Day: April 9, 2024

Wife of ‘Gold Bars’ Sen. Bob Menendez asks for delay in her upcoming corruption trial  New York Post

Sen. Bob Menendez’s wife cites need for surgery in request to delay her trial  WHYY

Sen. Bob Menendez’s wife cites need for surgery in request to delay her trial  FOX 31 Denver

By Dr. Nicholas Akgulian

The Wisconsin Council of Social Studies (WCSS) annual conference was held in Madison on March 15-17, 2024. The Armenian National Committee of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Armenian community-at-large each had booths at the conference, providing numerous resources related to the Armenian Genocide to educators and others in attendance, including methods available to incorporate this history into the classroom. 

In 2021, Wisconsin passed Act 30, which mandates the teaching of the “Holocaust and other genocides” at least once at both the middle and high school level. As social studies teachers are charged with implementing Act 30, the Armenian community’s participation in the WCSS conference was aimed at providing these educators the tools to teach effectively on the Armenian case. In addition to booths, a presentation was delivered on the History of Armenians in Wisconsin by community members Talene Kelegian and Armen Hadjinian. Dr. George Dalbo, a Wisconsin educator and Genocide Education Project Fellow, was instrumental in organizing the presentation and was present to lend his expertise to the followup discussion. A brief but powerful film on the exodus from Artsakh in September 2023 was included.

Wisconsin community members Talene Kelegian and Armen Hadjinian at the WCSS conference

To further equip Wisconsin educators with the ability to incorporate the Armenian Genocide and recent events in Artsakh into the classroom in support of Act 30, a one-day workshop will be held on April 27, 2024 at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM). The event is sponsored by the UWM Institute of World Affairs in collaboration with the Wisconsin Armenian community and cosponsored by the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR). Highly-respected Boston area-based photographer Winslow Martin, who has been returning to Armenia regularly for the past 25 years, will present on the Artsakh refugees from his time in Armenia last September. He will be one of several featured presenters. The link to the workshop is available here.

In July, the Wisconsin Armenian community will again take part in the Milwaukee-based Holocaust Education Resource Center’s annual virtual conference on Holocaust and Genocide. Distinguished professor Dr. Khatchig Mouradian (Columbia University, Library of Congress) is scheduled to participate.

In the fall, Dr. Mouradian will lead an online university-level course on comparative genocide offered through UWM, cosponsored by NAASR. A flier for this much-anticipated course is included here. This for-credit course is open to all qualified high school students, any degree enrolled student from UWM or elsewhere, and the interested non-degree general public. Please contact Rachel Baum at UWM for more information.

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For as long as I can remember, my cousin Harout has been singing Armenian revolutionary, or heghapokhagan, songs. His songs are a huge hit in our family and make the older generation beam with pride.

Harout is a singer and songwriter who uses the stories that were passed on to him to create and inspire, while singing about our tragic past and, sadly, our present state. He draws inspiration from our heroes, past and present.

Born in Philadelphia, Harout grew up in a family that remained true to its roots. “My passion for heghapokhagan and azkayin music started really early, probably at the age of six. My medz mayr would listen to heghapokhagan songs constantly. She’d put me on top of the kitchen table and encourage me to sing with her. Singing with her became one of my favorite pastimes,” Harout said.

“As I got older, she began to tell me stories about the Armenian Genocide. She went into great detail about the struggle of our family and countless others, but would always emphasize the importance of fighting back and never surrendering. The stories of our ancestors intrigued me so much as a child. One could say that I’m writing a soundtrack to the stories of our generation,” Harout continued.

I asked Harout what inspires him, and he said that a specific phrase galvanized him. “Park oo badeev, Hye Fedayee. We’ve endured many tragedies throughout the centuries, but our only glimmer of hope has been the brave, God fearing, country loving men and women of our homeland. I’ve heard so many stories of heroism, bravery and sacrifices of our sisters and brothers that have gone unnoticed. I think the least we can do is acknowledge them, celebrate and honor them by keeping their memories alive. The only way I know how to honor them is through music,” Harout reflected.

“There is something to be said about watching your homeland being torn apart from afar. It has transformed all of the stories I’ve heard throughout my life into something that I’m living through and hearing about in real time. I’ve been writing songs about our struggles, our cause, our heroes for years, but the occurrences of these past couple of years have lit a fire within me, ” Harout shared.

