The Year of Thinking Strategically

 Dear Friends,  

Here at the Institute of Armenian Studies, 2016 is going to be a year for provoking ideas and inspiring people. We began the year with a group of guests who challenged traditional thinking about the role of the Republic of Armenia and varieties of engagement by the Diaspora.  On January 12, 2016, Ruben Vardanyan and Veronika Zonabend, founders of the IDeA Foundation, together with Noubar Afeyan, co-founder of 100Lives, and Sam Simonian, founder of TUMO Center for Creative Technologies all spoke about how and why to engage with Armenia – strategically, effectively. 

The year of thinking strategically continued on January 26, when the Institute served as one of three global nodes of conversation around the Gulbenkian Foundation’s newly-released report on ARMENIANS IN 2115, a summary of conversations that took place among leaders and activists from communities around the world. This 2014 gathering at the invitation of the Gulbenkian Foundation (Lisbon) resulted in an exploration of various global scenarios and their possible impact on the Armenian world. The LIVE three-city conversation can be viewed here.

As you can see, this truly will be a year that is both inspirational and challenging.  The Institute is committed to bringing you the best thinkers, the most innovative individuals and projects, in the Armenian World.  That’s exactly what you can expect from INNOVATE ARMENIA  -- this year on Saturday, April 2, from 10 am to 6 pm, on the USC Campus. Save the date and stay tuned for additional information about a new program of stimulating ideas.

Finally, the only way these and other programs can be sustained is by funding the Institute at a level equal to the ambitious vision it promises.  On Sunday, May 22, at a gala banquet at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, you and other Institute supporters will help make this 21st century vision real.

Let us know what you think, and tell your friends to follow the Institute on Twitter and Facebook.

Salpi Ghazarian

Director

Established in 2005, the USC Institute of Armenian Studies supports multidisciplinary scholarship to re-define, explore and study the complex issues that make up the contemporary Armenian experience – from post-Genocide to the developing Republic of Armenia to the evolving Diaspora. The Institute encourages research, publications and public service, and benefits from communication technologies that link together the global academic and Armenian communities.

For information:

213.821.3943

armenian@usc.edu

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