Yes, We Have: Criminals — Book Launch & Birthday Celebration

I invite you to join me for a very special evening at the Center for Armenian Arts as I celebrate my birthday with the launch of my newest book, Yes, We Have: Criminals, part of the ongoing Yes, We Have series.

Every community has its heroes, artists, scholars, entrepreneurs, and individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to society. The Armenian community is no exception, and we have much to be proud of. But if we are going to tell our story honestly, we must also be willing to acknowledge its uncomfortable chapters. Yes, We Have: Criminals is not intended to embarrass Armenians or judge an entire community by the actions of a few. Rather, it documents individual cases involving fraud, deception, corruption, and criminal activity while recognizing that those actions do not represent the Armenian people as a whole.

This book continues the mission of the Yes, We Have series: to document Armenian life and contributions honestly and preserve our stories for future generations. Celebrating our accomplishments should not require us to hide our failures; acknowledging both is part of preserving a complete and truthful history.

The evening will also feature other books from the Yes, We Have series, including Yes, We Have, Yes, We Have: Expanded, Yes, We Have: Women and also The Armenian in America and Monasteries and Churches of Artsakh + Map of Artsakh.

Most importantly, all funds raised from book sales during the event will go toward supporting student tuition, making this celebration not only about looking back at our stories, but also about investing in the next generation.

I hope you will join me for an evening of conversation, books, community, and, of course, a little birthday celebration.

Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: The Center for Armenian Arts
Address: 250 N. Orange Street, Glendale, CA 91203

Parking: Parking is available at 222 N. Orange St., Glendale, CA 91203. The first 90 minutes are free, with parking available for $3.00 per hour thereafter.