July Advocate: SALDEF Engages the White House

Meetings with Obama Administration On June 16, Jasjit Singh, along with members from fellow Asian American advocacy groups, met with Senior Advisors from the Obama Administration to discuss community issues. Among the topics discussed were immigration, the DREAM Act, and commemorative events planned for the 10th anniversary of 9/11. Representatives from the White House included Valerie Jarrett – Senior Advisor to the President, Chris Lu – Assistant to the President, Cecilia Munoz – Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, Kiran Ahuja – Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and John Carson – Director of the Office of Public Engagement. On June 7, SALDEF also met with Akil Vohra, the White House Senior Advisor on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, to discuss the White House’s role in addressing the serious issue of school bullying and harassment. The need for the Obama Administration to address potential backlash against minority communities during 9/11 commemoration events was also relayed. SALDEF’s Congressional Interns – CORRECTION Earlier this year, SALDEF introduced the Congressional Internship Program to place Sikh Americans in internships on Capitol Hill. Harmeet Kaur is interning with Representative Judy Chu’s office and Shabd Singh Khalsa is interning with Representative David Wu’s office. We are pleased to welcome these exceptional interns to the Nation’s Capitol for an unparalleled internship opportunity. In a prior release, we incorrectly stated Harmeet Kaur’s congressional internship office – we apologize for this error. The corrected release can be read here. Presentation at Collegiate Leadership Conference On June 11, Jasjit Singh presented to the participants of the Japanese American Citizens League’s (JACL) Collegiate Leadership Conference. The presentation examined parallels between the Japanese American experience following the attack on Pearl Harbor and the Sikh American experience following the attacks of 9/11. Participants were also provided an overview of Sikh practices and beliefs. On June 8, Birpal Kaur spoke on an Interfaith Panel at Laguna Hills High School, along with panelists from the Buddhist, Catholic, Hindu, Mormon, and Atheist communities. Birpal Kaur presented on the Sikh faith to the senior class, who had prepared questions on theology, religious practices, and interfaith efforts. The panelists provided insightful perspectives on the various spiritual and religious paths. To read more, click here. Pluralism Panel On June 22, Kavneet Singh took part in a public forum entitled, “Religious Pluralism: Shaping the American Identity”, hosted by the City of Los Angeles Human Relations Commission in Van Nuys, CA. The forum aimed to connect communities and expand conversations in an effort to promote the well being of society. This opportunity allowed SALDEF to engage with civic officials and the greater Los Angeles community in raising awareness about the Sikh faith. Save the Date – SALDEF National Gala Please join us for an evening of commemoration and celebration at the SALDEF National Gala on Saturday, October 8, 2011 at the JW Marriott in Washington, DC. As SALDEF’s 15th anniversary, this is an event you won’t want to miss! For more information, click here. Follow us on Twitter Become a follower of SALDEF on Twitter and get real-time updates about current events in the Sikh American community, issues we are working on, and meetings we are attending.  Check out our recent activity and follow us at twitter.com/saldef. Upcoming Events