By Mihran Toumajan,

The Armenian Assembly of America’s (Assembly) Executive Director Bryan Ardouny and Western Region Director Mihran Toumajan held a town hall briefing in May with members of the Armenian American community of Ventura County, California.

The briefing and associated lunch were generously hosted by the Thousand Oaks-based Armenian Apostolic Church of Ventura County, under the leadership of Parish Council member Dr. Razmig Krumian. Visiting pastor Archpriest Fr. Arshag Khatchadourian, Assembly Board of Trustees Assistant Secretary Lisa Kalustian, Assembly Trustees Jim and Connie Melikian, and parishioners were in attendance.

Ardouny covered a wide range of advocacy issues of priority concern to the Armenian American community, including the security of the citizens of Armenia and Artsakh, considering continued Azerbaijani acts of aggression since its escalation in April 2016. Ardouny also focused on the current Administration and U.S.-Armenia relations. He discussed the Assembly’s efforts to encourage members of the U.S. House of Representatives to join the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, which currently has over 100 members and continues to grow.

“We thank the leadership of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Ventura County for providing an open forum to generate awareness and greater involvement on issues impacting Armenia, Artsakh, and the Armenian American community,” Ardouny said.

Toumajan complemented Ardouny’s presentation by covering some of the Assembly’s statewide activity, including its testimony in support of California State Assembly Bill 1597, the “Divestment from Turkish Bonds Act,” introduced by State Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian (D-46). Toumajan also noted the Assembly’s testimony in support of California State Assembly Bill 1399, the “Pupil Instruction: Genocide” bill, also introduced by Assemblymember Nazarian, which would require California’s Commission on Teacher Credentialing to convene a working group to develop program standards for the issuance of a recognition of study in genocides and atrocity crimes. Additionally, an Assembly delegation participated in the Capitol Advocacy Day initiative in Sacramento on April 17, organized by the California Armenian Legislative Caucus.

Earlier this year, the Assembly Western Region Office organized an in-district meeting in Oxnard, CA involving constituents of Armenian Caucus Member Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) and members of her district staff, including Grants and Special Projects Coordinator Talin Sardarbegians and District Director Carina E. Armenta. The Armenian Apostolic Church of Ventura County is located in California’s 26th Congressional district, represented by Congresswoman Brownley.

“As more and more Armenian Americans continue to move to Ventura County, our church community is pleased that it can count on the Armenian Assembly of America to conduct briefings and arrange meetings with elected officials for constituents.  We look forward to having an ongoing partnership with the Assembly,” stated Dr. Krumian.