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ANCA Capital Gateway Program: Paving the Way for Careers in Public Policy
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/08/08/anca-capital-gateway-program-paving-the-way-for-careers-in-public-policy/
By Lilly Torosyan // August 8, 2013
Since 2003, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) has
sponsored the competitive Capital Gateway Program (CGP), an initiative
to increase Armenian-American presence in local and national politics,
and in government and media careers. The intention is to help young
Armenian Americans - in particular, recent university graduates -
secure full-time jobs in policy-making and journalism positions in
Washington, D.C. In doing so, the ANCA hopes to expand civic
participation among Armenian-American youth, whose presence will
`represent a highly efficient and effective means of leveraging the
community's resources to achieve shared aims.'
1x1.trans ANCA Capital Gateway Program: Paving the Way for Careers in
Public Policy
The CGP also builds on the Leo Sarkisian Summer Internship Program
(LSI), an eight-week advocacy-training program at the ANCA offices in
Washington Both college graduates and currently enrolled university
students may participate in the program in one of three ways: an ANCA
extended internship, which provides students with in-depth training on
special projects that are catered to the intern's specific interests;
an ANCA externship, which places students in semester-long internships
in Congressional offices or foreign policy related institutions; and
university internships, which are university-run internships based in
D.C., such as the University of California (UCDC) program.
The CGP also builds on the Leo Sarkisian Summer Internship Program
(LSI), an eight-week advocacy-training program at the ANCA offices in
Washington, where students attend Congressional hearings and conduct
unique projects related to their specific areas of interest. The
program also aims to encourage grassroots activism for the Armenian
Cause.
Advisory Board Committee
The Capital Gateway Program Advisory Board Committee (CGPAC) provides
mentorship and vast career-guidance resources for the interns' job
searches. CGP alumni Mike Gedjeyan, Dan Stepanian-Bennett, Yelena
Allakhverdov, and Arbi Vartan, with Program Director Raffi
Karakashian, established the CGPAC to increase one-on-one personalized
mentorship and job opportunities for CGP interns, or fellows. The
program, which is reflective of the Board, has produced concrete
results with over 45 interns attaining jobs in their respective
fields. Today, the CGPAC Board is comprised of Dan Stepanian-Bennett,
Aren Ghazarians, Shant Nahapetian, and Nareg Sagherian.
One of the most valuable aspects of the CGP is the Lecture Series that
takes place during the first two weeks of the program. Ghazarians
attested to the resourcefulness of this component of the program when
he was a CGP fellow. `These lectures helped me address issues I was
having during my search for a job. By discussing how to strengthen a
resume and cover letter and how to approach and prepare for an
interview, I know the program is the reason I was able to find a job
soon after moving down here to DC. Those who took time to speak to our
group were a tremendous resource and I can't thank them enough,' he
told the Weekly in an interview.
1x1.trans ANCA Capital Gateway Program: Paving the Way for Careers in
Public Policy
The Capital Gateway Program Advisory Board Committee Sagherian
recently left his position as a director of finance for a consulting
firm in the D.C. metro for a position as a presidential fellow with
the federal government.
`The program has helped me and continues to help me throughout all my
personal and professional pursuits, whether by being a point of
reference or providing valuable advice. One thing you learn very
quickly when you go through the CGP is that even though you may finish
the program and move forward in your life, the ANCA is still there to
support their fellow Armenians in whatever capacity is necessary. That
is truly at the core of what makes this program and organization
priceless to the Armenian community,' Sagherian told the Weekly.
`Having gone through the Capital Gateway Program in 2010, I learned
that there are always great people and organizations out there willing
to help you achieve your goals. You just have to be willing to ask for
help. However, with this help comes the personal obligation to put
forth your absolute effort to succeeding in your chosen endeavors,' he
continued.
Sagherian advised future CGP fellows `to come into the program with
the notion that they are going to put in whatever it takes in order to
succeed and realize their career goals. This program is set up in a
manner where you get out of it what you put in. Therefore, although
there are many people in the community ready to help each and every
fellow, a fellow has to first be willing to help themselves.'
Ghazarians agreed, and encouraged future fellows to take advantage of
the opportunities the program provides them. `We all are guilty of
thinking that the way we are going about searching for a job is the
right way and there is nothing to change. But once the fellows
complete their Lecture Series and meet with their mentors, they
quickly realize that there are changes they can make or there is a
better approach to finding a job that they didn't realize,' he
explained.
