we are taking meaningful action.”

Stefani has decades of previous experience as a prosecutor, policy analyst and county supervisor. Since taking office in the CA Assembly in January, she  has  joined the California Legislative Armenian Caucus Foundation, a bicameral and bipartisan coalition of lawmakers committed to advancing Armenian-American interests in the California State Legislature. The Caucus currently boasts its highest recorded membership of 50 legislators.

San José Councilmember George Raffi Casey also addressed the Hye Tad Evening attendees. Casey, who served as a Planning Commissioner for the city before making history in November, 2024 as the first Armenian-American elected to the council, thanked ANCA Northern California for its support of his successful campaign.“It is an incredible honor to be among my fellow Armenian-Americans here tonight,” said Casey. “My journey—from my roots in Iran to my upbringing in Northern California and now serving on the San José City Council—has been shaped by the values instilled in me by our rich heritage.” Casey has a law degree from Santa Clara University, a master’s degree in Urban Planning from San José State University, and a master’s degree in Real Estate Development from UC Berkeley.

Assemblymember Stefani and Councilmember Casey were each presented with a framed photograph from ANCA NorCal depicting Armenian Americans at San Francisco’s Fourth of July parade in 1918, standing beside their parade float with its banners appealing for U.S. support and arms for the newly independent Armenia.

ANCA NorCal board member Krikor Der Abrahamian reviewed the chapter’s key activities over the past year, including outreach with Northern California elected officials, 2024 campaign efforts, community events the chapter has hosted, etc. “ANCA Northern California is committed to ensuring that Armenian-Americans have a seat at the table—whether in local government, the state legislature, or beyond. And our advocacy isn’t just about policy, it’s about securing a future where our community’s needs are recognized, our history is acknowledged, and our voices are heard in every decision that affects us.”

ANCA Northern California board member Ani Yeni-Komshian closed the evening with a tribute to Northern California’s Armenian church parish priests, presenting each of them with ANCA NorCal’s Local Hero Award in honor of their spiritual leadership and support during some of the community’s most turbulent times. Recalling the 2020 hate crimes that destroyed the San Francisco Armenian Cultural Center with arson, as well as gunshots and threatening graffiti attacks against KZV Armenian school, Yeni-komshian said, “In those shocking moments, our priests stood with us, unshakeable, offering strength and unity. And as the war in Artsakh unfolded, bringing loss, displacement, and injustice, our priests took on even greater roles. They organized relief efforts, raised critical funds for those on the frontlines, for families of the fallen, for the critically injured and their families, and finally, for the displaced families. They ensured that Artsakh remained at the forefront of our collective consciousness. With each crisis, our priests stood strong, leading with faith and action.”

The Local Hero honorees included Rev. Archpriest Father Datev Haroutiunian of St. Andrew Church in Cupertino, Rev. Father Mesrop Ash of St. John church in San Francisco, Rev. Father Artsakh Badoyan of St. Gregory Church in San Francisco, Rev. Father Calvin Sagherian of Calvary Armenian church in San Francisco, Rev. Father Krikor Zakaryan of St. Vartan Oakland (Oakland, not pictured), and Rev. Father Yeghishe Ksachikyan of St. James Armenian church in Sacramento (Sacramento, not pictured).

ANCA-WR Chair Oshin Harootoonian congratulated the chapter’s work. “This is the spirit of Hye Tad— the fact that we are surrounded by so many dedicated individuals who serve as the lifeblood of our movement.”

Reflecting on the gathering, ANCA-WR and ANCA-NorCal Board Member Aram Sarkissian, who emceed  the event, said, “This year’s Hye Tad Evening highlighted the core mission of ANCA-NorCal. We continuously strive to foster relationships that amplify our community’s voice and advance our collective interests. The dedication we witnessed tonight reinforces our commitment to the Armenian Cause in Northern California and beyond.”