HACKENSACK, NJ—Over 70 members from 10 chapters of the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) of Eastern USA, as well as supporters of the organization, attended its regional seminar on April 29 at the Hackensack University Medical Center. 

MaryAnne Bonjuklian led in the singing of the ARS anthem and then introduced Caroline Chamavonian, chairperson of the ARS of Eastern USA.

In her welcoming remarks, Chamavonian noted that the last in-person seminar was held in 2019. Since then, however, she said the ARS “provided thousands of dollars worth of scholarships to young scholars. Our chapters worked in the community during the pandemic to support the elderly and thank our medical heroes. We extended our healing hands to our community members in Lebanon before and after the Beirut port explosion. We supported the work of the Central Executive Board in Artsakh and the work of our sister region in Syria.”

The first speaker of the day was Cynthia Ruggerio, Esq., who lectured on “Resonating Patterns of Cultural Destruction and Genocide.” Ruggerio discussed Lemkin’s creation of the word “genocide” and the role of cultural destruction; resonating patterns from the past to the present; the destruction of churches; the denialist narrative; the Artsakh blockade; and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and international shortcomings.

Dr. Kim Hekimian, assistant professor of nutrition in pediatrics (gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition) at the Institute of Human Nutrition at Columbia University Medical Center, spoke about “Women’s Health in Armenia.” Hekimian presented a lifecycle perspective and highlighted the intergenerational consequences of undernutrition. She also discussed the leading causes of death in recent years; coronary heart disease has been ranked the highest.

After a brief lunch break, longtime ARS member Valentine Berberian and former ARS United Nations interns Taleen Nigdelian, Nory Boiatchian, Talar Hovsepian and Arev Ebrimian presented “Armenian Women’s Rights and Roles Throughout History.”

The seminar ended with Seda Aghamianz, ARS of Eastern USA Regional Executive Board member, who led a workshop on parliamentary procedures. “The understanding of parliamentary procedures is essential during meetings to ensure that the decision-making process is fair, efficient and effective, allowing for the best possible outcomes for the meeting,” she explained.

Dinner was held at Krichian’s Grill and Bistro.

The Regional Board expressed its gratitude to all attendees and the New Jersey “Agnouni,” “Armenouhi” and “Shakeh” Chapters for their hard work in organizing the event. 

NEW YORK, NY — Students, scholars, young professionals and presenters gathered on Saturday at Columbia University for the 2023 ARS Norian Youth Connect Program. This is the first time in three years that the program has been run in-person.

The program began with introductions by Armenian Relief Society (ARS) of Eastern US board member Barbara-Seda Aghamianz and Dr. Khatchig Mouradian, who has been organizing and leading this program for over a decade. Aghamianz shared a brief history of the ARS, as well as information about its many relief programs to support Armenia, Artsakh, Syria, Lebanon and other communities. She noted that the Youth Connect program began in 1971 and used to be a four-week summertime intensive Armenian educational program. The current model successfully facilitates connection for today’s students and young professionals. She also announced the ARS’ virtual Western Armenian classes for beginners starting on March 14, 2023. They will be held every Tuesday at 7 p.m. 

 

ARS of Eastern US board member Barbara-Seda Aghamianz

 

ARS Norian Youth Connect Program Director Dr. Khatchig Mouradian

The first scholar to present was Whitney Adana Kite. Kite is a Ph.D. candidate at Columbia University in the Art History and Archaeology Department specializing in medieval Armenian art and architecture. She holds an M.A. in art history from Tufts University and a B.A. in biological anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania. Her dissertation, “The Lay of the Land: Armenian Monasteries in their Local Landscapes,” explores three medieval monasteries (Horomos, Geghard and Tatev) in the context of their topography. Last summer, Kite was a Lily Residential Scholar at the Library of Congress in the African and Middle Eastern Division (AMED).

Kite’s presentation for Youth Connect was titled “The Mystery of the Menologium.” A Menologium is a calendar that also documents the lives of saints. Kite recounted her process for identifying six folios that were found at the Library of Congress with no context or information. As an art historian, Kite is trained to look at details in art and manuscripts, such as pigment colors, stylization of letters and form that may provide clues to identify the work of art. After photographing the folios from many angles to document these details accurately, she then looked through hundreds of images that have already been cataloged online and in books to find those with a similar style to the ones she is trying to identify. Through this process, she was able to find the manuscript that these folios were from and tracked down further information about it in Dublin that included sales records and who the scribe would have been. Kite’s findings are important because they can be “in dialogue” with other images of the time and can also contribute to understanding immigration patterns, trade circumstances and even the impact of politics on art at the time. 