`The ANCA staff and the members of the CGP Advisory Committee while I
was a fellow did a tremendous job to show me my strengths and the
improvements I could make to get over the bump and find a full-time
job. They were a great resource and I would tell future fellows to
give it a chance and utilize the resources at their disposal. We all
want them to succeed and are here to help however we can,' he added.
Hovig Apo Saghdejian Memorial Fund
The CGP has been funded through the generosity of the Cafesdjian
Family Foundation, the Hovig Apo Saghdejian Fellowship, Armenian
American Veterans Post of Milford, Massachusetts (AAVO), longtime ANCA
benefactors Mr. and Mrs. Frank and Barbara Hekimian, and
Armenian-American activists from across the U.S.
1x1.trans ANCA Capital Gateway Program: Paving the Way for Careers in
Public Policy
Hovig Apo Saghdejian
The Capital Gateway House, which houses the fellows and LSIs during
their three-month stay, was donated by the Saghdejian family, in honor
of their son, Hovig, who passed away in a car accident at the age of
23. The young activist was a member of the Homenetmen Armenian General
Athletic Union and Scouts, and the Armenian Youth Federation. As a
volunteer with the Land and Culture Organization, he traveled to
Armenia during the summer of 2003 to work as a volunteer in Ayroum,
developing infrastructure and self-sustainability for the impoverished
village. Hovig's efforts helped bring hope to all he came in contact
with that the future held better things for the people of Armenia.
The Hovig Apo Saghdejian Fellowship Fund has for many years sponsored
a Capital Gateway fellow, covering his/her housing and providing a
full range of support services, from improving resumes and sharpening
interview skills, to making the right introductions and integrating
into the growing network of Armenian-American public policy
professionals in the nation's capital.
Typically, each fellow has been able to secure a full-time position
within three to six months. The competitive program accepts anywhere
between 10 to 25 interns, depending on funding and space availability.
The winter application deadline for the CGP is Jan. 15. Applications
can be accessed on the ANCA's website at www.anca.org.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/08/08/anca-capital-gateway-program-paving-the-way-for-careers-in-public-policy/
By Lilly Torosyan // August 8, 2013
Since 2003, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) has
sponsored the competitive Capital Gateway Program (CGP), an initiative
to increase Armenian-American presence in local and national politics,
and in government and media careers. The intention is to help young
Armenian Americans - in particular, recent university graduates -
secure full-time jobs in policy-making and journalism positions in
Washington, D.C. In doing so, the ANCA hopes to expand civic
participation among Armenian-American youth, whose presence will
`represent a highly efficient and effective means of leveraging the
community's resources to achieve shared aims.'
1x1.trans ANCA Capital Gateway Program: Paving the Way for Careers in
Public Policy
The CGP also builds on the Leo Sarkisian Summer Internship Program
(LSI), an eight-week advocacy-training program at the ANCA offices in
Washington Both college graduates and currently enrolled university
students may participate in the program in one of three ways: an ANCA
extended internship, which provides students with in-depth training on
special projects that are catered to the intern's specific interests;
an ANCA externship, which places students in semester-long internships
in Congressional offices or foreign policy related institutions; and
university internships, which are university-run internships based in
D.C., such as the University of California (UCDC) program.
The CGP also builds on the Leo Sarkisian Summer Internship Program
(LSI), an eight-week advocacy-training program at the ANCA offices in
Washington, where students attend Congressional hearings and conduct
unique projects related to their specific areas of interest. The
program also aims to encourage grassroots activism for the Armenian
Cause.
Advisory Board Committee
The Capital Gateway Program Advisory Board Committee (CGPAC) provides
mentorship and vast career-guidance resources for the interns' job
searches. CGP alumni Mike Gedjeyan, Dan Stepanian-Bennett, Yelena
Allakhverdov, and Arbi Vartan, with Program Director Raffi
Karakashian, established the CGPAC to increase one-on-one personalized
mentorship and job opportunities for CGP interns, or fellows. The
program, which is reflective of the Board, has produced concrete
results with over 45 interns attaining jobs in their respective
fields. Today, the CGPAC Board is comprised of Dan Stepanian-Bennett,
Aren Ghazarians, Shant Nahapetian, and Nareg Sagherian.
