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Armenian Assembly of America Jacksonville Briefing
The Armenian Assembly of America invites you to a special community meeting and briefing on Friday, February 17, 2023, from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm in Jacksonville, Florida, with Assembly Board Co-Chair Anthony Barsamian and Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. The meeting is hosted by Carl and Linda Bazarian, Assembly trustee members, and the Jacksonville Mission Parish Council led by Elmira Grigoryan, Chair and John Brooks, Vice Chair.
Anthony and Bryan will brief community members on the latest developments in Armenia and Artsakh, on U.S.-Armenia relations, and on the Assembly’s assessment of the 118th Congress following the election of new House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). Carl Bazarian, as a former Assembly Board Chair and current FAR (Fund for Armenian Relief) Board Vice Chair, will also offer his perspective on Armenian American advocacy.
The briefing is free and open to all community members. Young professionals and local college and high school students are encouraged to attend. Please pre-register for the Armenian Assembly Briefing here.
The Armenian Church of Jacksonville is located at 3900 Atlantic Blvd., Jacksonville, Florida 32207.
For questions about the event or 2023 Assembly membership, please contact Mary Jo Bazarian Murray, Director of Development and Membership, at mjbazarianmurray@aaainc.org.
Watch ‘The Hidden Map’ on PBS in Florida This Weekend
Florida Armenians is pleased to announce that PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) will air the Armenian story THE HIDDEN MAP, giving all of us the rare opportunity not only to journey into the forbidden past, but to bring the continuing story to life for millions of viewers.
The film will premiere in Florida (Jacksonville, Ft. Myers-Naples, Miami, Tampa, and West Palm Beach) beginning on Saturday, June 11, 2022 and Sunday, June 12, 2022. See local listings below for viewing in your area.
THE HIDDEN MAP takes viewers beneath the surface of modern-day Turkey, where the forbidden Armenian past has been awaiting discovery for more than a century. The story comes to life as Ani Hovannisian, an American-Armenian granddaughter of genocide survivors, ventures to their lost ancestral homeland in search of long-buried truths. A chance encounter with a Scottish explorer, Steven Sim, leads to a joint odyssey unearthing sacred relics, silenced voices, daring resilience and the hidden map. The result is a story of discovery, heartbreak and hope that belongs to all of humanity.
Produced by Storydoc Productions, THE HIDDEN MAP is directed, produced, written and edited by Ani Hovannisian.
PBS made the historic decision to distribute this independent film to more than 300 stations nationwide both because it recognizes the power of the film and because during its Southern California debut viewers responded with an outpouring of support.
With its national release, viewers who pledge even a nominal amount in support of PBS’s broadcasts of THE HIDDEN MAP will not only help secure additional airings on a national stage, but will receive unique gifts, including exclusive hand-crocheted dolls made by women in Goris, Armenia– some of them displaced citizens of Artsakh who are supported each time a viewer requests a doll.
This is an unprecedented moment in history when we can all easily help to bring this human story of heartbreak, discovery and hope into the homes and consciousness of millions of Americans, while touching the lives of Armenians today.
ABOUT
An American-Armenian granddaughter of exiled genocide survivors dares to venture to their lost ancestral homeland to uncover long-buried truths. During her travels, she meets a lone Scottish explorer who had stumbled upon this mysterious land of secrets years earlier. Together the duo digs beneath the surface of modern-day Turkey, discovering sacred relics, silenced voices, fearless resilience, and the hidden map.
The documentary premiered nationwide on NBCLX in April 2021, coinciding with the U.S.’ official recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Overwhelming audience and critical response prompted nine encore broadcasts. It was also the top broadcast on PBS SoCal and KCET in December, ushering in more screenings in 2022. THE HIDDEN MAP has earned more than a dozen honors at international film festivals and was considered for three 2021 Primetime Emmys.
More information is available at thehiddenmap.com and pbs.org.
Florida Armenians 