Next, Dr. Nareg Seferian presented “Where is the US? Where is Armenia? A Glimpse into Geographical Imagination.” This was Dr. Seferian’s first presentation since completing his Ph.D. at the School of Public and International Affairs at Virginia Tech. Between 2013 and 2016, Seferian served on the faculty of the American University of Armenia after receiving his higher education at Yerevan State University, St. John’s College, the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University and the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna. His doctoral research, supervised by Professor Gerard Toal, investigated the province of Syunik in Armenia in the aftermath of the Second Karabakh War. 

Dr. Seferian’s presentation addressed the definition and impact of “geographical imagination,” which is how we perceive or think about a place from our experiences and education. Components include territory and borders, location and relationships and visual discourse (such as maps). Dr. Seferian utilized a hands-on approach to engage attendees by displaying different outlines and images of maps and asking what thoughts and feelings were evoked when looking at each image. As he showed maps of the United States and then Armenia, discourse on the topic evolved into a conversation on identity and geography (with a discussion about terms such as Caucasus, West Asia, Eurasia, Trans Caucasus, South Caucasus, Eastern Europe, Near East and Middle East). The overarching theme was how topographical representation combined with certain labels and education can influence how groups perceive themselves, as well as how others perceive them. These details can impact how disputes and resolutions are handled.

After lunch, Tatevik Khatchatryan provided an overview of the internships and educational programs offered by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). 

Then, Dr. Vatche Isahagian, senior research scientist and manager at IBM, began his presentation about artificial intelligence (AI). At least 25 percent of the program at Youth Connect each year has had a focus in the sciences in order to provide well-rounded programming. Dr. Isahagian is a senior member of both the IEEE and the ACM. His research spans a broad set of disciplines across distributed systems, machine learning and business processes. This presentation defined the facets of artificial intelligence, which include thinking and acting both humanly and rationally. Dr. Isahagian shared the history of AI and the numerous ways in which human beings utilize it, from machines that operate automatically to conversations with ChatGPT. Upon examining the benefits of AI, such as education, and the negative aspects of AI, such as a lack of filtering information, attendees began discussing the implications of AI for Armenian issues. Concerns were raised about how to prevent the spread of misinformation through chat bots that are unable to critically examine information they collect.

The final discussion on activism, education and justice was facilitated by Dr. Henry Theriault, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs at Worcester State University, and Dr. Lalai Manjikian, Humanities Professor at Vanier College in Montreal. Dr. Theriault’s research focuses on genocide denial, genocide prevention, post-genocide victim-perpetrator relations, reparations and mass violence against women and girls. He served two terms as president of the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) and is founding co-editor of the peer-reviewed journal Genocide Studies International. Dr. Manjikian holds a Ph.D. in communication studies from McGill University (2013). Her primary teaching and research interests are in the areas of immigration and refugee studies, media representations of migration, the ethics of migration and migrant narratives. Dr. Manjikian also serves as a board member for the Foundation for Genocide Education.

During this session, attendees discussed how to effectively engage in activism for current Armenian issues, specifically through the lens of healing trauma in order to not only survive but thrive. Attendees and facilitators tackled questions of how to create global cohesion for Armenians, how to best listen and learn from each other, how to remain focused on the work long-term, even if results are not immediately seen, and where individual and collective efforts are best utilized. The overarching theme is that Armenians should be working toward a sense of security for ourselves and the region as a whole to live in peace. 

At the end of the day, attendees were able to provide feedback about the program and continue to learn from each other and build connections over dinner. These young adults leave the program with new information and inspiration to return to their home communities and contribute to the work being done to help Armenians around the globe.

Dalita Getzoyan

Dalita Getzoyan’s involvement in the Armenian community began at a young age, beginning with attending Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church in Providence, RI, and singing in its choir. She also was a member of the Providence AYF “Varantian” junior and senior chapters. She has served both on local committees and the Central Executive for the AYF Eastern Region. Dalita now lives in NYC where she works as a Music Therapist for Hospice of New York. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Flute Performance from the University of Rhode Island and a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling and Music Therapy from Lesley University. She also is currently pursuing a career as an actor in the city.

