SOAR - Long Beach Chapter
Long Beach joined the SOAR family in March 2022. The Los Angeles (LA) metropolitan area is home to the largest population of Armenians in the world outside of Armenia. The first Armenian families began to settle in the LA area in the late 19th century. The first significant wave of Armenian immigration occurred during the Armenian Genocide. Circa 1923, there were an estimated 2,500 to 3,000 Armenians in the city. Another wave of immigration occurred in the 1940s when most Armenians settled in Little Armenia in Hollywood. Because of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which eased restrictions against newer immigrant groups, another wave of Armenian immigration occurred in the late 1960s. Today, more than 200,000 Armenians live in the LA area, including Long Beach, the seventh most populous city in California. The city is known for its waterfront attractions, including the permanently docked RMS Queen Mary and the Aquarium of the Pacific. Long Beach also hosts the Grand Prix of Long Beach, an IndyCar race, and the Long Beach Pride Festival and Parade.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Naira Nardos Harutjunjan
Treasurer
Naira Nardos Harutjunjan currently resides in North Hills, CA.
She was born in Armenia/Yerevan in 1974. After completing high school, she studied Economics and Trade at Yerevan State University.
In 1993, Naira married and moved to Belgium. Subsequently, she worked for the City of Harelbeke (Belgium) as a Public Procurer for 14 years. While living in Belgium, she had the opportunity to make frequent visits to the United States and fell in love with the nature and climate in California. In 2020, Naira moved to California permanently and began a medical career in the Primary Care Clinic in Long Beach Meliora Medical Group. She longed for the opportunity to volunteer in a nonprofit organization that helped orphans. Her desire comes from a personal experience of her grandparents and parents being orphans from Van and Ersurum. Naira and her husband have two beautiful daughters: Maria (1999) and Jessica (2001). They are both currently studying in universities in Belgium. Naira is thrilled to join SOAR LB Chapter and look forward to making a difference in the community.