Sevan Kabakian

Sevan Kabakian is a public figure.

Born in Lebanon, he has been a well-respected leader in theLos Angeles Armenian community for 25 years. As leader of the Glendale Armenian Youth Federation Badanees (Juniors), he actively encouraged a sense of pride, duty and responsibility among youth through a strong connection to the Motherland.

Kabakian has an undergraduate degree from UCLA and a Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering from University of Southern California. Since 1987 he has worked as a flight performance engineer at McDonnell Douglas/Boeing.

In April 2006 Birthright Armenia hired L.A. Sevan Kabakian to Head Armenia Operations. Kabakian joined the organization as Executive Director to head up its Yerevan-based office, the Depi Hayk Foundation. in 2006 the organization celebrated its third year of successful service to Armenia and the Diaspora.

Birthright Armenia's mission is to strengthen ties between the Homeland and Diasporan youth by affording them an opportunity to be a part of Armenia's daily life and to contribute to Armenia's development through work, study and volunteer experiences, while developing life-long personal ties and a renewed sense of Armenian identity. For those interested in learning more about Birthright Armenia, visit www.birthrightarmenia.org or email info@birthrightarmenia.org .

Linda Yepoyan, as for 2006, the Executive Director for the organization's U.S. operations, described Kabakian as "a committed, energetic and experienced individual who will bring excellent leadership and vision to our Armenia-based operations. His decades of grass-roots community experience within the Los Angeles Armenian community will certainly serve as a great asset to Birthright Armenia/Depi Hayk."

In that position, Kabakian was managing all of the organization's operations in Armenia, working with local organizations and governmental branches to establish new areas for volunteer job placements and internship programs, as well as enhance an already active connection between Armenia and the Diaspora.

Depi Hayk Foundation, was aiming expansion of the organization outside Yerevan to the more rural areas of Armenia. "Birthright Armenian is a wonderful vehicle by which countless Diasporan youth will experience their ethnic homeland in a meaningful way," said Kabakian.

"Visiting Armenia is at once a highly rewarding and emotional experience," said Kabakian. "I see myself as a host that welcomes Diasporan youth to their second home."

As evidence of his dedication, Kabakian led a group of Armenian youth in a pilgrimage to Western Armenia last summer in an exploration of that lost element of the Armenian heritage.

On his journey to Armenia, he is joined by his wife, Klariss, and his three young daughters, Naro, Naneh and Lalig.

Sources

• Birthright Armenia Hires L.A. Sevan Kabakian to Head Armenia Operations, California Courier Online, April 27, 2006