Sirusho: “For the first time people will see my baby during my concert in Los Angeles” (Video)

October 28, 2014 By administrator

Famous singer Sirusho who is in the USA for now, gave an interview to the Channel “US Armenia” and spoke about her career, activities, personal life and upcoming concert..

Sirusho mentioned that all the facebook posts that shared the photo of her baby child were fake photos though the babies were very beautiful and nice children. She also mentioned that it is possible to see her child for the first time during her solo concert which will took place on 9^th of November in Los Angeles.

source: news.am

LAUSD Will Not Renew Turkish Imam Gulen-Linked Schools’ Charters

August 27, 2014 By administrator

LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles Unified School District Board on Tuesday voted unanimously to not renew the charters of two schools operating under the Gulen-affiliated Magnolia Science Academy.

The Magnolia Academy 6, a middle school in Palms and the Magnolia Science Academy 7, an elementary school in Northridge, were both slated to be shutdown after an LAUSD audit deemed them insolvent based on IRS standards due to a $1.7 million deficit and charged financial misappropriations by the school administrations. The audit also found that the school had

However, in late July LA Superior Court Judge Luis A. Lavin granted an injunction in order to not disrupt the student community, but ordered a strict investigation into the finances of the MERF and the Magnolia schools. Lavin’s ruling means that the schools will remain open after Tuesday’s vote but their charters will not be renewed for operation beyond that.

This ruling comes a week after the Joint Legislative Audit Committee called for a statewide audit of the Magnolia Science Academies of California, which runs 12 tax payer-funded charter schools in the state that have ties to the Gulen Institute, affiliated to the Turkish cleric Fettulah Gulen.

The audit, requested by State Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian, brings forth major concerns of misappropriation of tax payer funds of the 12 Magnolia charter schools and their parent company, the Magnolia Education and Research Foundation (MERF).

“Charter Schools play an important role in the public education system by delivering a high quality education to our students. I am deeply troubled that public education funds are being abused by the Magnolia Academies. It was important to bring this request forward to ensure that our tax payer dollars aren’t being misspent, at the expense of the students, and the taxpayers who support public education.” said Nazarian.

On the national level, Gulen-affiliated schools have come under investigation for questionable financial practices, to filling teacher positions with often unqualified people brought in from Turkey.

Gulen-affiliated charter schools in Arizona, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Texas and New Jersey have been under investigation by the FBI since 2011.

California USC Dean Appoints New Armenian Institute Director and Faculty

August 19, 2014 By administrator

Salpi Ghazarian, a senior nonprofit and education sector professional, will lead USC Dornsife’s Institute of Armenian Studies. Armenian studies scholars Richard Antaramian and Richard Hovannisian will bring their expertise to the institute as affiliated faculty.

LOS ANGELES—On August 14, the University of Southern California’s Dornsife College of Letters Arts and Sciences Dean Steve Kay announced the appointment of Salpi Ghazarian as director of USC Dornsife’s Institute of Armenian Studies (IAS) at a gathering of the IAS leadership council and supporters. In addition, Kay appointed Armenian studies scholars Richard Antaramian as the Turpanjian Early Career Chair in Contemporary Armenian Studies and assistant professor of history, and Richard Hovannisian as adjunct professor of history.

Established in 2005 as part of the long partnership between USC and the Armenian community, the institute is structured as a multidisciplinary center of learning and research.

Ghazarian begins her post on Aug. 18. She arrives from the think-tank and advocacy group Civilitas Foundation, where she was founding director. Managing a team of 60 professional and support staff, Ghazarian helped introduce a new culture of civic activism to Armenia’s struggling democracy by establishing and expanding the foundation’s programming to include civil society strengthening, Internet media, and research and publishing.

Antaramian will be the inaugural holder of the Turpanjian Early Career Chair in Contemporary Armenian Studies. He brings with him a vast knowledge of Armenian history and culture. He was recently awarded his Ph.D. in history from the University of Michigan with a dissertation titled: “In Subversive Service of the Sublime State: Tanzimat, Consolidating Jurisdiction, and Armenian Reform in the Ottoman Empire, 1844–1896.”

Hovannisian will take a leading role in advising USC Shoah Foundation – The Institute for Visual History and Education in its efforts to integrate nearly 400 interviews of Armenian Genocide survivors into its Visual History Archive, a collection of 53,000 testimonies of the Holocaust and other genocides.

The Armenian interviews were recently given to the USC Shoah Foundation by the Armenian Film Foundation, and represent the work of the late Dr. J. Michael Hagopian, an Armenian Genocide survivor who filmed the interviews in 16mm between 1968 and 2004. Testimonies from the collection will begin to be integrated into the Visual History Archive by April 24, 2015, the centennial of the historic event.

Hovannisian is a Guggenheim Fellow and has received many honors for his scholarship, civic activities and advancement of Armenian studies. He is also the cofounder and three-time president of the Society for Armenian Studies.

