SALDEF is proud to announce the expansion of its media initiative to the Midwest! On July 11, 2015, a multi-generational, diverse group of Sikh Americans based in the Chicago area received a media training, adding to SALDEF’s growing Speaker’s Bureau network.
Led by SALDEF’s Communications Director, Sona Simran Kaur, each trainee received:
- Messaging guidance in communicating with media and non-Sikh audiences alongside a presentation of SALDEF and Stanford University researchers’ Turban Myths report, the first-ever public perception assessment of Sikh Americans in our history
- A rapid response plan that will allow them to share their Sikh American story and their communities’ values and stories, no matter the scenario
- One-on-one interview training
This class also recorded their own Sikh American stories with NPR and TED’s StoryCorps, and their Sikh American stories were shared with the US Library of Congress. 
CLICK TO HEAR: Kanwar Singh’s Story: Coming Back to Sikhi
LISTEN TO Priyanka Kaur’s SMU’s Tie-a-Turban Day!
This group of Sikh Americans joins more than 25 previously trained Sikh Americans—like Darsh Preet Singh, the first dastaar-wearing NCAA basketball player—in supporting their community by serving as a voice to the media, both proactively and during times of rapid response. If you are a Sikh American with an interest in media and want to serve your community, contact SALDEF Media. Camera shy, but want to ensure that Sikh American communities across the United States show their neighbors the Sikh American way of life? Support our Media Initiative TODAY! A special thank you to all of our participants, sponsors, and volunteers. 