The Armenian Student Association (ASA) at the University of California, Berkeley, hosted a series of events for the annual Armenian Genocide Awareness Week (AGAW) from April 24-27, 2023. These events aimed to raise awareness about the Armenian Genocide, honor the victims' memory, and educate students about Armenian history and culture.
The week-long commemorative activities began with a candlelight vigil to honor the victims of the 1915 Armenian Genocide. Cal students gathered around a monument to learn more about Armenian history and the Genocide. In the end, participants got the chance to continue decorating the monument.
Next, ASA hosted a traditional Armenian dance workshop on April 25th. A silent protest was held on April 26th to raise awareness and stress the importance of acknowledging the Armenian Genocide. Red tape was placed over participants' mouths to symbolize the silence faced by the mass media and the world. Students blocked the Sather Gate, a well-known UC Berkeley landmark, for 30 minutes using posters and red tape.
To wrap up the week on April 27th, a fundraiser was held featuring pre-ordered Armenian pastries. The money raised was donated to the Armenian Wounded Heroes Fund.
As the Media Relations Coordinator, my primary objective was to enhance the visibility of the Armenian Genocide Awareness Week (AGAW) and educate both the Berkeley student body and the general public. I was responsible for various media relations initiatives, which included drafting press releases, curating a media list, and sending pitches to a variety of publications. These endeavors resulted in 7+ earned media, generating over 30k impressions and reaching an audience of over 2k online users.
Among these was a significant feature by the @ucberkeleyofficial Instagram account, which collaborated with @cal_asa on a post that received over 1.5k likes. We also welcomed a reporter from @ucberkeleylife, an Instagram account that showcases the diverse aspects of Berkeley student life. Additionally, we extended an invitation to Daily Cal, the primary independent student-run newspaper serving the UC Berkeley campus and its surrounding community, which provided coverage for our event.
It was an honor to contribute to this significant even alongside a remarkable team. Explore some of the event’s coverage below:
This event was more than just a week on the calendar for me. It was a chance to shine a light on a piece of history that's close to my heart, and to make a real difference on the UC Berkeley campus. I'm proud of what we achieved, and I'm grateful to ASA’s Cultural Committee for helping make this week a beautiful tribute to Armenian history. I'm happy I could leave this meaningful mark on my community before graduating from Cal, given my involvement with ASA since my first year.
Please do not forget to check out more pictures from the event!
