ANCA Capital Gateway Fellow Shant Nahapetian (left) and Armenians for Obama activist Serouj Aprahamian (right) volunteer for Presidential Candidate Barack Obama in Fairfax County, Virginia.
September 30, 2008
As the countdown to the presidential race draws nearer, Armenians for Obama activists from across the country are stepping up their efforts to have their voices heard in this year's election cycle. This past Saturday, several young Armenians for Obama activists volunteered for Senator Barrack Obama's campaign in the crucial battleground state of Virginia.
"We know that Virginia will be one of the key states to decide who is going to be the next president of the United States," said Armenians for Obama activist Serouj Aprahamian. "As Armenian American youth who live in this important region, we feel it is our obligation to ensure a positive change this November, both for our community and country."
The young activists spent the day going door to door, meeting with local residents and gauging the level of support for Obama in the Fairfax County area. They also engaged in registering new voters, reaching out to undecideds and informing constituents about where Obama stands on key public policy issues.
"The feedback we got from local residents here in Virginia was overwhelmingly positive," said Virginia native Viken Mousessian. "This was one of my first times working on the grassroots level for a political campaign and it was definitely a rewarding experience."
Another Armenians for Obama volunteer to take part in the effort in Virginia was Shant Nahapetian, a current fellow in the ANCA's Capital Gateway program. "I volunteer because I think participating in the electoral process goes far beyond voting," said Nahapetian. "As Obama's Presidential campaign has emphasized, if we really want to make a difference and create change that will last, it has to come from the bottom up."Armenians for Obama has taken an active role in campaigning for Senator Obama in numerous other states, including, California, Nevada, Colorado, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.
Armenians for Obama is a nationwide voter registration, education, and mobilization effort dedicated to electing Barack Obama President. Based in Los Angeles, and with chapters and affiliates across the nation, Armenians for Obama will harness the energy and enthusiasm for Barack Obama's candidacy to ensure record high Armenian American turnout in critical battleground states.