Armenian Enough

ARPA Film Festival Director Maral Kazazian and Jury Liaison Sonia Keshishian tell us everything we need to know about this year's festival and the not-to-be-missed films of 2020. As a departure from previous years, this year's films will be streamed online and available any time from November 12th through 22nd, with all proceeds going to Armenia Fund. So, grab some popcorn and gather the family to watch all the films in the comfort of your home!

For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.arpafilmfestival.com

Imagine the power that future generations of Armenians could harness if all aspects of their being were supported by teachers and parents alike? Join us for a deep dive into the state of Armenian private school education and how we must evolve to meet the needs of all our students and create a deeper sense of belonging in the Armenian community and beyond.

You can reach Armen at his website www.ArmenMenechyan.com and on IG at armen.menechyan

In our first official episode of Season 3, we turn the tables and allow story coach Anna Darian to interview Armenian Enough host, Lara Vanian-Green, about how she does & doesn't feel "Armenian Enough" and how her relationship with her Armenianness has changed over time. In her work as a story coach, Anna helps people utilize their personal stories to connect more meaningfully with their audience.

You can reach Anna on her website at www.AnnaDarian.com or on Instagram @anna.darian

{Editor's Note: This episode was recorded prior to the attack on Artsakh, which took place on September 27, 2020.}

Martin Luther King Jr. once famously said, "In the end, we will not remember the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." How can we, in the Armenian diaspora, cope with the silence of the world as our homeland is under attack? We are outnumbered, outgunned, and dealing with forces much more powerful on the world stage. Azerbaijan (and their ruthless attack on Artsakh) is backed by Turkey, whose President Erdogan has said that they intend to "finish what our grandfathers started," alluding to the Armenian Genocide of 1915. We, second and third generation survivors of this genocide and inheritors of the trauma of our parents and grandparents, are dealing with emotional and phsysiological burdens that are both seen and unseen wounds that are now being torn open anew. How do we build resilience in these trying times? And how do we protect future generations from the same fate? Dr. Christie Kederian, who wrote her doctoral dissertation on the transfer of intergenerational trauma and resilience, through her analysis provides validation and hope for our ability to not just to endure but also to thrive.

You can reach Dr. Christie on IG at @thedatedoctorchristie or on her website at www.drchristiekederian.com

100 Years from Home, airing on PBS SoCal on September 1, 2020, is a documentary about an Armenian woman returning to her ancestral homeland on the centennial of the Armenian Genocide, to search for the house her family was forced to flee a century ago.

Filmmaker Jared White captures both the personal intensity and historical perspective of his wife, Lilit's, journey. Hear about the challenges and the triumphs they experienced along the way.

Watch the trailer here: 100yearsfromhome.com Reach them on FB @100yearsfromhome and Instagram @100yearsfromhome

Last Fall, when we featured a two-part episode on racism in the Armenian culture [episodes #25 and #26], it was intended to be an ongoing conversation. Given the current momentum of the Black Lives Matter movement and the massive societal shift in consciousness regarding police brutality and systemic racism, we felt that it was more important than ever to hear directly from Black Armenians now.

Isis Ani Mack is a student of international business and global politics at the University of Nevada, Reno. Our first introduction to Isis was through her essay for @kooyrigs where she shared that when she was a child growing up in Glendale, other Armenian families wouldn't allow their children to play with her because her father was black, and later - how a conversation with an elderly woman in Armenia forever altered her perspective about being a mixed-race Armenian. Hear Isis's story in her own words.

You can reach Isis directly on IG @_isis_mack

Last Fall, when we featured a two-part episode on racism in the Armenian culture [episodes #25 and #26], it was intended to be an ongoing conversation. Given the current momentum of the Black Lives Matter movement and the massive societal shift in consciousness regarding police brutality and systemic racism, we felt that it was more important than ever to hear directly from Black Armenians now.

Our second bonus episode features Brown University computer-science student, Levon Brunson, who has an enormous passion for Armenian culture, particularly Armenian traditional dance. Our first introduction to Levon was through the article he penned in Massachusetts' The Armenian Weekly newspaper. Hear Levon talk about his experience of being Black and Armenian in his own words.

You can reach Levon on Instagram @levonbrunson and Facebook @levonbrunson

Last Fall, when we featured a two-part episode on racism in the Armenian culture [episodes #25 and #26], it was intended to be an ongoing conversation. Given the current momentum of the Black Lives Matter movement and the massive societal shift in consciousness regarding police brutality and systemic racism, we felt that it was more important than ever to hear directly from Black Armenians now.

Our first bonus episode features Carene Rose, an Ivy-league educated actress and activist, who wrote an essay for @kooyrigs which instantly captured our attention. She wrote, "To be a Black Armenian woman is to be the legacy of two failed genocides." Hear Carene's story in her own words.

Photo credit: Christopher Montgomery

In the United States, as in many other countries, dogs are considered treasured companions and frequently pampered (more than some humans). However, they do not enjoy quite the same reputation in Armenia. Rampant street dogs and a historically agrarian culture have contributed to the low status of canine-Armenians. Oknooshoon (a combination of the word "help" and the word "dog" in Armenian) is a non-profit whose mission it is to change how dogs are perceived in Armenia. Hear Nairi talk about her passion for dogs and their therapeutic benefits as well as her vision for the future of Armenia, in our last episode of Season 2.

Being Armenian and gay are largely thought of as incompatible identities in contemporary Armenian culture. However, Dr. David Alajajian-Fox posits that the two marginalized cultures actually share striking historical parallels in their search to define themselves as well as rise from the ashes of near destruction. How do we bridge the divide of generations lost? Who remains to pass along history, folklore, and traditions to future generations? How can each community enrich the other?

You can reach Dr. David on IG @drgay_la Or at his practice Pacific Oaks Medical Group