The Armenian National Committee of America - Glendale Chapter has announced their endorsement of Elen Asatryan for Glendale City Council.
“ANCA Glendale is honored to stand with Elen Asatryan as she seeks a new chapter of public service to our residents. We have seen her dedication to our city’s prosperity first-hand with the numerous programs and policy initiatives she spearheaded during her tenure as the Executive Director of both ANCA Glendale and the ANCA Western Region. We are extremely confident that she has the skills, experience, and vision necessary to improve the quality of life for all Glendale residents. We urge all eligible Glendale voters to cast their ballot in favor of Elen this coming election,” said ANCA Glendale Chairperson Lucy Petrosian. “We have seen her dedication to our cities' prosperity first-hand, and we are assuredly confident that she is the top candidate to provide what we need in governance.”
“My heritage is central to who I am, and I am proud to have earned the endorsement of the Armenian National Committee of America - Glendale and the extended ANCA family. Having served as the organization’s Executive Director for over 11 years, this endorsement is particularly near and dear to my heart,” said Asatryan. “As it always has been the case, ensuring that the large Armenian-American community has access to services and are properly and justly represented in our city hall will be one of my top priorities. I look forward to our work ahead.”
Elen has been a prominent advocate for the Armenian community her entire life. Her activism dates back to her middle school days in Glendale when she took to the Glendale School Board and the Glendale City Council to address discrimination issues at her school and in our city. Her 11 years of unique experience as the former Executive Director of the ANCA - first at its Glendale chapter for more than six years and then the Western Region offices, where she was responsible for strategy, policy programs development and implementation, and day-to-day operations of the regional headquarters and its local chapters in the 19 Western U.S. States give her all the necessary skills and aptitude to advocate for the Armenian community.
Elen has a long and successful track record of policy initiatives and campaigns at the local, state, and federal level that have advanced the Armenian cause. These accomplishments include securing the recognition of the Armenian Genocide in all 19 western US states and leading advocacy for US recognition. Securing the Recognition of Artsakh by California and Hawaii, and many cities throughout the US, an effort for which she was presented the Artsakh “Gratitude” Award by the President of the Republic of Artsakh. Alongside this accomplishment she successfully established Friendship Cities with all Artsakh Regions and Cities in California. She also led the efforts making Armenian Genocide education in CA Public School a mandate. Additionally, she worked on policy changes that effectively shifted the hiring, recruitment, and promotion of Armenian-Americans and other minorities in Glendale City Hall and GUSD for our government to reflect the community it serves; LA County Ballots to be translated to and provided in Armenian; Glendale Schools closing for April 24 in commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.
During her tenure, Elen established youth internship programs and the first Armenian-American Sacramento Fellowship Program; the HyeVotes initiative, which registered over 50,000 Armenians to vote in 2 years’ time in LA County alone to give voice to the Armenian community; the Glendale Free Legal Clinics; the Glendale Domestic Violence Task Force, GUSD Student/Parent Assistance hotline; and the Path to College program to help immigrant parents and students.
Other notable accomplishments include leading the Armenian community in a five-year effort to kill every pro-Azeri or anti-Armenian resolution in the nineteen states of the western region. Using her position as an elected member at the County Central Committee of the LA Democratic Party to author and pass several resolutions that called for sanctioning and divestments from Turkey and Azerbaijan, full enforcement of Section 907, and immediate action for the safe return of Armenian POWs. Spearheading and launching in 2020 the Diaspora Action Center during the attacks on Artsakh and Armenia which served as a hub for organizations and activists organizing efforts in the United States and globally on all fronts ranging from media, protests and social media campaigns to humanitarian relief and political activism.
When COVID hit, Elen launched the Community Resource Center, in an effort to ensure our residents and small businesses had access to orders, information about programs and grants offered. Offering up her volunteer services, Elen worked with county representatives and volunteers leading to thousands in obtaining grants, loans and the financial assistance they needed. Furthermore, she expanded green space and access to programs for low-income families and marginalized communities as the chair of the Glendale Parks and Recreation Commission and helped residents and small businesses for over 20 years cut through the bureaucratic red tape at city hall.
Elen Asatryan has been honored by the CA State Senate, CA State Assembly, LA Mayor and LA City Council for her efforts on issues impacting underserved populations, and human and civil rights and her dedication to the recognition of Artsakh and the Armenian Genocide. Elen is also the recipient of Republic of Artsakh “Gratitude” Medal Armenian-American Chamber of Commerce Woman in Service Award (2010) Elen Asatryan's involvement with ANCA-Glendale began in 2002 when she was awarded the "Youth Activist of the Year" Award.
This Election can be a historic one for Glendale. If elected, Elen would be the first Armenian-American woman, the first immigrant woman, the youngest woman, and only the 5th woman in the history of Glendale to serve on the city council.
The ANCA-Glendale endorsement is the latest in a string of distinguished organizations and individuals to announce their support of Elen. This endorsement comes just days after the campaign announced their endorsements from The Glendale Environmental Coalition, Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters, the Sierra Club, and Coalition for Landfill Alternatives.
Elen has earned the endorsement of Los Angeles Democratic Party, National Women’s Political Caucus Greater Pasadena Area, Southern California Armenian Democrats, Senator Anthony Portantino, Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian, and is the only woman and non-incumbent to earn the endorsement of LA County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, UniteHere Local 11, Planned Parenthood, Glendale Fire Fighters Association, Glendale Teachers Association, LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger and many others.
This Election can be one of many firsts for Glendale. If elected, Elen will be the first immigrant woman, at age 39 - the youngest woman, the first Armenian-American woman and only the fifth woman in the history of Glendale to serve on the city council.
The Glendale City Council election is scheduled to take place on June 7. All registered voters will receive a mail-in ballot at home starting the week of May 9. Voters may mail back their ballot, drop off or walk into any voting center until 8pm on Election Day, June 7 to cast their vote.
To learn more about, get involved in, and contribute to Elen’s campaign, visit www.electelen.com. Asatryan’s campaign office is in full gear reaching out to voters. Residents and supporters are encouraged to stop by 900 W. Glenoaks Blvd Unit A, Glendale, CA 91202. Monday-Friday: 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m., Saturday-Sunday: 10:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m to help. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the campaign’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @ElenAsatryan
###