“Salpi Ghazarian has a stellar background — both personally and professionally — to lead USC Dornsife’s Institute of Armenian Studies,” Kay said. “Every year there is an average of up to 1,000 Armenian Trojan students. Under Salpi’s direction and with the expertise of Richard Hovannisian and Richard Antaramian, the institute will continue to play an integral role in our mission to provide students and researchers with the tools they need for a comprehensive, interdisciplinary understanding of Armenia’s past, present and evolving future.”

Since its founding in 1880, USC has educated thousands of Armenian Americans who have gone on to distinguished careers in business, government, the arts and the professions. The institute offers courses in Armenian studies and has organized major community events, international conferences, symposia, exhibits, and concerts. On Sept. 28, 2014, the institute’s achievements will be honored with an anniversary gala in Los Angeles.

Charles Ghailian, chair of the institute’s Leadership Council noted how fitting it is that these appointments come just as the institute is preparing to celebrate its 10th anniversary.

“The Leadership Council is grateful for the work of all those who supported, served and invested in the institute in its first decade, and now, continuing the partnership between the university and the Armenian community, we are committed to a new decade of innovative programming,” Ghailian said “We welcome Richard Antaramian, Salpi Ghazarian, and of course Richard Hovannisian, and on Sept. 28 we will focus on that future.”

About the USC Institute of Armenian Studies: Established in 2005, the USC Institute of Armenian Studies supports multidisciplinary scholarship to re-define, explore and study the complex issues that make up the contemporary Armenian experience — from post-Genocide to the developing Republic of Armenia to the evolving Diaspora. The institute encourages research, publications and public service, and benefits from communication technologies that link together the global academic and Armenian communities.

About USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences: USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences is the heart of the university. The largest, oldest and most diverse of USC’s 19 schools, USC Dornsife is composed of more than 30 academic departments and dozens of research centers and institutes. USC Dornsife is home to approximately 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students and more than 750 faculty members with expertise across the humanities, social sciences and sciences.

Source: asbarez

LOS ANGELES: Community Gathers to Honor Lisbon 5 (Video)

July 30, 2014 By administrator

LOS ANGELES—Community members on Sunday gathered at churches across the Western United States for special prayers and sermons to honor the memory of the Lisbon 5, who 31 years ago sacrificed their lives for the advancement of the Armenian Cause.

Vache Daghlian, Simon Yahneian, Sarkis Aprahamian, Setrak Adjemian and Ara Kerdjelian were memorialized with special prayers at Prelacy churches around the Western US, while members of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Western US Central Committee, area ARF chapter leaders, representatives of the Armenian Youth Federation, the Armenian Relief Society, Homenetmen and Hamazkayine gathered at the Holy Cross Cathedral in Montebello for a special service led by Very Reverend Father Muron Aznigian.

Wreaths in memory of the Lisbon 5 lined the altar representing each organization present at the ceremony.

Similar prayers were also said at St. Leon Armenian Cathedral in Burbank, officiated by Western Primate Archbishop Hovnan Derderian.

Following the church services at Holy Cross, the crowd made a pilgrimage to Evergreen Cemetery, where another Armenian hero, Missak Torlakian is interred. At his gravesite a special ceremony took place to honor all Armenian heroes who have selflessly sacrificed their lives in the name of the Armenian Nation.

At Evergreen Cemetery, Dr. Viken Yacoubian, a member of the ARF Western US Central Committee, presented a moving keynote address, which characterized the legacy of the Lisbon 5 in our modern-day reality.

deaths came to epitomize our will to never surrender, to continue our struggle and to never silence our demands for the just aspirations of our nation,” said Yacoubian.

The ARF leader said that the Lisbon 5 legacy elevates the concept of enlistment for the cause, which can multiple facets in the service of the nation, from sparing financial resources to sacrificing with one’s life.

Also speaking at the ceremony was Prelate of the Eastern US Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, who was visiting the region, made remarks emphasizing the critical role the Lisbon in amplifying the need for service to the Armenian Cause.

Local activist and host of the popular “Arakelutyun” program on Horizon Armenian Television, Balabek Barsamyan presented a historical account of the Lisbon 5 and emphasized the day’s message of elevating our national heroes as a way to emphasize sacrifice and service for the Armenian Cause.

Speaking on behalf of the youth, Armenian Youth Federation member Saro Babikian introduced the narrative of the armed struggle, which began with Operation Nemesis, of which Torlakian was an integral part. He then stressed that the sacrifice by the Lisbon 5 serves as a lesson for youth today, 31 years after the fateful day in Lisbon.

LOS ANGELES, Protesters commemorate Armenian Genocide (Video)

April 25, 2014 By administrator

By Rob Hayes

LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Thousands of people marched Thursday on the streets of Little Armenia in Hollywood to commemorate the 99th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

The march, organized by Unified Young Armenians, is held every April 24 to honor the 1.5 million Armenians killed in the 1915 massacre.

