SOAR - Rochester Chapter
Rochester (NY) became part of the SOAR family in August 2024. In the early and mid-twentieth century, Niagara Falls (NY) became a home to many resettled survivors of the 1915 Armenian Genocide and their descendants, either through direct settlement or migration from other regions of the United States. The East Falls Street neighborhood in Niagara Falls in particular became the major hub for the local Armenian community in Western New York, solidified through the building of two churches and a community center in the mid-20th century: St. Sarkis Armenian Church, the Armenian Community Center, and St. Hagop Armenian Apostolic Church. While the community has fallen from its peak population in the mid-20th century, Armenian cultural heritage continues to be practiced locally by descendants within the historic community and by new immigrants to the Buffalo-Niagara region from Armenia.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Shadi Avani
President
Shadi was born and raised in Tehran, Iran. She received her bachelor’s degree in law from the University of Tehran. During this time, she pursued her passion of helping autistic children in both autistic organizations and orphanages. She also tutored high school students who were in need. She became fluent in English and continued to study Arabic and French. She has been working on legal philosophy and human rights since she began her master’s degree in philosophy in 2020. She hopes that one day she will be able to protect individual rights by establishing effective national and international rules, particularly for children.