One of the most valuable aspects of the CGP is the Lecture Series that
takes place during the first two weeks of the program. Ghazarians
attested to the resourcefulness of this component of the program when
he was a CGP fellow. `These lectures helped me address issues I was
having during my search for a job. By discussing how to strengthen a
resume and cover letter and how to approach and prepare for an
interview, I know the program is the reason I was able to find a job
soon after moving down here to DC. Those who took time to speak to our
group were a tremendous resource and I can't thank them enough,' he
told the Weekly in an interview.
1x1.trans ANCA Capital Gateway Program: Paving the Way for Careers in
Public Policy
The Capital Gateway Program Advisory Board Committee Sagherian
recently left his position as a director of finance for a consulting
firm in the D.C. metro for a position as a presidential fellow with
the federal government.
`The program has helped me and continues to help me throughout all my
personal and professional pursuits, whether by being a point of
reference or providing valuable advice. One thing you learn very
quickly when you go through the CGP is that even though you may finish
the program and move forward in your life, the ANCA is still there to
support their fellow Armenians in whatever capacity is necessary. That
is truly at the core of what makes this program and organization
priceless to the Armenian community,' Sagherian told the Weekly.
`Having gone through the Capital Gateway Program in 2010, I learned
that there are always great people and organizations out there willing
to help you achieve your goals. You just have to be willing to ask for
help. However, with this help comes the personal obligation to put
forth your absolute effort to succeeding in your chosen endeavors,' he
continued.
Sagherian advised future CGP fellows `to come into the program with
the notion that they are going to put in whatever it takes in order to
succeed and realize their career goals. This program is set up in a
manner where you get out of it what you put in. Therefore, although
there are many people in the community ready to help each and every
fellow, a fellow has to first be willing to help themselves.'
Ghazarians agreed, and encouraged future fellows to take advantage of
the opportunities the program provides them. `We all are guilty of
thinking that the way we are going about searching for a job is the
right way and there is nothing to change. But once the fellows
complete their Lecture Series and meet with their mentors, they
quickly realize that there are changes they can make or there is a
better approach to finding a job that they didn't realize,' he
explained.
`The ANCA staff and the members of the CGP Advisory Committee while I
was a fellow did a tremendous job to show me my strengths and the
improvements I could make to get over the bump and find a full-time
job. They were a great resource and I would tell future fellows to
give it a chance and utilize the resources at their disposal. We all
want them to succeed and are here to help however we can,' he added.
Hovig Apo Saghdejian Memorial Fund
The CGP has been funded through the generosity of the Cafesdjian
Family Foundation, the Hovig Apo Saghdejian Fellowship, Armenian
American Veterans Post of Milford, Massachusetts (AAVO), longtime ANCA
benefactors Mr. and Mrs. Frank and Barbara Hekimian, and
Armenian-American activists from across the U.S.
1x1.trans ANCA Capital Gateway Program: Paving the Way for Careers in
Public Policy
Hovig Apo Saghdejian
The Capital Gateway House, which houses the fellows and LSIs during
their three-month stay, was donated by the Saghdejian family, in honor
of their son, Hovig, who passed away in a car accident at the age of
23. The young activist was a member of the Homenetmen Armenian General
Athletic Union and Scouts, and the Armenian Youth Federation. As a
volunteer with the Land and Culture Organization, he traveled to
Armenia during the summer of 2003 to work as a volunteer in Ayroum,
developing infrastructure and self-sustainability for the impoverished
village. Hovig's efforts helped bring hope to all he came in contact
with that the future held better things for the people of Armenia.
The Hovig Apo Saghdejian Fellowship Fund has for many years sponsored
a Capital Gateway fellow, covering his/her housing and providing a
full range of support services, from improving resumes and sharpening
interview skills, to making the right introductions and integrating
into the growing network of Armenian-American public policy
professionals in the nation's capital.
Typically, each fellow has been able to secure a full-time position
within three to six months. The competitive program accepts anywhere
between 10 to 25 interns, depending on funding and space availability.
The winter application deadline for the CGP is Jan. 15. Applications
can be accessed on the ANCA's website at www.anca.org.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress