A Night of Basketball with the AYF Special Needs Program

Northridge, CA- On Feb. 8, the AYF San Fernando “Sardarabad” Chapter invited athletes and parents of the Special Needs Basketball Program to witness the Cal State Northridge Matadors take on the Cal State Fullerton Titans in a Big West showdown.

The excitement began as soon as the athletes walked through the door. Thanks to Erin Kiser, the Assistant Athletic Director at CSUN, the athletes were able to welcome the CSUN Men’s Basketball team onto the court alongside the Matador cheerleaders.

Photo Credit: CSUN Department of Athletics

The game was a roller coaster ride for the Matadors with great display of heart and will. With two seconds left on the clock, the Matadors tied the game with a three point shot that brought joyful cheers to both the athletes and parents. In overtime, the Matadors out-battled the Titans to victory. The greatest joy of the night was seeing smiles on children’s faces when a player dunked the basketball and feeling the excitement when they chanted “Defense” with the other Matador fans.

Saturday night’s energy carried into Sunday, as the AYF Special Needs Basketball Program held its weekly basketball practice. The athletes, parents and volunteers continued to have fun and bond through the beautiful game of basketball.

For more information about the Special Needs Basketball program, call 818-451-3787 or email sardarabad@ayfwest.org.

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AYF Hosts Holiday Drives

The Armenian Youth Federation hosted several drives this past holiday season. Local chapters collected items such as canned food, clothing and toys in order to help the less fortunate in Armenia, as well as their respective communities.

The Pasadena “Nigol Touman” Chapter held its first-ever canned food drive. Donations were collected at the Pasadena Armenian Center and sent to the Pasadena Union Station and Homeless Shelter.

The San Fernando Valley “Sardarabad” Chapter held its third annual clothing drive to send donations to Armenia. “The clothing drive is a great way to give back to your homeland and send them materials that will truly be useful for them,” said Dickran Khodanian, a member of the “Sardarabad” Chapter. “It’s amazing how all the drop off locations are being filled with clothing in this short period of time. It shows the activeness and willingness to help out Armenia by members of the Armenian community in Southern California.”

In Fresno, the “Kevork Chavoush” Chapter collected toys to be sent to Armenia in their sixth annual toy drive. Each year, the chapter reaches out to local Armenian and non-Armenian businesses to place drop-off boxes in their facilities. This year, with the help of the Burbank “Varak” Chapter, they collected further donations in the Greater Los Angeles area.

“Our purpose was to bring joy to underprivileged children in Armenia,” said Knar Kahkejian of the Fresno chapter. “We achieved that goal by collecting many brand new toys for these children to play with.”

“We would like to thank everyone for their continued support, especially to our fellow Ungers from the Burbank ‘Varak’ chapter,” Kahkejian said. “We appreciate everyone’s help and we thank you all for assisting in our endeavors to bring a smile to the face of a child in Armenia.”

Founded in 1933, the Armenian Youth Federation is the largest and most influential Armenian-American youth organization in the United States, working to advance the social, political, educational and cultural awareness of Armenian-American youth.

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AYF Hollywood to Host Tenth Annual Little Armenia Beautification Project

For the tenth consecutive year running, the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) is mobilizing youth throughout California for a massive one-day effort to beautify the streets of Little Armenia in Hollywood.

On March 8, the 10th Annual Little Armenia Beatification Project (LABP) will kick off in the courtyard of the Rose and Alex Pilibos High School on Saturday morning, where there will be a festival. Hundreds of volunteers are expected to partake in this year’s project.

The event, organized by the AYF Hollywood “Musa Dagh” Chapter and the Hollywood chapter of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), helps revitalize the streets of this densely populated district of East Los Angeles. The AYF took on the project after the official designation of “Little Armenia,” as it is home to more Armenian-Americans than any other city in America.

“Many of us, whether we live in Hollywood or not, view this area as our home away from home,” says Lori Tashdjian, a member of the Hollywood chapter. “We organize this event each year because it is our responsibility to make sure it is a clean and beautiful place to live.”

For many years, former Los Angeles City Councilmember and current Mayor Eric Garcetti and California State Senator Kevin de Leon have been avid supporters of LABP. Over the past 10 years, according to Los Angeles Sanitation Department estimates, the Project has resulted in the collection of more than 40,000 pounds of trash. This year, through the office of L.A. City Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell, the city will once again be donating supplies including rakes, brooms, shovels and garbage bags.

As this is the 10th anniversary of the project, organizers are looking to increase its magnitude and aim to attracting hundreds of members of the Hollywood community. “We wanted to expand the project this year, as it is the tenth anniversary of LABP,” said “Musa Dagh” Chairperson Maria Maadanian. “For the first time ever, there will be a festival held in the courtyard for the entire Hollywood community featuring tasty foods, fun games for children and various musical and cultural performances.”

In an effort to continue to growth and reach of LABP, the AYF has also teamed up with the East Hollywood Neighborhood Council, the Rotary Club of Thai Town and the Thai Community Development Center. In addition, the AYF has chosen to make the official color of the event purple in solidarity with International Women’s Day, which also falls on March 8.

Founded in 1933, the Armenian Youth Federation is the largest and most influential Armenian American youth organization in the United States, working to advance the social, political, educational and cultural awareness of Armenian-American youth.