NEW YORK, NY—Following a two-year virtual hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Norian Youth Connect Program (YCP) returned in-person on Saturday, allowing university students and graduates from throughout North America to kick off the month with meaningful learning, immersive discourse and professional networking. Organized by the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) of Eastern USA, with the support of an endowment by the Norian Fund, the daylong affair at Columbia University is renowned for serving as one of the eastern region’s premier events for scholarly engagement with a diverse range of topics involving the Armenian community including international affairs, technology and the arts.

The program began with welcoming remarks from Barbara-Seda Aghamianz, ARS Eastern Executive board member and administrator of the Genocide Education Project; and Dr. Khatchig Mouradian, Columbia University professor and YCP director. The organizers thanked the group of young Armenians for attending and explained the philanthropic mission of the ARS. According to Dr. Mouradian, participants hailed from across the country, representing approximately 40 universities. He said the program provides him with the opportunity to interact “with the best and brightest Armenian students” which he regards as “one of the greatest privileges of [his] career in education.”

The introduction was followed by four short talks delivered by a lineup of distinguished speakers. The first was led by Whitney Kite, a Ph.D. candidate at Columbia University who specializes in medieval Armenian art and architecture. Kite’s presentation described the intricate process required to trace fragments of Armenian menologia back to their original manuscript. Through reviewing hundreds of manuscripts preserved at the United States Library of Congress and other archives, Kite detailed how she stylistically compares the fragments of menologia to existing manuscripts by examining each piece’s stylistic composition and ornithography signage.

Kite’s intriguing talk about the mysteries of menologium captivated the audience’s attention. This spirit of curiosity persisted into Dr. Nareg Seferian’s roundtable discussion about geographical imagination; a concept that was novel to many, but familiar to Dr. Seferian. Dr. Seferian recently completed his Ph.D. at Virginia Tech’s School of Public and International Affairs and was honored to present at Youth Connect after having been a close follower of the program. 

In completing his work, Dr. Seferian recognized that “a big part of the political life of the Armenian people and the Republic of Armenia, as well as Artsakh, has revolved around territory, claims to territory, territorial loss and gain, and, tragically, the violence and displacement associated with those processes.” Dr. Seferian used this understanding to facilitate an engrossing dialogue about geographical imagination, political geography and other related concepts.

After breaking for a communal lunch, attendees reconvened to hear about the Armenian National Committee of America’s (ANCA) ongoing grassroots efforts to advance the Armenian Cause on the federal, state and local levels. In addition, ANCA Youth Programs associate director Tatevik Khachatryan attended YCP to share how Armenian Americans can directly engage with the ANCA. Among the ANCA’s programs are the Haroutioun and Elizabeth Kasparian Summer Academy for high school students, the Leo Sarkisian Summer Internship for undergraduates, the Rising Leaders Program for university students and recent graduates and the Hovig Apo Saghdejian Capital Gateway Program for recent graduates interested in starting a career in policy, politics or media.

The program then shifted away from the humanities and toward the sciences and engineering, as YCP participants critically explored the implications of artificial intelligence (AI) on society. Dr. Vatche Isahagian, a senior research scientist and manager at IBM Research in Cambridge, Massachusetts, explained how artificial intelligence has evolved to become at the forefront of major global operations and offered an in-depth analysis of the increasing popularization of AI-enhanced business applications. 

The lecture series culminated in an open forum about activism, education and justice, led by Dr. Henry C. Theriault, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs at Worcester State University, and Dr. Lalai Manjikian, a humanities professor at Vanier College in Montreal, Quebec. 

YCP formally concluded with a sit-down dinner during which all attendees had the valuable opportunity to meet and mingle with the featured speakers and program director. Participant Leo Torosian reflected fondly on the day by commending Dr. Mouradian for being “successful in integrating a diverse range of presentations and the discussions on the challenges facing the Armenian nation” and extending his gratitude to “the ARS for providing young adults with an environment for the continued exploration and exchange of ideas.”

Alice Kahkajian

Alice Kahkajian is a proud member of the AYF DC “Ani” Chapter. She recently graduated Summa Cum Laude from American University with a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies: Communication, Legal Institutions, Economics, and Government, with plans to pursue a legal career.

MANHATTAN, NY—The Armenian Relief Society (ARS) of Eastern USA is proud to announce the establishment of the ARS “Tsiran” Chapter of Manhattan, New York. This marks the 34th chapter under the leadership of the ARS of Eastern USA, which includes 14 states with active chapter(s) and the nation’s capital, Washington, DC.

