Hye Geen and Cal State LA's 4th Annual Conference Focuses on the Lives of Armenian-American Women

The fourth annual interdisciplinary conference of AGBU Hye Geen, in cooperation with California State University at Los Angeles (CSULA) School of Social Work, took place on April 18, 2009 at the University's Golden Eagle Conference Center. The conference was organized by AGBU Hye Geen Young Women's Circle with the contribution of the University's Alpha Epsilon Omega Armenian Fraternity. In keeping with the general theme of the three previous conferences about "The Status of the Armenian Communities Living in the United States," this year's event focused on the lives of Armenian-American women and was titled "An Armenian Woman's Journey."

The conference attracted a largely youthful audience, who were interested in the challenges, hurdles and influences of the modern Armenian-American woman from childhood to maturity through the academic lens of education, psychology, sociology and economics.

Tamar Kevonian of AGBU Hye Geen Young Women's Circle, who was the first speaker, welcomed attendees to the event. She invited Dr. Karin Brown, the director of CSULA School of Social Work, for the opening remarks. Dr. Brown expressed her appreciation of the high standards set by joint conferences with AGBU Hye Geen, where educators, social workers and community groups have explored common areas of interest to Armenian Americans. She also commended AGBU Hye Geen Young Women's Circle for their choice of topic, which, she explained, was "a subject not only for women but about women."

The conference speakers were grouped into four panels depicting the different phases of a woman's life journey: In the Beginning (birth-age 20), Getting There (age 20-40), Are We There Yet (age 40-60) and Reaping the Rewards (age 60+).

All panelists were presented by Tamar Kevonian, who spoke about the conference theme and the change that has impacted women's traditional roles, including economic conditions that mandate two incomes and the prominence of single-mother families in contemporary society. She pointed out that "institutions supporting these changed roles have not changed themselves."

The first panel featured Marina Adamian, a longtime educator, who spoke about "The Inherent Differences in the Raising of Sons and Daughters in Light of Social and Cultural Norms and Expectations," and Nareg Keshishian, a teacher and student body advisor at a LA-area public school with a sizeable Armenian student body, who spoke about "The Educational Expectations of Armenians Versus the Culture in Which We Live. Are Parents Reluctant to Choose the Best Education Option if It Requires the Student to Move Away from Home?"

The second panel featured Nora Chitilian-Kalachian, a family counselor and mental health professional, who addressed "The Difficulty of Development, the Necessity of Preserving Individual Identity Amidst the Many Roles Assumed by Women," and Mary Apick, an award-winning actress, director, producer and human rights activist for women and children, who spoke about the expectations, choices and challenges of the new role of single women and mothers.

The third panel featured Deborah Key, an international financial advisor, who tackled "The Importance of Knowing about Financial Matters Concerning the Family," and Dr. Haroutune K. Armenian, a former dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the American University of Beirut, newly retired President of the American University of Armenia, and currently Professor in Residence at UCLA, who delivered a presentation on "The Necessity and Importance of a Social Network for a Woman's Mental and Physical Health."

The fourth and last panel included presentations by Suzanne De Benedittis, a specialist in counseling and psychology, who addressed "The Needs of a Mature Woman," and Mary Terzian, a former United Nations worker and the author of "The Immigrants' Daughter," who spoke about "The Expanding Generational Gap: The Differences in Knowledge, Language, Technology, Societal & Family Norms."

To conclude the conference, Armen Sarkissian, President of Alpha Epsilon Omega Armenian Fraternity, introduced his organization for those unfamiliar with its work for needy Armenians both locally and in Armenia, as well as its activism for Armenian Genocide recognition.

Sona Yacoubian, founder and Chairperson of AGBU Hye Geen, was the final speaker. She summed up the daylong conference and the annual event's work, which, she explains, tirelessly advocates that women should have their rightful place in civil society. She referred to AGBU Hye Geen as "a 15-year-young movement to encourage women and especially young women to be in charge of changing and shaping our society today according to the functional needs of a successful life. Professional women, intellectual women were hardly involved in the decision making of our communities."

The members of AGBU Hye Geen Young Women's Circle, which helped organize the fourth annual conference, are Teresa Hayrapetian, Cynthia Kossayan, Azniv Shakelian, Nellie Yacoubian and Talin Yacoubian.

Since 1994, AGBU Hye Geen in Southern California (www.agbuhyegeen.org) has worked to preserve and honor achievements of Armenian women, provide a forum for them throughout the world, promote their role in family and society through research, education, and advocacy, and provide overall support to empower Armenian women as carriers of the Armenian cultural heritage.