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Anush Avetisyan

Produced by Anush Avetisyan

February 17, 2019
San Antonio Wildlife Ranch Celebrates, Protects Endangered Animals

Being surrounded by wild animals, feeding them and taking care of their little ones this is exactly what Tiffany Soechting wanted to do all her life. Anush Avetisyan met with the woman who is the human "mom" to the 500 animals that live on her family's wildlife preserve in Texas.
December 28, 2018
Meet One Woman Who Feeds Detroit's Homeless

Nahid Ayoub's chance encounter with a homeless veteran put her on a path to help others
December 15, 2018
Meet Woman Saving Detroit Homes

Nicole Curtis is all about before and after. She purchases abandoned, broken-down buildings and renovates them, giving them a new life. Anush Avetisyan met with Nicole Curtis and learned how this single mom turned into a TV star and a godmother for Detroit's many collapsing houses.
August 10, 2018
Charlottesville White Supremacist Protest Recalled One Year Later

Sunday marks the one year anniversary of the violent "Unite The Right" protests in Charlottesville, Virginia. Last year's protest, organized by white supremacists upset over the removal of a statue of a Confederate hero, left one person dead and 19 injured. White nationalists are planning a protest to mark the occasion in Washington. Meanwhile, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam and the city of Charlottesville declared a state of emergency ahead of the anniversary. Anush Avetisyan reports.
July 12, 2018
Inside the World of Jehovah's Witnesses

Jehovah's Witnesses have a long history of being persecuted around the world. Their activities are banned or restricted in several countries. They are considered an extremist organization in Russia, while their members are imprisoned in South Korea and Eritrea. Even near their main headquarters and publishing house in New York state, Jehovah's Witnesses lead a somewhat secluded life. VOA's Anush Avetisyan has the story.
June 24, 2018
Inside the World of Jehovah's Witnesses

Jehovah's Witnesses have a long history of being persecuted around the world. Their activities are banned or restricted in several countries. They are considered an extremist organization in Russia, while their members are imprisoned in South Korea and Eritrea. Even near their main headquarters and publishing house in New York state, Jehovah's Witnesses lead a somewhat secluded life. VOA's Anush Avetisyan has the story.
June 03, 2018
Professional Cuddling: A New Occupation

A new occupation has emerged in the United States: professional cuddler. While to some the idea might sound strange, scientists from the Miami Touch Research Institute say they are not surprised at the demand for such services. The institute says that's because the American culture is one of the most touch-averse in the world. Anush Avetisyan has more on this story.
May 10, 2018
What Americans Know and Don't Know About the Holocaust

A new survey by the organization seeking restitution for victims of Nazi persecution found Americans lack knowledge about the Holocaust, the systematic state-sponsored persecution and murder of 6 million Jews by the Nazi regime and its collaborators. The survey found more than 90 percent believe children should learn about it at school. Recently, a museum exhibit on how the U.S. reacted to the genocide, which took place more than 70 years ago, opened in Washington. Anush Avetisyan has more.
April 03, 2018
As Russia's #MeToo Movement Grows, Words of Encouragement from US Women's Group

A Russian lawmaker accused of sexual harassment is attracting media attention worldwide and prompting comparisons to America's #MeToo Movement. In Moscow, a parliamentary ethics committee which cleared the Russian lawmaker of all charges, has fueled greater support for the female accusers -- raising hopes in Russia and across the Atlantic that the time for change has arrived. VOA's Anush Avetisyan has more.
January 20, 2018
Leading US Feminist Thinkers Expect 'Messy,' Litigious 2018

'It Was Rape' producer says sex harassment claims being weaponized for political gain
January 02, 2018
Mistrust Remains 2 Years After Flint Water Crisis

Despite assurances the water is now safe, many in the Michigan city are sticking with bottled water
December 31, 2017
Mistrust Remains Two Years After Flint's Poisoned Water Crisis

Two years after a state of emergency was declared in Flint, Michigan because of lead-poisoned water, residents have been assured their water is now safe. But residents are wary even though these assurances come from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. VOA's Anush Avetisyan visited Flint and spoke to residents who face a battle for clean water every day.
November 05, 2017
Civil War Re-enactors Weigh in on Confederate Monuments Controversy

The U.S. Civil War ended more than 150 years ago, but some Americans gather on old battlefields to re-enact this historic era in great detail today. They buy uniforms, authentic weapons, gather food typical of that era and sleep in tents on their ancestors' battlefields. These re-enactments come at a time when many Americans are debating the future of monuments to the losing Confederate side. VOA's Anush Avetisyan visited camps set up by the recreated "armies" of both sides.
October 01, 2017
'Different, Not Less': Life With Autism in the US

What makes autistic children different and how can their parents make the best choices to integrate them into daily life, especially with an overwhelming amount of clinical research to consider? In the United States, where an estimated one in 68 children suffer from the condition, thousands of parents are faced with these questions. VOA's Anush Avetisyan introduces us to a mother who has first-hand experience.
June 13, 2017
Anne Franks' Diary Still Resonates, 75 Years Later

Frank's first entries show the last glimmer of a normal life before the Holocaust
March 01, 2017
As Republican Wave Hits Washington, a Change in Tastes

Restaurateurs feel the transition of power as Obama-era Democrats give way to Republican staffers
August 24, 2016
US Students Learn Russian Through STARTALK

Determined to solve the mysterious riddle of the Russian language, a group of American students and teachers are participating in a total immersion course. The government-funded study is part of a national security initiative. VOA's Anush Avetisyan reports on this project.
August 24, 2016
US Students Learn Russian Through STARTALK

STARTALK, a program launched during George W. Bush’s presidency offers immersive courses in 'critical-need' foreign languages
April 28, 2016
While US Lags on Paid Maternity Leave, Some States Make Progress

US is the only developed country that does not offer paid maternity leave for new mothers
April 28, 2016
While US Lags on Paid Maternity Leave, Some States Make Progress

While the United States is the only developed country in the world that does not offer paid maternity leave for new mothers, both of the current Democratic presidential candidates support a national standard of 12 weeks of paid family leave. It’s not a new proposal, though. President Barack Obama called for it in his 2015 State of the Union Address, but it drew quick opposition from some Republicans in Congress.

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