Our SikhLEAD Leadership Development Program participants (SikhLEADers) continue to make a difference across the country. We recently concluded another training for SikhLEAD’s fifth cohort (LDP5) in DC. This three-day program focused on providing SikhLEADers with a changemakers’ tool-kit that includes strategies for: successfully influencing policy-makers; organizing diverse communities; and working with media to accurately represent Sikh Americans as an integral part of the fabric of our nation.
Below are some examples of the exceptional work these SikhLEADers are doing.
Benita Kaur Glamour of Tampa, Florida organized her gurdwara’s sangat to engage with non-Sikhs in the local area so that neighbors know they share common American 
ideals of equality and justice. She built a team of community members who coordinate bi-monthly opportunities to help the less fortunate. Their activities include: packaging 100,000 meals for families in the local area in partnership with Feeding Tampa Bay; sorting donated clothes at a thrift shop; and building a house with Habitat for Humanity. If you’d like to do the same in your community, let us know at info@saldef.org. We can connect you to Benita for more information about how she organized her community and built relationships with local organizations.
Manvir Singh, Angad Singh and Anmolpreet Singh Kandola addressed the lack of mental health services and social stigma around mental health in Richmond Hill, NY’s Sikh community. These young men brought successful Sikh Americans and other experts to speak about the prevalence of depression and other issues in our communities. They discussed how the isolation experienced by recent immigrants, hate crimes, and school-based bullying can require extra care. The organizers connected the community with resources from the NYC Mayor’s office so that the sangat can access professional, high-quality services. Click here to see the local media’s coverage more about this outstanding effort from the Queens Tribune.
Robbie Singh Boporai, Dilpreet Singh Sahota and Gurchit Singh Chatha organized the first-ever state capitol Langar on the Hill inSacramento, CA. More than 80 attendees included lawmakers, legislative staff, tourists, and Sacramento residents. As with all the langars SikhLEADers have organized, attendees sat side-by-side as equals to enjoy a meal, regardless of differing religions and backgrounds. Henna Kaushal, an LDP graduate who helped with the program, said, “Sikh Americans have a rich, 100-plus-year legacy in California, and this Langar provided an opportunity for us to share our traditions with our fellow Californians.” Read more on the SALDEF website here.
Naureen Singh, a graduate of SALDEF’s Internship Program, was also invited to join the LDP class this year. She played a leadership role in a local effort to highlight Colorado’s religious diversity. Naureen organized an interfaith service with Sikh kirtan and turban-tying for more than 2,000 attendees. She made a presentation about the Sikh turban jointly to the Mile Hi Church and Colorado’s Sikh Sangat. This event was organized by Reverend O’Hurley of Mile Hi Church and Dilpreet Jammu of Colorado Sikhs. In a post you can read in full here, Naureen said: “I wanted to unite my Sikh community with the broader Colorado community. SALDEF gave me the tools and resources to navigate around those concerns and make this happen in a constructive way.” Please stay tuned to http://www.sikhlead.org/ as we will be opening applications for the next SikhLEAD Leadership Development Program cohort in the next week! SALDEF’s LDP was funded through generous support of community members across the country and the sponsors listed below. Please make a 100% tax-deductible donation to support SALDEF by clicking here or going to www.saldef.org/donate on your mobile device now. Thank You.
