Riverside Gurdwara Vandalism—Suspect in Custody 
The Riverside County Sheriff’s office has released a statement with an update on the investigation into the hate motivated vandalism that occurred at the Riverside Gurdwara Sahib on July 29th. The investigation led to the arrest of a juvenile, who has been booked into the Juvenile Detention Center for committing a hate crime and 33 separate counts of vandalism. SALDEF has been in continued engagement with the local Riverside community since this crime was reported to us. Earlier this month SALDEF, along with local community leaders, met with FBI officials to discuss the current investigation and next steps around safety and precautions for the community. Additionally, SALDEF will be organizing a Townhall Forum on Sunday, August 18th at 12:30pm at Riverside Gurdwara Sahib (7940 Mission Blvd, Riverside, CA). The forum will include representatives from the FBI as well as the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, to provide information and dialogue for the local community around safety precautions, and any additional concerns. For more information, click here. SALDEF Invited to National Conference Panel on Bullying 
SALDEF Legal and Legislative Affairs Associate, Amrita Singh, was invited to be a panelist at a workshop focused on crimes and bullying at school campuses at the OCA National Convention held on July 19th. The OCA National Convention is a premier annual event in the civil rights community that brings together hundreds of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans from across the country to address the most pressing political, social and cultural topics. During the panel, high school students from across the country learned anti-bullying techniques and of the need to step up, speak out, and stand up together. Amrita was joined by panelists from the Human Rights Campaign, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network and the National Education Association. SALDEF Oak Creek Media Coverage 
Earlier this month, on the one year anniversary of the Oak Creek shooting, SALDEF Executive Director, Jasjit Singh, went to Oak Creek, Wisconsin to join and reflect with the Oak Creek sangat as they honor the memory of those who were lost that day. Additionally, SALDEF reached out to media outlets around the country to continue to spread awareness about the Sikh American community. Check out the links to stories in which SALDEF staff, board members and volunteers are featured, or responsible for making happen: WATCH: SALDEF Executive Director, Jasjit Singh, NBC Wisconsin WATCH: SALDEF Executive Director, Jasjit Singh, Democracy Now WATCH: NBC Washington, D.C. WATCH: NBC Wisconsin READ: SALDEF Board Member, Jasbir Bawa READ: SALDEF SikhLEAD Leadership Development Graduate and SikhLEAD Intern, Mandeep Singh SikhLEAD Interns Conduct Bullying Presentation at Maryland Sikh Camp 
On August 2nd, SikhLEAD interns Harjit Singh, Manjot Singh, Guneet Kaur and Gagan Kaur visited Rockville, Maryland camp, Guru Harkrishan Institute of Sikh Studies to conduct a presentation on bullying and how to get involved in one’s community. The bullying presentation was catered towards three age groups – elementary school children, middle school students and high school students. SALDEF conducted these workshops to inform the campers of how bullying and harassment can occur at any age. The interns defined what bullying consisted of and how to deal with these problems. Additionally, with the high school students, the interns discussed how to get involved in their respective communities, in various types of activities such as community service, sports, playing an instrument and Sikh related events. The interns also spoke from their personal experiences, and at the end of the workshops, the interns allowed time for questions and also passed out a survey on bullying for the campers to document issues they have faced in their schools. SALDEF Executive Director Speaks at Emerging Leaders Conference in New York City 
On July 20th, SALDEF Executive Director Jasjit Singh addressed roughly 100 Sikh youth at the Surat Emerging Leaders Conference in New York City. Speaking on the topic of mentorship, Jasjit discussed different approaches to mentorship and how youth can take advantage of community programs like SikhLEAD to expand their networks and meet mentors. The conference highlighted the work of individuals who have contributed to community progress and are emerging leaders in their respective fields. SALDEF Hosts Networking Luncheon for SikhLEAD Interns On July 24, SALDEF hosted a luncheon at the law firm of Arent Fox in Washington, D.C. for the 2013 SikhLEAD Summer Interns. The luncheon was an opportunity for the SikhLEAD interns to meet successful Sikh American professionals, as questions of these successful individuals, and learn from their experiences as they started their careers. Among the professionals attending the luncheon were individuals working for a variety of offices including the Unites States State Department, The Department of Justice, USAID, and a representatives from private law firms. SALDEF would like to thank Ritu Kaur Cooper, Arent Fox, and all the professionals who attended the luncheon. SALDEF Attends Inspiring ‘Women of Power’ Luncheon in Southern California 
On July 26th, SALDEF staff in Southern California had the opportunity to attend the annual ‘Women in Power Luncheon’, hosted by the Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment (CAUSE). This year’s luncheon theme focused on encouraging young minority women to pursue careers in politics and public service. Many influential, high-profile women in the political, legal, business, and civic fields were invited to share their stories and experiences to the future generation of young leaders. Special guest speaker Hilda Solis, Former U.S. Secretary of Labor, spoke to the attendees about her start in local politics, and how she was able to move into a powerful position by staying connected and invested through challenging work. The keynote address was given by Kamala Harris, CA State Attorney General, who quickly captured the room with sharing her experiences around defying what she was told to do, and working within collaborative problem solving spaces to build relationships with people, agencies, and organizations to continue to fight for civil rights. A special thank you to our community partner CAUSE for organizing this event which focused on promoting and encouraging Asian Americans to become leaders. If you are in the Southern California area, and interested in attending a future event, please click here.
