Q&A: One High School Senior’s Mission to Honor Armenian Heritage in Massachusetts

When 18-year-old Anahit Marutyan, a high school senior from Worcester, set out to have April recognized as Armenian Heritage Month by the Governor of Massachusetts, she had no political experience—just determination, pride in her roots, and a deep love for her culture. Born and raised in Armenia, she moved to the United States at 15 and quickly learned how invisible her heritage was to many around her. So, she decided to make a change.

We had the opportunity to speak with her about what inspired the project, the challenges she faced, and how she secured a statewide proclamation before even graduating from high school.

What was your inspiration for pursuing this proclamation?

Anahit Marutyan: I was born and raised in Armenia, where I lived until I was 15. My mother came to pursue her Ph.D. in Genocide and Holocaust Studies at Clark University. That’s why we moved to Worcester—it was a completely new environment. No relatives, no extended family. Just my parents and me, starting over.

I grew up in a Christian household, always being proud of my culture and heritage. After I moved to the United States, I realized I was often the only Armenian girl in school. I constantly felt the need to explain who we were—our culture, our history, and what Armenians have contributed, especially in the U.S.

That really motivated me to make our story more visible. I didn’t know how proclamations worked at first, so I asked Giselle Rivera Flores, the communications director at Senator Robyn Kennedy’s office, where I interned. She told me that senators don’t issue proclamations—that’s something that has to come from the governor’s office. So I Googled everything, tracked down the staff, and started emailing.

How old were you when you started this effort?

AM: I was 17 when I began in early 2024—still a junior in high school. I’m 18 now, and a senior, and it was officially approved this year.

Wow that’s Amazing! Can you tell us more about how you went about getting this accomlplished? Was it a smooth process?

AM: Not at all. I started reaching out in January 2024, and by March, I had finally gotten through to someone in the governor’s office. But it didn’t get approved the first time. That was tough. Still, I decided I wasn’t going to take no for an answer. I waited until January 2025, then tried again. I told them I was still passionate about it and willing to do whatever it took.

They said if I wanted to try again, I’d have to do all the research myself—fact-checking, gathering historical context, drafting the proclamation. So I did. I read books and looked into Armenian immigration after the genocide, especially in Massachusetts. Armenians worked in manufacturing, education, and museums—they were starting from scratch after surviving such trauma. That really inspired me to keep pushing.

Eventually, I got a reply from someone letting me know it had been approved and the original proclamation would be mailed to me. It was such a proud moment.

How have people reacted to the proclamation—both Armenians and non-Armenians?

AM: The reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. My school is small, and I’ve built strong connections with my teachers. They’ve all been incredibly supportive. One of my teachers is Armenian, and she was especially moved—she said something like this had never really been done before, and she was proud of me.

The Armenian community—our church, the museum, everyone—was just so encouraging. That’s all I really wanted: to make people feel proud of our culture and to know that our history and contributions are seen, celebrated, and remembered.

And what’s next for you after high school?

AM: I recently finished the college application process. I got into Clark University, Brandeis, UMass Boston, and Boston College. I’ve decided to attend Clark because I received their Presidential Scholarship, which covers full tuition, housing, and everything.

My plan is to major in Political Science and Philosophy with a concentration in Human Rights. Clark has a 4+1 accelerated master’s program, so I hope to earn my Master’s in Public Administration there too. After that, I plan to attend law school. So... a lot more school ahead!

Any final thoughts?

A: This wasn’t just about getting a piece of paper from the state. It was about honoring all the Armenians who came to Massachusetts after the genocide, started aover, and contributed so much. I wanted to make sure their stories are remembered and that people know we’re still here—we're still proud.

“The official proclamation recognizing April as Armenian Heritage Month in Massachusetts is a powerful example of what can happen when young people take initiative and fight for visibility,” said Bree Carriglio, Executive Director of the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR). “We look forward to seeing what Anahit does next—and we’re confident it’ll be just as inspiring.”