My passion and commitment for working with diaspora and refugee communities that have been impacted by genocide are a manifestation of the many years I have spent pondering my place in the world as a first generation Armenian-American woman and a descendent of Armenian Genocide survivors. This sense of curiosity has led me to trollock the ancient ruins of my ancestral homeland and the genocide memorials of Rwanda in order to connect with various residing communities in Los Angeles. The underlying question fueling this journey aims to discover the interconnectivity that binds humanity together and the invisible threads that transcend all geographic boundaries, cultures, and generations proving genocide as a shared, and recurring human experience. …show more content…
In that moment the intergenerational sadness I felt towards the systemic denial of my history seemed arbitrary to the determining truth I witnessed. The return to my homeland gave birth to the inspiration of rebuilding that bridge through my life’s work in advocating for cross-cultural dialogue, tolerance, and international human rights. With this vision at heart I journeyed to Armenia as the first person in my family to return to our country since relocating to the United States. This allowed me to better understand the educational as well as socioeconomic opportunities my life in the Armenian diaspora has granted me. My desire to continue mobilizing towards ethnic reconciliation between Turks and Armenians further catalyzed my work in a manner that combines education with grassroots …show more content…
The quest for interconnectivity that has driven my work from the depths of my cultural antiquity, to the remote regions of Central Africa, serves as the foundation for conveying the 1915 Armenian Genocide in a manner that demonstrates its continuous effect on our present day world. My participation in the Carl Wilkens Fellowship has provided me with the resources and network I need to develop my capacity in supporting my local community discover their unique ability to take direct action on behalf of those who have been, and continue to be affected by genocide