Ratevosian Will Visit Yerevan, Armenia to Assess Humanitarian Issues Affecting the Nation
Democratic Congressional candidate for California’s District 30, Dr. Jirair Ratevosian, will visit Yerevan, Armenia, to meet with officials to better understand the impact of the Artsakh blockade and to better support the needs and concerns of the Armenian community in Los Angeles.
From August 30 – September 3, Ratevosian will engage with community leaders in Yerevan on issues critical to all Armenian-Americans: the heartbreaking humanitarian impacts of the Artsakh War, the blockade of the Lancin Corridor, and the ongoing need for care for those wounded in the war. While there, he will also meet with families impacted by the war to learn about rehabilitation efforts, as well as public health officials and community activists to discuss the state of HIV, viral hepatitis, and other public health challenges affecting Yerevan. This will be Jirair’s eleventh trip to Armenia.
“I am a proud Armenian-American, and it means the world to me that my eleventh trip to Armenia gets to be with my dad. But make no mistake – we are heartbroken about the suffering our homeland currently faces as a result of Azerbaijan’s blockade,” said Jirair Ratevosian. “We need an immediate end to the blockade. We need Armenian voices to lead. When elected, one of my first priorities will be providing much-needed focus on the plight in Armenia.”
Ratevosian has spent his career championing Armenian issues. He served as part of President Biden’s policy team to recognize the Armenian Genocide and as legislative director to Congresswoman Barbara Lee, where he collaborated closely with the Congresswoman to increase budget support for Armenia. As corporate social responsibility director at Gilead, Jirair worked directly with Armenia-based public health organizations and physicians to raise awareness and direct support for LGBTQ+ communities, HIV prevention, and free medicines to treat and cure Hepatitis C.
Ratevosian’s travels to Yerevan, Armenia utilize zero campaign funds or third-party sponsorships to pay for the trip.
ABOUT JIRAIR FOR CONGRESS
Born and raised in Hollywood, Dr. Jirair Ratevosian is a first-generation American born to Armenian immigrant parents. With a doctoral degree in public health from Johns Hopkins University, Ratevosian has spent his career working on behalf of underserved communities championing issues that most impact these communities. As part of President Biden’s policy team recognizing the Armenian Genocide, as a legislative director to Congresswoman Barbara Lee, and as a corporate social responsibility director at Gilead, Ratevosian has used his positions for the betterment of communities in need. He currently resides in Burbank with his fiance, Micheal Ighodaro.
Ratevosian is running for Rep. Adam Schiff’s seat to be a champion for all communities within California’s District 30. California’s 30th is an open Congressional District in Los Angeles County that includes the cities of Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, West Hollywood, Sunland, Tujunga, and Hancock Park. Incumbent Adam Schiff is vacating the seat to run for the U.S. Senate. In 2022, Schiff defeated Democrat Maebe A. Girl with 71% of the vote in this Democratic district. The district has the largest Citizen Voting Age Population of Armenian-Americans in the country at 14%.
More information on Jirair’s campaign goals, which include issues of equal opportunity and public health, can be found on his campaign website.
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