Armenian National Committee of America facts for kids
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| Formation | 1918 (as ACIA) 1941 (as ANCA) |
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| Type | NGO |
| Purpose | Advocacy |
| Headquarters | 1711 N Street NW, Washington, D.C. |
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Official language
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English, Armenian |
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Executive director
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Aram Hamparian |
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Chairman
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Raffi Hamparian |
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Formerly called
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American Committee for the Independence of Armenia (ACIA) |
The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is a large group of Armenian Americans working together. It's like a community organization where everyday people get involved. Its main office is in Washington, D.C.. There are also regional offices in Glendale, California, and Watertown, Massachusetts.
Contents
History of the ANCA
The ANCA started a long time ago. It began as the American Committee for the Independence of Armenia (ACIA) in 1918, right after World War I. A person named Vahan Cardashian helped start it. He used to be a consul for the Ottoman Empire in Washington. Many important American leaders, like James Watson Gerard (who was a U.S. Ambassador), Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, and Charles Evans Hughes (who later became a top judge), were part of this group.
The main goal of the ACIA was to help create an independent Armenia. This group had a central office in New York City and many smaller offices in different states.
Over time, these offices grew into the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) in 1941. The ANCA started doing more things. They worked to teach local communities about Armenian issues, like the Armenian genocide and the hopes of the Armenian people. They also organized events to remember important dates, helped people register to vote, supported political candidates, and kept the community updated on Armenian news.
Today, the ANCA is active in many political and educational areas. They help create laws that are important to the Armenian American community. For example, they work to make Armenia a strong and democratic country. They also support Nagorno-Karabakh's right to be independent.
The ANCA also takes part in American elections. They teach elected officials about issues important to Armenian Americans. They also give Armenian American voters information about what candidates think on these issues. The ANCA publishes many papers, press releases, and newsletters to share information.
Besides its main office in Washington, D.C., the ANCA has two regional offices in New York City and Los Angeles. It also has more than fifty local groups and thousands of active members. The ANCA works with other Armenian National Committees around the world, including in Armenia, Russia, France, the Middle East, Canada, South America, and Australia.
ANCA in the 1990s
In the 1990s, the ANCA supported a rule called Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act. This rule limited financial help to the government of Azerbaijan.
ANCA in the 2000s
The ANCA was a major group that supported a U.S. House Resolution (Resolution 106). This resolution asked the United States to officially recognize the Armenian genocide. This terrible event happened during World War I under the Ottoman Empire.
ANCA in the 2010s
On May 25, 2017, the ANCA spoke out against a budget plan by Donald Trump. This plan would have cut a lot of financial help to Armenia. The ANCA said they were "troubled" by this idea.
ANCA in the 2020s
ANCA and the 2022 Elections
For the 2022 election for mayor of Los Angeles, the ANCA-Western Region supported Karen Bass. Karen Bass said she would work to help the Armenian community. She promised to fight against hate towards Armenians. After Bass won the election, a leader from ANCA-Western Region, Nora Hovsepian, was asked to join her transition team.
What the ANCA Does
Supporting Artsakh
The ANCA works to get more support from the U.S. for the security and success of the independent Republic of Artsakh. They do this by speaking out against actions by Azerbaijan. They also work to make ties between the U.S. and Artsakh stronger. They help get U.S. aid for Artsakh. The ANCA also supports efforts to solve the issues between Artsakh and Azerbaijan.
Improving U.S.–Armenia Ties
The ANCA works to make the partnership between the United States and Armenia better. They want to increase trade and aid between the two countries. They also work to develop political, economic, security, and military cooperation. They encourage more visits between leaders from both countries.
Supporting Everyone in the Community
In 2010, the ANCA took part in a discussion about important political issues. The Chairman of the ANCA, Raffi Hamparian, said that the Armenian American community is very diverse. He stated that all voices should be heard. He believes that everyone in the community, no matter their background, is needed to work for justice. He said that the diversity in their community makes it stronger.
Leadership of the ANCA
The Chairman of the ANCA is Raffi Hamparian. The Executive Director is Aram Hamparian. Other important staff members include Elizabeth S. Chouldjian, Raffi N. Karakashian, and Christopher Hekimian.
See also
In Spanish: Comité Nacional Armenio de Estados Unidos para niños
- Armenia–United States relations
