FOCUS 2011 Welcomes Over 400 to Paris, $40,000 Raised for Armenian Virtual College

From August 4-7, 2011, AGBU FOCUS touched down in Paris for its sixth biennial celebration with close to 400 participants from 25 countries, the most ever. This year's affair marked the first time FOCUS took place outside North America and the location attracted new energy and faces from even more countries than ever before. Tailor made for young professionally aged Armenians from around the globe, FOCUS is the world's largest gathering of its kind. This year's Paris Organizing Committee did their utmost to bring local flair and a European flavor to the gathering. With a heavy dose of French joie de vivre, FOCUS attendees were treated to custom tours of the City of Lights that revealed the Armenian character of the city and the unique fashion, gastronomical and artistic delights of the cultural capital. The four-day gathering was headquartered at Hotel Lutetia in the heart of Paris and guests traveled around the Left and Right Banks of the city to discover venues and events that were as surprising and diverse as the city itself. The FOCUS 2011 Paris committee was chaired by Aurélie Deyirmendjian, who helped to orchestrate the festivities and all its thrills. "We were all very excited to welcome for the first time so many Armenian young professionals in Paris. They arrived from all over the world. From Hong Kong to Argentina, Denmark to Egypt and even Mexico, and it was great that everybody had the opportunity to exchange views and experiences," she said. "It was great to see many members of the Parisian-Armenian community join us in our efforts to make FOCUS 2011 into a unique experience. Everyone contributed their own personal touches to the events, which resulted in a truly original weekend. The outpouring of support by numerous donors and sponsors allowed us to realize our vision and for this we are grateful. FOCUS was a fantastic opportunity to mobilize, gather, surprise, and unify Armenian young professionals, while raising funds for a great cause," Deyirmendjian said. Through pre-event fundraising efforts, the FOCUS Committee in Paris and New York was able to raise $40,000 for AGBU's Armenian Virtual College program. The state-of-the-art school is a unique online resource that allows students of all ages from around the world to take credited classes or audit courses in Armenian language, history, culture or music. Offered in six, soon to be seven, languages--Eastern and Western Armenian, English, French, Spanish, Russian and in the near future Turkish, the school shares with FOCUS a global vision to unify Armenians and reach out to communities everywhere. First initiated in 2001, FOCUS was created not only to unite alumni of AGBU's various youth programs but to bring together young Armenian professionals from all walks of life to share their perspectives on a variety of important issues. The weekend also showcases the notable contributions and achievements made by AGBU's high-quality programs that appeal to Armenians of all ages. Over the years, this affair has become the most highly anticipated event with over 2,500 participants, setting a standard for other gatherings of its kind and cultivating a new generation of AGBU members.

The Weekend Begins

FOCUS 2011 kicked off on Thursday, August 4 with the networking evening known as Perspectives. Guests arrived at Crystal Lounge in the city's 8ieme arrondissement to listen to a moderated discussion about the greater role our community can serve in the outside world. The topic quickly transformed into a lively exchange of opinions and ideas. Friday's daytime program was dominated by custom city tours allowing smaller groups the opportunity to discover Paris. From visits to the Armenian landmarks of Paris, including the Komitas monument in Yerevan Park and the Armenian cathedral, to French-Armenian fashion boutiques, perfumeries, and restaurants, participants enjoyed the sights and sounds of the city with the help of local French-Armenian guides. "It was a unique experience, particularly at Francis Kurkjian's perfumery, to see other successful Armenians. As a young entrepreneur and businesswoman, it was inspiring and very special to meet with him," said Ani Minassian, who originally hails from Los Angeles, but currently resides in New York. "During the tour, and during FOCUS in general, I met so many Armenians from all around the world, and I don't think I would've had that opportunity any other way. I had just relocated to New York before FOCUS, and I was so happy to return with a whole network of local friends who made my transition so much easier." Friday night, hundreds of people traveled to the 1979 Club in the 2ieme arrondissement, which offered a window into the city's hip and off-the-beaten-path nightlife. The DJ entertained the FOCUS crowd into the night as partiers enjoyed the club's eclectically decorated rooms and underground appeal.

