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January 10, 2011
AGBU Expands into Glendale with Generation Next Dome
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A ribbon-cutting ceremony officially opened AGBU Generation Next's new home in Glendale. Pictured (left to right): Glendale Mayor Ara Najarian, GenNext Director Ara Arzumanian and his mentee Arman Galstyan (cutting ribbon), GenNext Chairman Vrejh Hovsepian, AGBU Central Board Vice President Sinan Sinanian (cutting ribbon), AGBU California Executive Director Yasmin Alpay, SCDC Member Thomas Alexanian (partially obscured), SCDC Chairman Berj Shahbazian and SCDC Member Krikor Patatian. -
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Some of the hundreds of attendees gather for a group photo in front of the new AGBU Generation Next Dome. -
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Mayor Ara Najarian (center) presenting a commendation for AGBU Generation Next from the City of Glendale to GenNext Director Ara Arzumanian (right) and GenNext chairman Vrejh Hovsepian.
The Armenian General Benevolent Union's Generation Next Mentorship Program has moved its base of operations to Glendale, occupying the landmark geodesic dome at 1230 East Broadway, just 300 yards from Glendale High School, one of the area's largest secondary schools. With the move, the program has been able to expand its operations to serve more youth and provide greater quality, working closely with the Glendale Unified School District on violence intervention and prevention as well as academic and life mentoring.
AGBU Generation Next Mentorship Program has had great success working with youths between the ages of 12-19. Over the past five years, every child to graduate from Generation Next has gone on to college or university. One of those graduates, Armen Grigoryan, addressed the community on November 20 at the grand opening of the AGBU GenNext Dome, where his rousing speech inspired those in attendance. "If it wasn't for AGBU Generation Next, I'd be dead or in jail right now," said the young English major who is studying to become a teacher. In his speech he recounted fights, being stabbed, and even nights spent on the street -- a far cry from his current college classes and hours spent in the library studying.
Varoujan Jinbachian, a GenNext committee member, who has mentored the same young man for five years from middle school into his first year of college, praised the program for its achievements. "GenNext is an integral part of our community. It teaches our children the importance of being a member of a community, both its benefits and responsibilities. As such, when GenNext succeeds, the entire community succeeds. Our new center, the Dome, will be a source of pride for everyone in Glendale," he said.
The opening was attended by nearly 400 people, including many Glendale officials, including the city's mayor, Ara Najarian, and members of the Glendale School District, Nayiri Nahabedian and Joylene Wagner. In his address Mayor Najarian said that the City of Glendale was a complete city now that AGBU, the world's largest Armenian nonprofit organization, had a presence in Glendale.
The ceremonial ribbon was cut by AGBU Central Board Vice President Sinan Sinanian, along with GenNext mentee Arman Galstyan, after which guests were treated to a small reception catered predominantly by the parents whose children benefit from the GenNext program.
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