Photos by
David Laurell
Burbank Leader
After a season that has seen Southern California bestowed with a bounty of much-needed precipitation, it is a challenge to get locals to give up a sunny spring Saturday to attend an organization’s event.
And yet, that is exactly what more than 100 Burbankers, along with those from surrounding communities, did as the Burbank Armenian Association presented their official launch this past Saturday.
Presented under the theme of “Building Success Through Resilience,” BAA’s inaugural event included a networking reception in which attendees could meet with a diverse cross-section of local elected officials, community leaders and representatives from the business, education and nonprofit sectors.
After perusing the services and products of sponsoring businesses displayed at the Nexus Auto Group building on North Hollywood Way, participants were invited to attend a panel discussion with Anna Mouradian, who serves as Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger’s chief of staff, Dr. Lina Acopians, who is the chief resident physician at Huntington Hospital, Deputy City Manager of Westlake Village Philippe Eskandar, who also serves as the chairman of the Burbank Water and Power Board, and Coast Hotels Vice President Tony Garibian.
Prior to the discussion, which was moderated by Jamie Keyser-Thomas, CEO of the Burbank Chamber of Commerce, the assemblage was welcomed by BAA President and co-founder Romik Hacobian.
Explaining that the organization was established two years ago during the war in Artsakh as Burbank for Armenia, Hacobian said they have recently rebranded the group to help build a more inclusive, understanding and supportive community for all cultures in Burbank.
“Our board of directors is a diverse group of community leaders with both Armenian and nonArmenian backgrounds,” Hacobian said. “At the Burbank Armenian Association, [our goal] is to find our strength by accepting our differences, creating dialogue without judgment and finding common ground. We will also be working closely with the Armenian National Committee of Burbank (ANCB) and the Armenian Assembly of America to make a tangible difference in our community.”
Among BAA’s board members in attendance was Angela Khurdajian, who serves as the director of philanthropy of the Providence Saint Joseph Foundation.
“I was attracted to this board because of its diversity,” Khurdajian said. “Our goal is to create awareness of the Armenian community with a diverse board that has members who are not Armenian. While we will promote our heritage, we want to open up a dialogue that goes beyond talking about the genocide and the war. We want to highlight Armenians who have been great contributors to Burbank and our surrounding communities over the years. We want to provide networking opportunities for both the Armenian and nonArmenian communities in a very open and nonpolitical way.”
Saying that the association embraces the work of the ANCB, Khurdajian stresses that, unlike BAA, the goals of the ANCB are to be involved in pushing legislation for the Armenian diaspora (communities of Armenians outside Armenia) and Armenia itself.
“The ANCB works with elected officials locally, in Sacramento, and in Washington on legislative issues,” Khurdajian said.
“Our mission is different in that we are a local nonpolitical grassroots organization. We are committed to bridging the gap between the Armenian and nonArmenian communities in Burbank. We want to foster leadership, entrepreneurship, nonprofit organizing, and community engagement among local Armenians in the area. Our plans are to do that by providing cultural education, advocacy, and networking opportunities,” he added.
Hacobian said that the day’s theme was chosen as a celebration of the Armenian community’s perseverance and strength.
“This is an opportunity for us to come together, learn, grow and inspire one another, regardless of whether we are Armenian or not,” Hacobian said. “We are dedicated to educating and raising awareness of Armenian culture while challenging stereotypes and being accountable for the perception we create.”
The BAA is collaborating with the Burbank Chamber of Commerce, the city of Burbank, and the Burbank Nonprofit Coalition to build bridges between the Armenian community and the community-at-large. They will also be working closely with the Burbank Police Department and community organizations, such as Together We Can and the Armenian Students Association, to promote safe and responsible driving practices for youth.
To learn more about the Burbank Armenian Association and its upcoming events, visit burbankarmenianassociation.org.
DAVID LAURELL may be reached by email at dlaurell@aol.com or (818) 563-1007.
First published in the April 22 print issue of the Burbank Leader.