Harout Keoseyan

Harout grew up in a very tight knit family that exuded a strong sense of patriotism. “My family had ties with the ARF in Syria, Lebanon and then America. Discussions about current events in Armenia and their political ramifications were all I heard at family functions and on the dinner table. Even though I’d never been to the homeland, loving my country and its history was second nature for me at a young age. It wasn’t just the feeling of belonging to a country but to the organization that helped preserve the right for that very country to exist. Hearing my father, grandfather and uncles offer cheers to each other with Gomideh shot glasses proudly conveying, ‘Tashnagtsagan em, hbard em!’ left an indelible mark on me. I now have continued that tradition with my own family, using the same shot glasses,” Keoseyan said.

Harout’s songs have a universal theme: fight, resist and remember. “That’s all we have ever done: fight for our right to exist, resist annihilation and remember the ones we’ve lost. As Armenians, we will always thrive. We contribute such beautiful aspects of our culture, our music, our cuisine and much more to the world, but our essence is based on survival, and one only does that by fighting. If I had a message to the youth today, it would be to never stop fighting! Never surrender! Baykar, baykar meenchev verch,” Harout said.

One of Harout’s favorite performances was when he got the opportunity to sing alongside Karnig Sarkissian and Nersik Ispiryan at a Genocide vigil in California with thousands in attendance. He calls Sarkissian his musical inspiration. “Karnig was the only person I heard singing more heghapokhagan songs than my medz mayr. I’m sure I’ve listened to his albums more than a thousand times in my lifetime,” Harout said.

I asked Harout if he’s faced any challenges. “Artists are always faced with challenges, whether it’s writer’s block, lack of exposure, technical issues, but for me the most difficult one as a heghapokhagan singer is the size of my audience. I don’t sing dance songs or perform at weddings or christenings. There’s only one thing that I’m passionate about, and that’s azkayin music. We are lucky to have many chapters of AYF, ARF and Homenetmen all over the world, but even if I was asked to sing at each and every event, it would never satisfy my thirst to perform the old and new songs of our heroes,” he responded.

As our interview was winding down, I asked Harout where he sees himself in five years. “I see myself singing all across the country and internationally, with a few new songs under my belt about how we got Artsakh back. For anyone that says it’s not possible, we’ve done more in the past with less resources. Armenians have always been guided by faith, and I believe that Artsakh will always be ours, and we will be back. They’ve demolished many churches and historical sites, but my faith remains steadfast. Artsakh is Armenia. We are Armenians. We are Artsakh. Yegek miaseen yerkenk ays yerkeru! Follow me, and let’s sing these songs together.”

You can follow Harout on Instagram @haroutkeoseyan.

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FRANKLIN, Mass.—This week the Board of Directors of AYF Camp Haiastan announced the selection of the Leadership Team for the 2024 camping season. 

“Each year, our summer leadership team embodies the spirit of dedication, compassion and excellence that defines AYF Camp Haiastan. I am excited to welcome these individuals who will lead our camp community in 2024, inspiring our campers to embrace their Armenian heritage, foster lifelong friendships and cultivate leadership skills that will guide them far beyond the summer,” commented Executive Director Kenar Charchaflian. 

Erik Avagyan of Watertown, Massachusetts will be the Summer Camp Director this year. Baron Erik, a first year Camp Director, is no stranger to the camp. He has been involved with Camp Haiastan since 2006, first as a camper, then counselor, then staff coordinator and for the past few years as a volunteer, helping with facility maintenance and airport transportation.

Erik Avagyan

Avagyan was born in Yerevan and grew up in New York City. Upon finishing high school, he joined the United States Marine Corp, where he was deployed overseas for two stints. At the conclusion of his enlistment, Avagyan relocated to Boston where he pursued employment and education. During his undergraduate studies at Boston College, Avagyan excelled in business classes and decided to pursue his MBA, which he is now earning at Babson College. In order to prepare for the 2024 camping season, Avagyan has taken a leave of absence from his job in the technology field and has already been involved in staff hiring and other pre-season activities. 

“I see my primary role to make sure the camp provides a safe and healthy environment while instilling a sense of Armenian identity. I would like to give back what the camp has given me. In my camper days, Baron Pete had a positive influence on me. I hope to do the same for both staff and campers,” Avagyan said.

