(Los Angeles, California) On March 13, 2023, the LA County Board of Supervisors and the Commission for Women held their 38th Annual Women of the Year Commemorative Celebration.

The Armenian National Committee of America Western Region was a sponsor of the event and attended to support the LA Board of Supervisors in their initiative to celebrate and honor the incredible women of Los Angeles County who serve their communities in an exemplary manner.

Thirteen women were honored who have made exceptional contributions in education, business, community activism, arts, law, and health in Los Angeles. Dr. Vivian Ekchian, Superintendent of the Glendale Unified School District, was honored by recommendation of the ANCA Western Region for the Commission for Women Community At Large Award for Education presented by Commissioner Irma Archuleta, chair of the Education Committee representing the first supervisorial district.

“I am humbled and honored to receive this award and be recognized alongside each and every one of these amazing women. Thank you to the Commission and to the powerful women leaders who make up our county Board of Supervisors. I particularly want to thank our 5^th district leader, Supervisor Kathryn Barger, for being such a wonderful partner of the Glendale Unified School District and a role model for our 25,000 students. I am proud to serve as superintendent for Glendale Unified schools and am honored to work with a team of amazing administrators and staff,” said Dr. Ekchian.

Dr. Ekchian has served for more than thirty-five years as an urban school district educator. As superintendent, Dr. Ekchian has been instrumental in building partnerships with outside organizations to provide dual college enrollment and internship opportunities for students. Through these partnerships, she has also been able to open health and wellness centers at every middle and high school in the Glendale Unified School District.

Recipient of the 2023 Women of the Year Commemorative Celebration’s highest honor, the President Award, was ANCA Western Region-endorsed Mayor of the City of Los Angeles, Karen Bass. Karen Bass is the 43^rd Mayor of Los Angeles, and the first woman to be elected as the city’s chief executive. In 2022, then-Congresswoman Bass co-sponsored H.Res.1351:  a resolution condemning Azerbaijan’s unprovoked military attacks on Armenia and Artsakh and calling on the Biden administration to immediately withhold assistance to Azerbaijan.

“The ANCA Western Region was proud to be a sponsor of this important event as we continue to cultivate a productive working relationship with elected leaders at all levels of government who help to shine a bright light on issues of concern to our community. We congratulate Dr. Ekchian and all the deserving honorees for this prestigious recognition,” commented Lina Davidian Esq., ANCA-Western Region Board Member.

The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region is the largest and most influential nonpartisan 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 in pursuit of the Armenian Cause.