Outreach Programs

Promoting Armenia’s Greatness through Direct Community Outreach

Nothing breaks down barriers between strangers better than good old community hospitality. And nobody does hospitality better than Armenians!

Reaching out generously to their neighbors and colleagues for centuries, Armenians have naturally offered their scrumptious cuisine, delectable cognacs and enthralling music to almost anyone who wishes to share it. And now is the time to harness this gift of amazing hospitality to protect and to preserve Armenia and Artsakh.

The Shining Example of Alexandria, Virginia and Gyumri, Armenia

In 1989, one year after the devastating Spitak earthquake (which summarily leveled the Armenian City of Gyumri and killed nearly 50,000 people), Rita Balian, a prominent Spyurk leader in Washington, DC, extended her Armenian hospitality to the Honorable Patsy S. Ticer, then vice mayor of Alexandria, Virginia.

In response to Rita’s hospitality and friendship, the vice mayor organized an ad hoc committee to provide assistance to the people of Gyumri and a year later, on March 27, 1990, the Alexandria City Council formally established the “Alexandria - Gyumri Exchange Committee” to develop a long-term program of cultural, educational and professional exchange between the cities of Alexandria and Gyumri.

A delegation of Alexandria City Officials, led by vice mayor Ticer, then traveled to Armenia to meet with officials of Gyumri to discuss the arrangement.

Less than a year later, in a signed agreement, the official “Sister City” relationship between Alexandria and Gyumri was formalized when the Mayor of the city of Gyumri visited Alexandria and presented gifts to the city of Alexandria on behalf of the citizens of Gyumri.

The Armenian Sister City & County Cooperative (ASCC)

Replicating the success of Alexandria, Virginia’s relationship with Gyumri, Armenia, the mission of the ASCC is to create widespread Odar awareness of Armenia’s long history and rich cultural heritage by creating a global network of reciprocal and mutually beneficial relationships between Armenian cities and other cities and counties throughout the world.

Networking with Odars in Support of Armenia One City at a Time

To learn more about the Armenian ASCC (Armenian Sister City & County Cooperative) program: Read More