“We are so excited to welcome seven new members into our ranks during a pivotal time for the Armenian nation and diaspora,” said ARS Regional Executive Board chairperson Caroline Chamavonian. “The new members have vowed to extend their healing hands to advance our humanitarian mission and are dedicated to our organization’s motto, ‘With the People, For the People,’” she continued.

During two separate events, new members participated in an oath ceremony, where Regional Executive Board vice-chairperson Taline Daghlian and treasurer Margaret Babikian welcomed them to the organization. Daghlian administered the oath for the new members, and in her congratulatory remarks, she stressed the importance of diligently working to serve the humanitarian mission of the organization and assist those in our community, homeland and society.

The ARS “Tsiran” Chapter becomes the fifth chapter of the state of New York, working alongside the oldest chapter of this organization, the ARS “Mayr” Chapter (established in 1910) and the ARS Chapters of “Anahid,” “Erebouni” and “Lucia.”

Thousands of people in Syria are reeling from deadly earthquakes that struck on the morning of February 6. The first registered at magnitude 7.8—one of the strongest earthquakes to hit the region in 100 years—and the second at magnitude 7.5. The Armenian Relief Society (ARS) of Eastern USA was one of the first to begin an urgent fundraising campaign to assist the humanitarian relief work of the Armenian Relief Cross of Syria (ARCS) during the ongoing search and rescue efforts.

Within the first couple of hours, the ARS of Eastern USA directly transferred a preliminary amount of $5,000 to help launch assistance efforts and began an online fundraising campaign for Syrian Armenian aid. Thanks to the donations made by its supporters and chapters, the ARS of Eastern USA reports that it has raised $50,000, which will be transferred to the ARCS through the Central Executive Board.

The ARCS has implemented several programs to serve the needs of the community—ensuring that the doors of the clinic (Tarmanadoon) remain open until late in the evening to meet urgent health needs and mobilizing the “Petag” kitchen to prepare meals for search and rescue teams and community members. Over 2,000 meals were provided from February 7 to 9.

Additionally, in response to a call to action, the ARCS provided 400 milk containers for babies, as well as tea and sugar. On February 8, the 1,900 Armenians who took refuge in the Armenian centers were provided an assortment of cakes and sweets and milk for young children (350 in total). The following day, the communities of Nor Kyugh and Villas received an assortment of jams, compliments of the ARCS “Shirak” Store. 

The ARCS also prepared and distributed 3,000 boxes of to-go meals to those in the Armenian centers. On February 9, ARCS doctors and nurses from the clinic began rotations at the Armenian centers to provide care for those taking refuge there. Work is also underway to prepare and distribute blankets to children and adults.

As rescue teams continue to search the rubble of the many buildings that have been destroyed, the death toll is still rising. Therefore, the ARS of Eastern USA is once again asking you to please support its activities and help those affected by this catastrophe.

NEW YORK, NY—ARS Norian Youth Connect Program (YCP) will return to Columbia University on Saturday, March 4, after being held virtually for two years due to the pandemic.

The daylong program for university students will feature short talks, round tables and discussions on a variety of topics ranging from art and culture to international affairs and Artificial Intelligence. It will conclude with a dinner and networking event on Saturday evening.

Speakers include Dr. Vatche Isahagian, Dr. Henry Theriault, Whitney Kite, Dr. Lalai Manjikian and Nareg Seferian. Dr. Khatchig Mouradian will serve as program director.

Registration is $50 and includes meals, dinner and accommodations for Friday and Saturday nights (for out-of-town students only). University students (age limit 18-26) are urged to register promptly, as space is limited.

Register online (scroll down to Youth Connect Program) and also complete this online form.

The ARS Norian YCP is organized by the Armenian Relief Society of Eastern USA. 

Dr. Vatche Isahagian is a senior research scientist and manager at IBM Research in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Boston University in 2013. His research spans a broad set of disciplines across distributed systems, machine learning and business processes. His current focus is on utilizing AI techniques such as natural language processing and multi-agent systems to enable AI-enhanced business automations. Vatche’s work has resulted in multiple patent filings, peer-reviewed publications in conferences and journals, as well as two best paper awards. Additionally, he has organized several workshops and served as a member of program committees, as well as co-chair and publicity chair for various conferences. He is a senior member of both the IEEE and the ACM.

