ANC-WR grassroots workshop to feature Ardashes Kassakhian

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Armenian National Committee – Western Region (ANC-WR) has announced that Glendale City Clerk Ardashes Kassakhian will serve as a panelist in “Grassroots: Empower and Lead,” a workshop on activism through politics.

The workshop is part of the ANC Grassroots weekend that will take place from Friday, November 25 to Sunday, November 27, 2011, at the Sheraton Universal Hotel.

Having served as Glendale City Clerk for over 6 years, Kassakhian has gained unique insight into Glendale’s political system. As the city’s Election Official, he has led the effort to raise participation and awareness of municipal elections and has introduced the expansion of video streaming of city council meetings and other proceedings. During the last 6 years, Kassakhian has helped educate non-English speaking citizens in Glendale about the voting process.

In 2009, Kassakhian completed a summer program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University for State and Local officials. In 2011, Kassakhian graduated from the Coro Executive Fellowship Program in Public Affairs. He is currently working on developing a long range strategic plan for reforming election processes in Glendale and raising voter participation in municipal elections.

On April 5, 2005, Kassakhian became the first person ever to be elected City Clerk in an open election in Glendale in 75 years.

Kassakhian received his undergraduate degree at UCLA in history with a special emphasis on Armenia and the Near East.