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AYF Burbank to Host Art Exhibition at Burbank Youth Center

The Armenian Youth Federation Burbank “Varak” Chapter is excited to announce its second annual art exhibition to be held on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. at the ACF Burbank Youth Center, located at 75 East Santa Anita Ave in Burbank.

The event aims to bring the community together to promote and celebrate Armenian culture. All members of the community are invited to participate and showcase their artwork. Paintings, drawings, photographs and sculptures will be accepted.

“We are looking forward to bringing Armenian artists together for an evening of art that reflects the essence of our culture,” said Araz Majnoonian, chairperson of the committee organizing the event. “This is a wonderful opportunity for aspiring artists to gain exposure and to connect with other artists.”

Last year, over 75 pieces of art were showcased in the exhibition. The Burbank “Varak” Chapter is looking forward to showcasing even more artwork by more artists this year.

To submit artwork, please use the online sign-up form. Admission to the event is free and open to the public. For any questions, please contact the AYF Burbank Chapter at Varak@ayfwest.org.

Founded in 1933, the Armenian Youth Federation is the largest and most influential Armenian-American youth organization in the United States, working to advance the social, political, educational and cultural awareness of Armenian-American youth.

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AYF MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

mentorship@ayfwest.org

The AYF Mentorship Program is a newly-initiated program that helps members achieve their academic and professional goals. Partnering with the Armenian National Committee – Western Region and the ANCA – Professional Network, this program will be leading the Armenian youth toward academic success. Each applicant is matched with a qualified mentor who will guide and advise the mentees through various parts of their academic career.

“Since its inception, I was very motivated to join the mentorship program,” said Taleen Mahseredjian, a member of the Burbank “Varak” Chapter. “My mentor was highly suited for me, understood my needs and helped me successfully complete my college applications. So far, I have only received acceptances.”

The mentorship accommodates every mentee’s needs. Mentors give direction and provide resources to their mentees in areas such as college applications, essay revision, resume building, internship opportunities, post-graduation job searching, resume building, and any other accommodations. Mentors are also encouraged to meet in person with their mentees and have guidance sessions.

“The one-on-one mentoring approach of the program is very beneficial, as my mentor and I have been meeting on a regular basis to plan and execute my affairs,” said Taleen Baghdadlian, a member of the Glendale “Roupen” Chapter. “I am thankful for my organization, the Armenian Youth Federation, for providing such an essential program for our members to take advantage of.”

AYF members across the Western Region are encouraged to apply to the program as mentees and mentors to younger members.

Founded in 1933, the Armenian Youth Federation is the largest and most influential Armenian American youth organization in the United States, working to advance the social, political, educational and cultural awareness of Armenian-American youth.

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#ArmenianGenocide

On Jan. 31, Armenians across the world took to social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram in order to publicize the Armenian Genocide. The campaign was successful in trending the hashtag, #ArmenianGenocide, in several countries.

The objective of the campaign was to bring light to the issue of the Armenian Genocide outside of the month of April. Participants were encouraged to compose informative messages along with the hashtag in order to educate the social sphere about the horrors of 1915.

Spearheaded by Armenian Youth Federation members across the United States and Canada, the online movement was paired with silent protests in university campuses across California, organized by the All-Armenian Student Association. Students taped their mouths shut with duct tape and displayed posters in order to bring attention to themselves and create awareness about the genocide through informative posters and displays.

The social media campaign garnered the most attention on Twitter, generating 16,715 tweets containing the #ArmenianGenocide hashtag on Thursday. It was the third-most tweeted trend in the United States for about 10 minutes and fourth-most in Canada between noon and 1 p.m.

The hashtag was most used in Los Angeles, trending at No. 2 between noon and 2 p.m. and No. 3 between 2 and 3 p.m. It was also No. 7 in Washington, D.C. for over an hour.

The hashtag was popular in several other locations, including Austin, TX; Toronto and Montreal in Canada; Armenia; and Egypt.

Founded in 1933, the Armenian Youth Federation is the largest and most influential Armenian-American youth organization in the United States, working to advance the social, political, educational and cultural awareness of Armenian-American youth.

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What is Socialism?

“Democracy is incomplete and lacking without socialism,” reads the Armenian Revolutionary Federation’s (ARF) manifesto. Socialism is mentioned in the ARF manifesto nearly twenty times, yet today, it seems to be a concept not many people in the community think about or even understand.

On Saturday, Jan. 18 at 7 p.m., the AYF Montebello “Vahan Cardashian” Chapter will be hosting an educational and mixer called “What is Socialism?” The interactive event is centered around the formation of socialist theory, history and it’s roots in the ideology of the ARF. Time will be allotted after the event for discussion.

“As members of a socialist organization, we need to think of new ways to implement socialism in our daily lives while advocating for more socialist forms of government in Armenia and anywhere Armenian-Americans live,” said Nicole Felikian, a member of “Vahan Cardashian.”

The speakers include Dr. Razmig Shirinian, who will cover the socialist influences during the formation of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, and Nare Kupelian, who will speak on the history and birth of socialist theory.

The event will be livestreamed for those who can not be present.

Dr. Razmig Shirinian is a professor of Political Science at the College of the Canyons.
Nare Kupelian is pursuing a PhD in History at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Visit the event page for more information.

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