Dr. Henry C. Theriault is currently Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs at Worcester State University in the United States, after teaching in its philosophy department from 1998 to 2017. From 1999 to 2007, he coordinated the university’s Center for the Study of Human Rights. Theriault’s research focuses on genocide denial, genocide prevention, post-genocide victim-perpetrator relations, reparations and mass violence against women and girls. He has lectured and appeared on panels around the world. Since 2007, he has chaired the Armenian Genocide Reparations Study Group and is lead author of its March 2015 final report, “Resolution with Justice.” He has published numerous journal articles and chapters, and his work has appeared in English, Spanish, Armenian, Turkish, Russian, French and Polish. With Samuel Totten, he co-authored The United Nations Genocide Convention: An Introduction (University of Toronto Press, 2019). Theriault served two terms as President of the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS), 2017-2019 and 2019-2021. He is founding co-editor of the peer-reviewed journal Genocide Studies International. From 2007 to 2012 he served as co-editor of the International Association of Genocide Scholars’ peer-reviewed Genocide Studies and Prevention.

Whitney Kite is a Ph.D. candidate at Columbia University, where she specializes in Armenian art and architecture. Her dissertation explores the connections between medieval Armenian monasteries and their local topography. Her master’s thesis, “The Madonna’s Magic Carpet: The Construction of Presence in an Armenian Tympanum Relief” was awarded the 2020 graduate student essay award by the International Center of Medieval Art. Prior to her doctoral work, Whitney received an MA in art history from Tufts University and a BA in biological anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania. Her research has been generously supported by the Medieval Academy of America, the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research, the Claudia Rattazzi Papka Memorial Fund, the Dr. Paula Gerson Fund, Casa Muraro, the Armenian General Benevolent Union and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.  

Dr. Lalai Manjikian is a humanities professor at Vanier College in Montreal. She also teaches in the Women and Gender Studies program at Vanier. Her main teaching and research interests are in the areas of immigration and refugee studies, media representations of migration, the ethics of migration and migrant narratives. She is the author of Collective Memory and Home in the Diaspora: The Armenian Community in Montreal (2008). Dr. Manjikian’s articles have been published in a number of newspapers and journals including The Armenian Weekly, Horizon Weekly, 100 Lives (The Aurora Prize), The Montreal Gazette, and Refuge. A former Birthright Armenia participant (2005), over the years, Dr. Manjikian has been active in volunteering both within the Armenian community in Montreal and the local community at large, namely engaged in immigrant and refugee integration. She previously served as a qualitative researcher on the Armenian Diaspora Survey in Montreal. Dr. Manjikian also serves as a board member for the Foundation for Genocide Education. She holds a Ph.D. in Communication Studies from McGill University (2013).

WATERTOWN, Mass. — The Armenian Relief Society (ARS) of Eastern USA is now accepting applications for its annual scholarship program. 

Hundreds of students have been awarded ARS scholarships because of their ambition, hard work and service to their community. This year, the ARS of Eastern USA plans on awarding more students in order to alleviate the financial burden and create a cycle of success. More importantly, the ARS of Eastern USA is making an investment in the future of our community and nation.

Applicants must be of Armenian descent and must have completed at least one college semester at an accredited institution in the United States in order to be eligible. For complete details about the application process and to access the application form, visit www.arseastusa.org.

Scholarship grants are awarded based on a combination of financial need, merit and involvement in the Armenian community.  All three areas should be addressed in the application.  Each application is valid for only one year, but students who have received a grant may apply for a second one. Applications are not automatically renewed, and an individual may only be granted a maximum of two scholarships.

Scholarship application materials should be directed to Armenian Relief Society of Eastern USA, Inc., 80 Bigelow Ave, Suite 200, Watertown, MA 02472.

Deadline for applications is April 1, 2023.

WATERTOWN, Mass.—As we conclude 2022 and begin to gear up for another year of humanitarian service, the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) of Eastern USA reflects on its activities and how the work of our membership and the support of our donors and friends allowed us to once again extend our healing hands to those who needed us the most by implementing and supporting humanitarian, educational, youth and health programs within our community, in the homeland and around the world. 

We began the year by launching the “Share the Love” campaign and raised funds for the hot meal programs in Lebanon and Syria. With the generosity of our donors and members, we were able to provide much-needed hot meals to community members who are struggling to put food on their tables. Throughout the year, we supported the work of the Armenian Relief Cross of Lebanon and Syria by allocating additional financial assistance, so they could implement a series of programs in their respective regions to support the community, which has been facing major hardships in their countries. 

