It starts in the home with family

The theme of community has been relevant of late due to its critical impact on a thriving diaspora. We can learn and improve from reflection on how we connect to our communities. If we have learned anything in the last 100 years of our post-genocide diaspora, it is that there are many roads that carry us on the path to identity and community connection. We all search for a personal identity in our lives, whether professional or relational.

Many of these paths are traditional through a matriculation of family participation in community life, which naturally transitioned into their young adult life. There are alternative roads that are equally important in a diaspora where identity eventually becomes a choice. I remember a young woman from the north shore of Massachusetts who participated in an Armenian identity panel at a local university. Her story was remarkable. She is Armenian on one side of her lineage. She was not raised in the Armenian community but had a family relationship from her Armenian side that left a deep impression on her. Her connection to her heritage began and was limited to her home. It did not translate into participation in community life or even a clear identity until her young adulthood. When the time was right for her, she decided to explore her Armenian identity through the Birthright Armenia program. Initially, it was challenging. She did not “look” Armenian and did not carry an Armenian surname. She did not speak any Armenian or have a functioning knowledge of the culture. Despite these realities, she was driven to pursue her personal journey — a successful journey that led her to extend her service in Armenia. Her story was inspiring and reflected the diversity of our experiences. We can learn much from unique journeys.