LACDMH Service Area 2 hosted the Eighth Annual Armenian Genocide: Transgenerational Effects & Healing remembrance event on Saturday, April 11, at ACF Beshir Mardirossian Burbank Youth Center. This year’s theme was Healing & Coping.
The event brought together community members, mental health clinicians and Burbank elected officials to discuss the transgenerational trauma caused by the Armenian genocide.
Opening remarks were given by Mariam Nahapetyan; Rima Safaryan; Service Area 2 Chief Antonio Banuelos, LCSW; Jorge Partida Del Toro, Psy.D.; Burbank City Mayor Tamala Takahashi, LMFT; and Burbank Councilmember Konstantine Anthony. It also featured a keynote presentation by Christina Soibatian, Ph.D., Carrying Our Stories, Reclaiming Our Strength: Healing Across Generations.
Fred Sarkisyan from Veterans of Armenia gave a brief presentation on the organization’s efforts in Armenia.
The event showcased several cultural performances by R. Mat Dance Studio, songs by Peter Haig and a Kanun performance by Nairi Achabahian. Attendees were treated to a traditional Armenian catered lunch.
The program concluded with clinician-led small group discussions focused on healing among third-and fourth-generation descendants. Participants shared common experiences of anxiety and belonging, while emphasizing resilience and the enduring influence of culture through stories, food, music and media.