Los Angeles County is home to the largest population of Armenians in the United States, nearly 194,000 people, according to 2010 U.S. census estimates. About one-third of Glendale residents are of Armenian descent.

Organizers say the march is the largest commemoration of the genocide outside of Armenia. Participants come from all across California, Arizona and Nevada.

Turkey has previously offered condolences to descendants of massacre, but refuses to call the event a genocide. President Barack Obama called the killings one of the “worst atrocities in the 21st century,” but stopped short of calling it a genocide.

Protestor Aroutin Hartounian said he’s disappointed in President Obama’s lack of recognition.

“He did promise to recognize the Armenian Genocide and he failed to deliver that promise,” Hartounian said. “He still has a chance to be that president.”

The march ended around 11:30 a.m.

Armenian Genocide to be commemorated in Glendale, Pasadena, Los Angeles area

April 19, 2014 By administrator

Several local events commemorating the 99th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide will be held in Glendale over the next several days, according to Glendale News-Press.

The genocide resulted in the murder of 1.5 million Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Turks from 1915 to 1918.

The main event of the week will be the city-sponsored Armenian Genocide commemorative event at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

The event will feature traditional Armenian dances and musical performances by local students and keynote speaker Maurice Missack Kelechian, who is a Silicon Valley engineer whose scientific research led to the unveiling of an Armenian orphanage in Antoura near Beirut-Lebanon which dated back to the time of the genocide.

Operated by Ahmad Jemal Pasha, the orphanage housed 1,000 Armenian orphans and served as a “Turkification” center.

The commemorative week will kick off with two events.

On Monday, the Armenian clubs from Glendale, Hoover, Crescenta Valley and Clark Magnet high schools will hold their 13th annual Armenian Genocide remembrance assembly at 7 p.m. in Glendale High’s newly named John Wayne Auditorium, located at 1440 Broadway. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

Students from each school will contribute to part of the assembly, ranging from instrumental musical compositions, poetry readings and video clips.

Also on Monday, the city of Glendale will host a night of poetry focused on inhumane events of the present and past at 6 p.m. in Parcher Plaza at City Hall, 613 East Broadway.

Unified Young Armenians will host a candlelight vigil in remembrance of the genocide at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at the corner of Verdugo Road and Mountain Street.

In Pasadena, the Armenian Community Coalition will host a commemoration event at 10 a.m. on Thursday at Pasadena City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave.

The event will feature several speakers including Very Rev. Father Andon Atamian and Rep. Judy Chu, D-Monterey Park.

Unified Young Armenians’ annual mass demonstration in Little Armenia will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Hollywood Boulevard and Hobart Street.

The Armenian Youth Federation plans its annual protest in front of the Turkish Consulate, 6300 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday.

Los Angeles Community to Honor UCLA Prof. Cowe

April 12, 2014 By administrator

Dr. Cowe to be honored on his 30th anniversary of teaching Armenian Studies; celebration to take place at The London, West Hollywood, on June 1

LOS ANGELES—A newly formed Cowe Anniversary Committee, along with the Friends of UCLA Armenian Language and Culture Studies, will honor Professor S. Peter Cowe at its annual banquet on June 1st, marking the 30th anniversary of his research and instruction in Armenian Studies. The event will take place at The London, a landmark hotel in West Hollywood, Los Angeles.

“We are delighted to honor Prof. Cowe, one of the world’s foremost scholars of Armenian studies, at our banquet this year,” said Dr. Hagop Gulludjian of the Anniversary Committee, which comprises UCLA professors, graduate students, and community activists. “Along with his students, our colleagues, friends, and the Armenian community as a whole, we look forward to saluting a remarkably affable teacher appreciated for his brilliant intellect, continually positive attitude, and extraordinary dedication to the field of Armenology,” Gulludjian said.

Before coming to UCLA, from 1984 to 1996, Cowe taught Armenian language and literature at Columbia University, where he also established the Visiting Professorship in Armenian Studies program through the support of noted philanthropist Dr. Nikit Ordjanian.

In 1987, Cowe was invited to deliver the keynote address in Armenian at the 30th-anniversary celebration of his predecessor Prof. Avedis Sanjian’s contribution to the field of Armenian studies. Cowe’s formal association with UCLA began in 1996, when he was appointed Visiting Associate Professor of Armenian Studies, teaching all three standards of the Armenian language (classical, modern Eastern, and modern Western) as well as literary history. Two years later, Cowe established the Friends of UCLA Armenian Language and Culture Studies as a conduit for fostering community involvement through academic and cultural events, and raising financial support to expand Armenological offerings at UCLA. In 2000, he was named holder of the Narekatsi Chair in Armenian Studies.