YP Network Comes Together

FOCUS also serves as the setting for the Young Professionals (YP) Assembly, where the worldwide leadership of 17 YP Groups and YP Partners from 10 countries (Armenia, Bulgaria, Canada, England, France, Germany, Lebanon, Russia, United Arab Emirates, United States) convened Friday to discuss collaborative efforts and establish groundwork for continued future success. A testament to the ongoing growth and popularity of the YP Network, over 40 attendees participated, representing the largest and most diverse attendance for the AGBU YP meeting ever. "This was my first time attending FOCUS and the YP Assembly, and I was excited to represent YP Boston," said Irina Nanagoulian. "Listening to the presentations during the Assembly was both stirring and inspiring. I particularly enjoyed learning more about the vast efforts and dedication of the YPs across the globe, exchanging insights and coming up with creative ways to preserve and enrich Armenian heritage and our legacy as a generation. I was so energized that I could not wait to get back to Boston to share all the ideas with our group." With an objective to strengthen and advance the worldwide network, the meeting included sessions on professional development, community outreach, sustainability, and the development of new regional and global initiatives. Presentations were conducted by YP Liaison Kim Yacoubian, Sarine Karajerjian from YP Lebanon, Aurélie Deyirmendjian from YP Paris, Lilly Grigorian from YP Los Angeles, Aline Markarian from YP Greater New York, and Gayane Ghardyan from YP Yerevan with valuable contributions made by all attendees many of whom were meeting face to face for the very first time. Also presenting were members of the AGBU Strategic Advisory Council who provide guidance and assistance to AGBU youth programs and took the opportunity to hear the ideas of YP leaders.

Elegant Highlights

Saturday began at Galerie Matignon, where two art exhibitions, one by renowned French-Armenian artist Jean Jansem and another by photographer Antoine Agoudjian, welcomed guests to FOCUS on Art. The displays offered an opportunity for visitors to discover Armenian culture and speak to the son of Jansem, who offered insights into his father's work and welcomed questions from attendees. In the heart of the city's art gallery district, the show raised proceeds for this year's FOCUS-highlighted cause, the Armenian Virtual College, through the sale of artworks. The venue was also a perfect starting point for those eager to explore the vibrancy of the city's Right Bank and its many boutiques and museums. Unbeknownst to gallery goers, the daytime activity was only a taste of the elegance to follow. When FOCUS guests arrived at Saturday night's gala, they were impressed with the Old World charm of the Cercle de l'Union Interalliée, a former Napoleonic-era home that has since become a private club in the prestigious Faubourg-Saint-Honoré neighborhood. A few steps away from the French Presidential palace, Elysées Palace, the gala venue surrounded by a lush park invited guests explored to the sounds of Armenian instruments and an ambience reminiscent of a 1920s cabaret. Over 300 attended the landmark event, which included a heartfelt speech by the Paris FOCUS chairwoman, followed by the world premiere of a video highlighting the work of the AGBU Armenian Virtual College. Special displays encouraged people to explore the grounds of the Parisian villa. They were transported during the course of the evening from one surprise to the next, including a macaroon making workshop, a pop-up photo studio, a ti'punch island, and a cabaret performance. The festivities continued with entertainment by a local disc jockey, DJ Kourken, who entertained the crowds as they toasted another FOCUS success.

Bonds of Friendship

On the final morning, guests came together one last time for a Sunday brunch at Alcazar restaurant in Paris's 6ieme arrondissement. The gathering was an opportunity for everyone to say their goodbyes with promises to reconnect at future gatherings. Like previous FOCUS events, Paris 2011 helped nurture friendships and strengthen connections with like-minded youth interested in making a difference in the world. FOCUS participants gain a better understanding of the world's largest Armenian nonprofit organization's mission to preserve and promote the Armenian identity and heritage. To date, pre-event fundraising efforts for all six FOCUS weekends have raised over $200,000 for AGBU programs, including the three AGBU-funded Children's Centers in Armenia, the American University of Armenia's Digital Library, the New York Summer Intern Program, the Generation Next Mentorship Program of Southern California, Camp Nubar in upstate New York, the organization's Scholarship Program, the Hye Geen Pregnant Women's Centers, and now the Armenian Virtual College. Aided by AGBU offices in Paris and New York, the group of 15 volunteers who worked diligently together behind the scenes for months leading up to the weekend were FOCUS Committee Chair Aurélie Deyirmedjian, Gary Aharonian, Carol Aghajanian, Sabine Bachian, Alexia Deyirmendjian, Grégory Guerguerian, Vanessa Ketchedjian, Vadim Krisyan, Sandrine Muradian, Angelina Najarian, Rafi Papazian, Stéphane Petrossian, Geraldine Seuleusian, Achren Verdian, Tamar Wartabetian, and FOCUS coordinator Lusiné Kerobyan. To view photos from the weekend or learn more about FOCUS, please visit: www.agbufocus.org.