From Taleen Babayan

Taleen Babayan

Taleen Babayan, a longtime correspondent for the newspaper in the New York-New Jersey area, earned an MS degree from Columbia’s Graduate School of Journalism and a BA in history and international relations from Tufts University. She currently serves as the associate director of communications, development and stewardship at the American University of Armenia in Los Angeles. She volunteers for countless Armenian organizations, including the Tekeyan Cultural Association, Armenian Network of America and the Armenian Radio Hour of New Jersey. The first play she wrote, directed and produced, “Where Is Your Groom?” (Pesad Oor Eh) and its sequel touched upon the themes of assimilation and cultural identity through satire while speaking to audience’s hearts and minds as the 25-person Armenian cast and crew performed for 15 Armenian-American communities in sold-out shows across the country. Another play she wrote, directed and produced, “From Sacred Wrath,” focuses on an Armenian-American family who shares mixed emotions during the centennial of the Armenian Genocide. This play was also well-received, performed to two sold-out audiences at the Davenport Theatre in Manhattan and named Honorable Mention in the ADAA’s William Saroyan Playwriting Prize. Other projects include her short film, “Basbousa,” shot on location in Paterson, NJ, which was accepted into the Indie Street Film Festival and Atlantic City Cinefest as well as the selection of her play “Thirty,” for the Theater for the New City’s New City New Blood reading series in New York City. She has worked in communications, research and development for New York City-based non-profits and has published widely in print and digital media.

PASADENA, Calif. — A sold-out crowd laughed out loud all night during An Evening of Comedy, hosted by the Tekeyan Cultural Association Metro Los Angeles chapter on Saturday, October 27[...]

LOS ANGELES — One simple — yet key — question set into motion 30 years of research: how many Armenians were actually massacred during the Armenian Genocide? This question was[...]

LOS ANGELES — Among the cavernous cliffs of the Santa Monica mountains, the sweet hues of Armenian melodies rise into the air, floating high up above the Ford Amphitheatre, where[...]

BEVERLY HILLS — An abundance of legacy and love flowed through the fitting setting of the old-world glamour Beverly Hills Hotel in a celebration banquet honoring Archbishop Vatche Hovsepian, former[...]

BURBANK, Calif. — The signature sounds of Armenian music composed over the course of centuries reverberated through the ornate edifice of the St. Leon Cathedral as award-winning operatic soprano Isabel[...]

GLENDALE — The American University of Armenia (AUA) and the Armenian Bar Association joined forces to sponsor a new Technology and Innovation Legal Clinic at AUA’s campus in Yerevan through[...]

LOS ANGELES — His Armenian identity was a paramount force in writer William Saroyan’s life, his stories and pages filled with characters, dialogues and themes that reflected his cultural values,[...]

PASADENA, Calif. — More than 600 faithful gathered for a special service and luncheon marking the symbolic 20th anniversary of the ordination and consecration of Archpriest Rev. Sarkis Petoyan, the parish[...]

WASHINGTON — When Annie Simonian Totah fights for Armenian Genocide recognition on Capitol Hill, the dispiriting thought of her parents in an orphanage takes centerstage. The daughter of Genocide survivors,[...]

By Taleen Babayan Special to the Mirror-Spectator UPPER SADDLE RIVER, N.J. — The seeds of political activism were planted in Nvair Beylerian at a young age. Waking up one Saturday[...]

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — On an unusually sun soaked April afternoon in this shifting section of Brooklyn, where some flock into a millennial-friendly juice bar while others exit a legendary bodega,[...]