Commenting on Cowe’s qualities as a teacher, Shushan Karapetian, a UCLA Armenian Studies Program graduate student who will be completing her doctoral dissertation later this spring, said: “Over ten years ago, after a week into my first undergraduate course with Prof. Cowe, I was hooked — enrolling in every class he offered — and my future was determined. Without a second thought, I embarked on a journey into Armenian studies under the captivating direction of my guardian. As a scholar, he is simply unparalleled; as a teacher and mentor, he is versatile and open-minded, extremely supportive and engaged. My experience at UCLA would not be the same without his matchless imprint.”

The banquet will take place at the Kensington Ballroom of The London Hotel’s Gordon Ramsay Restaurant. “It is interesting to note that celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay is of Scottish descent,” said Dr. Hrach Khudatyan of the Friends of UCLA Armenian Language and Culture Studies and added: “In view of Prof. Cowe’s Scottish descent, our banquet will feature a number of special surprises, in celebration of his background.”

Kessab Armenians in L.A. Take Action to #SaveKessab

April 4, 2014 By administrator

LOS ANGELES—The Kessab Educational Association (KEA) of Los Angeles has issued a plea to the United Nations to close the Syrian-Turkish border and protect the town of Kessab, which came under attack in the morning hours of March 21 after Syrian rebels aided by Turkey attacked the peaceful town on the northwestern border of Syria. Approximately 2,000 Kessab Armenians fled.

“Kessab is the last Armenian-populated town left from the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia,” said KEA of LA president Esther Tognozzi. “We cannot allow it to be destroyed and our brothers, sisters and cousins from Kessab to be displaced.”

At a Town Hall meeting at the Kessab Center on Tuesday, April 1, 2014, representatives of the Armenian National Committee, Syrian Armenian Relief Fund, Armenian Revolutionary Federation and Armenian Youth Federation spoke to more than 120 concerned Armenian-Americans with origins in Kessab about what is being done on an international level to bring attention to the attack on the Kessab region.

Approximately 2,000 Armenians fled Kessab and its surrounding villages after the March 21 attack, escaping to the coastal town of Latakia. There are approximately 60 families living in refuge in the Armenian Apostolic Church in Latakia, sleeping wherever there is space in the facility.

Armenians the world over have rushed to the aid of the displaced Kessab Armenians. The Armenian Relief Society (ARS) has allocated $125,000, the Syrian Armenian Relief Fund (SARF) $100,000, and there have been numerous other smaller donations announced. The KEA of LA has been consistently supporting the people of Kessab since the outbreak of the war in Syria nearly 3 years ago.

The KEA of LA urges Armenians who wish to donate to do so through the following organizations: Syrian Armenian Relief Fund (SARF), the Armenian Relief Society, and the Catholicosate in Antelias, noting that the donation is earmarked for Kessab. The KEA of LA also is accepting donations for Kessab relief.

SARF has announced a fund-raising concert, Hye Aid 3, on April 29 to raise funds for the displaced Kessab Armenians. Visit the SARF website for further details.

A younger generation of Armenian-Americans whose family came to the U.S. from Kessab has become actively involved in spreading information about the attack on Kessab and the plight of displaced Kessab Armenians by promoting the #SaveKessab hashtag on social media.

Four Kessab Armenians spoke at Congressman Brad Sherman’s Town Hall meeting in Van Nuys on Sunday, March 23, just 2 days after the attack, and informed the congressman about what they had heard from family who had been forced to flee Kessab. Both Rep. Brad Sherman and Rep. Adam Schiff last week released statements condemning the attacks by Al Qaeda-affiliated terrorists against Kessab Armenians and Christians.

In an appeal to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, with copies to four UN human rights officials, the KEA stated:

“In the spirit of peace, international humanitarian law and respect for human rights, including those of religious minorities, we respectfully request:

• That the United Nations call for the immediate cessation of the bombardment of the Kessab region and the indiscriminate attack on its peaceful civilian population by rebels with the complicity of Turkish border troops, which is in blatant violation of international human rights and humanitarian law;

• That the United Nations and its affiliated agencies intervene or otherwise ensure the physical safety and legal protection of the Kessab Armenians and of all Armenians and other religious minorities in Syria caught in the crossfire of this humanitarian calamity;

• That the United Nations provide humanitarian assistance to the displaced persons of Kessab and its surrounding villages (Karadouran, Sev Aghpiur, Baghjaghas, Eckez-Oloukh, Eskiuran, Dooz Aghach, and Chinarjek) who have been forcibly displaced from their ancestral homes, lands and livelihoods as a result of these bombardments and armed attacks;

• That the United Nations assist in the peaceful return and resettlement of Kessab Armenians to their ancestral homes, lands and livelihoods.”

The KEA of LA says it will continue serving as a clearing house of information about the situation in Kessab.