I am finally living my dream: photo-shooting, producing videos and working on diverse communications projects.

Be it with good old Zenit or an uber modern Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, I have been taking photos since I can remember myself.  Love for video production, filming and editing came a little later, after my graduate studies in journalism.

Armed with all the relevant tools to be an effective communicator in the 21st century I embarked on a journalistic journey to various cities, countries and ended up in Chicago, IL.

For the last three years I have been working with the  International Chamber Artists (ICA), a non-for-profit organization, which promotes the viability and growth of classical music. At ICA I set the communications and outreach strategies for each concert season.  Part of my job is to shoot, film and promote ICA's every step and I love every second of it.

I have been very lucky to start working with Tower Chorale, a 80-voice community chorus.  Again, being a one-gal band for the chorus is simply a thrill.

Capturing memorable moments for individuals, causes and businesses is yet another aspect of the dream that I am living.

If this is not enough and you would like to learn more ... well, I am delighted. Please continue surfing my web site, find me on  Twitter @RuzannaTant or see my resume here.

Since concepts like "international", "global", "diverse" have always been part of my life I continue my efforts in these arenas by freelancing, consulting and volunteering.

I recently joined forces with the United Ambassadors of Art (UAArt), a non-profit international organization which promotes intercultural dialogue through arts and creative education. Here, I lead various projects ranging from web redesign to online art contest and event organization.

Prior to my relocation to the United States from Yerevan, Armenia I was an Editorial Assistant and a Correspondent at ArmeniaNow.com weekly online magazine.  A dream job with a dream editor, John Hughes. There I wrote a series of  articles on the survivors of the Armenian Genocide of 1915. Two of my articles were later published in a book “Rememebr24″.

I frequently wrote for Strategize Business Magazine as a Financial Writer /Foreign Correspondent.  Some of the stories I wrote included analysis of Israel ’s and India ’s 60th anniversaries of independence and state formation, as well as their economic achievements.  I reported on the leadership of Canada ’s Prime Minister, Steven Harper, and looked at the investment habits of the Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands.  You can find all these  and other stories in the Published Works section.

I am the founder of Invisible Bridges blog. Here I share my observations about diverse cultures, languages, people who are embracing new and exciting lands and ideas. The aim of this project is to showcase similarities among us and help break stereotypes.  The project was initiated as a result of a joint cross-cultural reporting project with journalists from Pakistan and Syria. It was recognized by the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and received the third prize!

I am a graduate of DePaul University in Chicago, IL where I earned my Masters in Journalism.
I studied English and Political Science at Yerevan State Linguistic University in Armenia.

Awards

• The UN X-Cultural Reporting Award, 3rd Place for the joint reporting project "Silent Heroes"

Conferences

• International Media Seminar on Peace in the Middle East: The Role of the Media, Including New Media, in Advancing the Middle East Peace Process, Lisbon, Portugal 2010
• Reporting Across Cultures: Freedom of Expression in the Digital Age by UNAC & ICFJ, Alexandria, Egypt 2010
• Regional Seminar on Student Participation in Higher Education Governance by Council of Europe, Moscow, Russia 2004
• Digital Video Conference on “US Foreign Policy in the Caucasus” organized the Public Affairs Section of the United States Embassy in Armenia as of International Education Week, Yerevan, Armenia 2003
• Student Debate on International Education and Exchange organized by the Public Affairs Section of the United States Embassy in Armenia as of International Education Week, Yerevan, Armenia 2003

Certificates

• Online Training Course: Freedom of Expression in the Digital Age by International Center For Journalists and UN Alliance of Civilizations, 2010
• Development of Just and Democratic Socio-Economic System in RA by The Institute for Democracy and Human Rights, 2005
• Civic Course on Human Rights and Civil Society in the Republic of Armenia by The Institute for Democracy and Human Rights, 2004
• First Armenian International Model United Nations Conference for Representing Ukraine by UN NGO, 2004
• Human Rights School organized by UNESCO Chair on Human Rights and Democracy at Yerevan State Linguistic University with participation of Theory of Politics Chair of Russian-Armenian University and with assistance of UN Department of Public Information, 2003