Seran Tcholakian will continue as the Program Director at Camp Haiastan. This position was established last year to revise and expand the traditional activities in which previous  generations of campers had participated. The 2023 record-breaking number of campers thoroughly enjoyed these new and age-appropriate activities. 

Digin Seran is very familiar with the camp, as she has attended as a camper and has served as a Summer Director (2019-2021). A native of New York, Avagyan lives in Farmington Hills, Michigan with her husband Rafi and their five children, all former campers and staffers. A graduate of Hunter College, Tcholakian taught for many years at the Alex and Marie Manoogian School in Dearborn. She is now a tutor and an active member of her local Armenian community through the Armenian Relief Society (ARS).

Based on the positive reaction we received from campers, staff and parents, the new activities that were introduced last year will be continued. In discussing the camp program, Tcholakian stated, “We will make some minor adjustments and introduce some variations to continue to ensure a positive, developmentally appropriate and exceptionally unique Camp Haiastan experience.”

Seran Tcholakian, Kristin Asadourian and Erik Avagyan at Camp Haiastan

Ani Changelian will return as Day Camp Director. Last year Digin Ani led two, one-week sessions for the day campers, ages 5-7. Established in 2006, the Day Camp offers parents of young children an opportunity for their children to attend a camp that provides extensive outdoor and indoor activities, but more importantly fosters Armenian identity. Again this year, there will be two sessions, one in late June and another in early August.

Changelian received a master’s degree in education from the New York Institute of Technology, Downing College. She lives in Bedford, Massachusetts with her husband Andrew and their two children, who are both former campers and staff members. Changelian previously worked as a kindergarten teacher at St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School in Watertown. In addition to serving as Day Camp Director for many years, she also served as the AYF Camp Haiastan Summer Director from 2019-2021. Her professional background and long-time association with the camp make her well-versed with the camp mission.

Kristin Asadourian will serve as the MESH specialist Teen Session through Session One.  Asadourian earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and multicultural relations and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Connecticut. 

Kristin Asadourian

Asadourian is a personal development and social and emotional coach, and the author of the “Living Become Self-Discovery Journal.” She is passionate about her job at Camp Haiastan this coming summer. “I see my role as helping to create a safe and healthy atmosphere where every camper and staffer is comfortable being themselves. Camp is a place of shared value, and as such, we want to make sure everyone who is here is part of this community,” Asadourian said.

Asadourian is a former camper and a parent of current campers. Her professional background, combined with her family’s involvement with the camp, is a major asset to this year’s summer program. She is originally from Hartford and currently lives in Weston, Massachusetts.

Nevart Mikaelian and Nareh Mrktschjan will both return as MESH Specialists, Digin Nevart for Session 2 and Oriort Nareh for Session 3. They and their families both have had a long association with the camp, serving in many roles including Summer Director. 

Ashley Narducci, the camp’s 2024 Health Center Director, received her nursing diploma from St. John’s nursing school and bachelor’s degree in nursing from Salve Regina University. She  holds a master’s degree in health education and nurse teaching certificate from the University of Rhode Island. She is currently a school nurse teacher at Woonsocket High School. This summer, she will manage the Health Center alongside two other nurses. 

Craig Roman will be the Food Service Director this coming summer. He will lead a staff of two returning prep cooks. He is a graduate of Johnson and Wales University where he majored in culinary and food service management. He currently works at Brimmer and May School in Newton, MA as their Food Service Director.

“We are quite pleased that we were able to put together our team as quickly as we did. We were able to begin the collaboration and planning process earlier than previous years. Also, the camp leadership was able to attend valuable camping educational and training seminars,” stated Charchaflian.

Kenar Charchaflian and Erik Avagyan

Sarine Adishian, chairperson of the AYF Camp Haiastan Board of Directors, added, “While camp is a year-round business for us, spring is always an exciting time as our seasonal staff is hired and our programs for the upcoming summer start to take shape. We are grateful to have a strong and committed summer leadership team this year and are looking forward to another successful summer in our little Armenia in Franklin, MA.”

AYF Camp Haiastan is excited to embark on another exciting and memorable summer. Enrollment is still open for campers ages 8-16. 

As the first Armenian summer camp established in the United States, AYF Camp Haiastan is a safe, engaging space for Armenian youth to learn about their culture, create lifelong friendships, exercise independence and enjoy a variety of outdoor activities. For more information reach out to the camp office (office@camphaiastan.org, 508-520-1312).

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