We invite you to participate in an open discussion about the challenges facing Armenians and Armenia today and the viable ways to come together and address those challenges. There are individuals and organisations already working on these challenges but not all are aware of these and often they are disconnected from each other. The Town Hall meeting is an opportunity to connect, consider possibilities and inspire action together.

 The objectives of the Town Hall meeting are:

·      To be an inclusive and participatory space for discussion  

·      To raise awareness of existing projects and initiatives

·      To share experiences, good practices, and lessons learned

·      To explore ways of connecting and harmonising existing and future approaches

Format:  The evening will begin with short introductions by Dr Armine Ishkanian and Dr Susan Pattie, followed by a moderated (for time) discussion.  Armine will lead and moderate the discussion on poverty & inequality in Armenia and Susan will focus on creating vibrant diaspora communities. A short report will be produced and made publicly available. 

 Members of the audience will be asked to discuss their experiences, knowledge of initiatives (successful and unsuccessful), share lessons learned, and think of ways to work more effectively. 

 All interventions will be strictly limited to 3 minutes in order to allow maximum participation.

Free admission.

Dr. Susan Pattie is an Honorary Senior Research Associate at University College London and former Director of the Armenian Institute. In recent years she served as Director of the Armenian Museum of America and was Program Manager of the National Armenian Genocide Centennial Commemorations in Washington, DC. Her many publications include the ethnography Faith in History:  Armenians Rebuilding Community (Smithsonian Institution Press, 1997) and the children’s book, Who Are the Armenians?

 Dr. Armine Ishkanian is a Post-Major Review Tenured Assistant Professor and the Programme Director of the MSc in Social Policy & Development in the Department of Social Policy, London School of Economics (LSE). Her research examines the relationship between civil society, democracy, development and social transformation.  She has published numerous peer reviewed academic articles on Armenia and is the author of two books, including Democracy Building and Civil Society in Armenia (2008).