I’d like to begin this month’s message by announcing a shift in the City’s leadership. A big thank you to former Mayor Ardy Kassakhian for his steadfast leadership and passion for our community during his tenure as Mayor! On Tuesday, April 4, 2023, Glendale council members selected City Council Member Daniel “Dan” Brotman as the City’s next Mayor. Congratulations Mayor Brotman! I look forward to working with the Mayor and Council in implementing their priorities in the year ahead.
April is a month for us to reflect on the past and recognize those who have been affected by genocide. This month, we observe Genocide Awareness Month and as a city choose to remember and honor those impacted while moving forward together.
April is associated with several significant dates related to genocide, including the Armenian Genocide, the Holocaust, the Cambodian Genocide, and the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. To commemorate this month, the City of Glendale hosts its Annual Armenian Genocide Commemorative Event at the Alex Theatre on Monday, April 24th at 7:00pm.
This year's theme is "The Armenian Experience Through the Lens," celebrating the 100th anniversary of Armenian cinema as declared by the Armenian Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport. The event will feature curated segments to educate and inform attendees. It will begin with a tribute to the ongoing atrocities in Artsakh, reflecting our commitment to raising awareness of humanitarian crises. We are also excited to feature a preview of Armenia's submission to the 2023 Oscars Best International Film category, Aurora's Sunrise.
We are honored to welcome Joe Manganiello, a celebrated actor, producer, director, published author, and Emmy-winning voice actor as our keynote speaker. Manganiello will discuss intergenerational trauma, drawing from his familial history and the story of his maternal great-grandmother, Terviz "Rose" Darakijan, who survived the Armenian Genocide. Secure your tickets here.
In addition, I encourage everyone to participate in our Week of Remembrance events from Sunday, April 16th to Tuesday, April 25th, featuring satellite events and screenings across the city to honor the memory of those who perished, and recognize the resilience of those who survived.
We hope you will join us in honoring the lives affected by genocide this month and supporting our commitment to raise awareness of these issues.