Manuk Suren

noranori:

Information/Opportunities fair hosted by ARF “Shant” Student Association with the purpose of promoting Diasporan involvement in Armenia through volunteerism and repatriation. 

A diverse number of organizations will be participating at the event to provide information about various programs in Armenia. 

Guest speakers include Alfred Eisaian and Sara Anjargolian who were both TEDxYerevan speakers in 2011. 

The event will also include a video presentation of repatriate interviews and a photo exhibit featuring the work of children in Gyumri. 

FREE ADMISSION 

Sunday April 1, 2012 3-7pm 
Glendale Central Library
222 East Harvard Street Glendale, CA

www.ARFShant.org
Follow us @ARFShant on Twitter

GREAT ARTICLE

ianyanmag:

Under Hrant Dink’s Aura, a Turkish-Armenian community comes into its own

As the sun took its last breath on a cold Sunday night, a crowd shuffled its way into a crème-colored hall deep in the heart of L.A’s  San Fernando Valley. The mood, although somber, was tinged with a sparkle of hope and chairs, although plenty, weren’t enough.

Between the handshakes and embraces, where personal space is usually lost somewhere between the first, and then second kiss on the cheek, a Turkish-Armenian community, almost 7000 miles away from Istanbul, paid their respects to one of their own, with his iconic image emblazoned on their coat pockets, to the sounds of the melancholy lull of Albert Vardanyan’s duduk lingering through the room.

Some had met him and formed relationships, sharing dinner tables and discussions. Others knew him from afar. In either case, the impressions that Hrant Dink — the Turkish-Armenian newspaper editor who was gunned down five years ago — left were always the same: not just a good Armenian, but a good human being, whose vision and determination had warmth to thaw away physical and emotional borders. For this crowd more than any other, Dink has come to represent a sort of Armenian Martin Luther King, Jr., a man who stood for peace and justice — a man who was not only a voice for Armenians, but of Turkish democracy.

You can read the rest of my piece on L.A.’s Turkish-Armenian community, their trials and tribulations within Turkey and the Armenian diaspora and how their unique perspective, coupled with Hrant Dink’s legacy has the potential to shift and bridge relations, here: Under Hrant Dink’s Aura, a Turkish-Armenian community comes into its own

unusualyoung:

Lake Mackenzie, 1979

Astvadz indzi ays degh dar mi kani or.

writepudding:

Hi Tumblr,

As some of you know, I started a website called ianyanmag.com in 2009, trying to cover news and under reported issues about Armenia, its diaspora, the South Caucasus and occasionally, greater Middle East from an purely independent, alternative angle without ties to any political or religious organization. In the process, I have come to learn a lot about myself, made amazing friends, received recognition in the likes of Amnesty International and Global Voices, been able to travel to Armenia twice and have had submissions from writers spanning the globe, from Fresno to New York, France and Turkey.

I always say that “it’s the message, not the medium,” but after a lot of contemplation and many cups of soorj (or Armenian coffee) in Yerevan, I decided I wanted to try and make this space I’ve created into a tangible magazine. I don’t know where this will lead, if it will go beyond one issue, how I’ll be able to fund it, or if it will make a difference, but ianyanmag.com will be debuting its first issue early next year. There’s a lot of planning to do and I can foresee sleepless nights ahead.

And while I figure out the logistics, I need your help. I want to create a beautiful, raw, independent and thought-provoking zine intent on unraveling cultural eccentricities, showcasing artists, food, musicians and writers, and exploring serious issues Armenia, the South Caucasus, Post-Soviet countries and Middle East are facing. This won’t be your typical glossy mag and it’s something, that if done right, should have appeal beyond the cultural communities it is aiming to cover.

This can be anything from interviews, poetry, personal stories, photography, art, illustration, news features or prose. If you have an idea and you want to be part of this issue, or you know someone who would, I will be gladly accepting ideas, submissions and tips at editorial@ianyanmag.com

Your ethnicity has no bearing on you being able to contribute, neither does your age. All I’m really looking for is people who are passionate about issues, people and culture connected to Armenia, the South Caucasus and Middle East and their diasporas who want to be part of this zine.

If that’s you, shoot me an email. If you have any tips for ideas, let me know as well. This is an experiment. I don’t know where it will go after this first issue, if it will even stay as ianyan or morph into something else. But I think it’s important enough to try, and I think there’s so much untapped potential out there that needs to be unearthed.

If you have people you follow (and they have people they follow) that you think this would be of interest to, please help by reblogging. Expect an update soon, and I hope to hear from you.