For our youth, we organized a virtual Norian Youth Connect Program featuring a panel discussion on “Creativity in Challenging Times” and a lecture on the future of Armenians. In 2023, the ARS of Eastern USA will resume its program in-person and will soon announce the details of the Norian Youth Connect Program set to take place on March 4, 2023 at Columbia University in New York City.  

As part of our yearly activities, we provided over $70,000 in scholarships to graduate and undergraduate students for their ambition, hard work and service to their community.

As longtime supporters of Camp Haiastan, the ARS of Eastern USA donated $100,000 during the organization’s 70th anniversary gala to support a series of renovation projects.

Furthermore, the ARS of Eastern USA continued to support the work of the Armenian National Education Committee and conducted an essay contest between day and one-day schools. 

To support efforts in the homeland, our members and supporters sponsored 100 children of Artsakh’s fallen heroes, a program that our organization has implemented since the war first began in 1988. During the year, we continued our sponsorship of the Soseh Kindergarten of Khndzristan; supported the ARS Akhourian Mother and Child Health and Birthing Center; and sponsored gifts to students who have excelled in their studies through the ARS Outstanding Student Program. As usual, we also supported the community of Javakhk by providing much-needed assistance to the region for their ongoing needs.

Due to the ongoing situation in Artsakh and the dire need for medical attention needed for our homeland’s defenders, the ARS of Eastern USA continued to financially support the lifesaving work of the Artsakh Rehab Center.

In 2022, the ARS of Eastern USA also gained a new chapter in Vermont—the ARS “Noor” Chapter. The new members took an oath and joined the greater ARS family to continue the work that began more than a century ago. The ARS of Eastern USA also held its 101st convention in North Carolina, one year after the establishment of that state’s chapter.

We have confidence, pride and passion in our work, which we practice at a high level of excellence. It’s all due to the generosity and commitment of our members, chapters, supporters and friends who allow us to make a difference for so many people in our communities and around the world.

More than $450,000 was allocated for all the humanitarian and community-centered programs mentioned above, surpassing last year’s allocations.

On behalf of the ARS of Eastern USA’s Regional Executive Board, we would like to extend our gratitude to all for being generous with their time, support and dedication to foster the ARS’ programs. We are praying that the Lachin Corridor, currently blocked by Azerbaijan, will be opened and peace will be restored in Artsakh. We ask that you join us in that prayer and support the humanitarian work of the ARS during 2023, so we can extend our hands to those who need us the most. 

WATERTOWN, Mass.—The Armenian Relief Society (ARS) of Eastern USA has launched its annual Spread Christmas Cheer campaign for the holiday season. The aim of the project is to provide gifts and toys to children in need in Armenia, Artsakh, Javakhk, Syria and Lebanon. Each child will also be invited to celebrate Christmas at a community party. 

“Our campaign aims to provide joy and hope to less fortunate children during the Christmas season with presents and positive memories from the season,” said Caroline Chamavonian, chairperson of the ARS of Eastern USA. “We are asking our community to donate generously to the campaign and spread joy to our compatriots that might otherwise not have the opportunity to celebrate this joyous occasion,” she continued. 

When the campaign was first launched in 2020, the ARS of Eastern USA sponsored 1,500 gifts for displaced children from Artsakh. Last year, due to the many challenges faced by our compatriots in Javakhk, Syria and Lebanon, the ARS of Eastern USA expanded the list and raised more than $57,000 for the campaign. This year, the organization is once again asking the community to help us reach our goals and send a message of hope and joy to those in need.

Community members can donate online. Donations can also be made payable to the ARS of Eastern USA and mailed to 80 Bigelow Avenue, Suite 200, Watertown, MA 02472.

The Armenian Relief Society Eastern USA will start Western Armenian conversation classes virtually for adults in January of 2023.

The program started at the Nareg Armenian School in New Jersey, and in order to encourage greater participation, it was proposed to be implemented on a regional level. As such, this is a pilot program recommended by the ARS of Eastern USA 101st convention delegates.

This program is an effort to preserve the Armenian language and encourage individuals to learn and speak their native language in their diasporan communities.

The program instructor will be ARS member Sossi Essajanian. She will use the Eastern Prelacy’s bilingual Let’s Chat books. These resources are rich with vocabulary words and short dialogues used in daily conversation. The program will help individuals learn phrases, understand and communicate in Armenian.

The program fee for the 10-week session is $100 and includes the Let’s Chat book. The virtual classes will be held on Wednesdays, starting on January 11, 2023. The session will end on March 15, 2023.

All individuals and communities are encouraged to participate.