Sikh Awareness - SALDEF

Governor Signs Bill Requiring Educators to Provide Anti-Bullying Materials

Sikh Americans in California commend Governor Jerry Brown, who recently signed a historic bill to counter school bullying. The Safe Place to Learn Act will now protect Sikh, Muslim, and other students when they are harassed in schools.

The legislation (AB 2845) will require the California Department of Education to assess whether schools adequately provide information to educators and community members regarding students who are subject to discrimination and bullying based on actual or perceived religious affiliation.

“When we reached out to Sikh Americans in California to contact their elected officials, they responded,” said SALDEF Executive Director Deepinder Singh. “We’ll use the momentum from this legislative victory to continue expanding our work so every student can achieve their full potential without fear of harassment.”

AB 2845 was introduced by Assemblymember Das Williams. SALDEF advocated for its passage as part of a diverse coalition that includes Asian Americans Advancing Justice – California, Council on American-Islamic Relations, California Chapter, and the Sikh Coalition.

The bill also requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to post anti-bullying resources related to affiliation or perceived affiliation with any religion, nationality, race, or ethnicity on its website.

If you have any questions about bullying and harassment in schools, please email info@saldef.org or call our national office at 202-393-2700. Thank You

SALDEF Appoints Professional with Nonprofit, Academic and Military experience

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Deepinder Singh—an accomplished academic, nonprofit trail-blazer, and U.S. Army veteran—was recently chosen to lead the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) into its third decade. Most recently, Deepinder served as Director for the Center for Catholic Studies and Interfaith Dialogue and a full-time faculty member in the Philosophy and Religious Studies Department at Madonna University in Michigan. “Deepinder stood out among a number of impressive candidates during our search because of the depth and breadth of his experience,” said SALDEF Board Chair Manjit Singh (no relation), who serves on President Obama’s Advisory Council on Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships. “We are thrilled that Deepinder will be leading SALDEF into its third decade so we can continue developing innovative programs to create a more inclusive society.” “I am honored and privileged to join an organization with such a phenomenal record of empowering the Sikh Americans–and, indeed–all Americans,” said Deepinder. “All the volunteers, board members, and staff during the last two decades have created the ideal conditions to make the organization even more impactful.” Deepinder Singh succeeds Jasjit Singh (no relation), who immediately followed his seven-year tenure at SALDEF by becoming a Senior Policy Advisor at the White House Advisory Council on Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships in Washington, DC earlier this year. Deepinder Singh’s bio appears below. He is available for TV, print, and web interviews. — Deepinder Singh has played an important role in academics, advancement, policy research and implementation in the roles of professor, academic administrator and director for numerous centers in the fields of academics and nonprofit, civil-rights advocacy. Deepinder comes to us from Madonna University in Michigan, where he was concurrently Director for the Center for Catholic Studies and Interfaith Dialogue while serving as a full-time faculty member in the Philosophy and Religious Studies Department. Deepinder has a B.A. in history and philosophy and a Masters in philosophy from Western Michigan University. His doctoral dissertation and research is in political philosophy. Deepinder has presented his research at academic conferences, held workshops at major research institutions, and has been the recipient of numerous grants and awards. Outside of academics, Deepinder is a United States Army Veteran and has served honorably in numerous areas of conflict. He is from Chelsea, Michigan. -End-

Who can make the Sikh American voice heard? You. ELECTION DAY IS NOVEMBER 8—Register to Vote Today! Protect Your Rights on Election Day Voter Rights Information – in English and Punjabi Voter Protection Hotline and Legal Aid – Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights 1-866-OUR-VOTE Quarter Sheet handouts (in English & Punjabi) – Full page (four to a page) and 4.25″x5.5″ You can do a lot in your own community to empower Sikhs across America. One of the easiest things to do is encouraging people to vote. Why should you? In 1923 the Supreme Court said Sikh Americans could not become citizens — we could not vote and were denied a voice in our country. Today, we have the right to vote, the right to share our voice and determine the direction of our nation. By voting, we can influence the decisions our elected officials make which impact our rights. Increasing the number of Sikh Americans registered to vote is one of the best ways to build and strengthen our community’s voice, presence and political capacity. But how do you do it? Join SikhVOTE! Volunteer at a registration drive or register new Sikh American voters at your local Gurdwara and encourage registered Sikh Americans to vote on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2015. You will find a series of tools and information updated through Election Day for you to use. If you have any questions, send us an email. Tools & Resources SikhVOTE Voter Registration Toolkit Online Registration Widget Calendar, Deadlines & State Information Resources SikhVOTE Voter Registration Toolkit SikhVOTE Volunteer Voter Registration Toolkit – download here Election Day & Know Your Rights Poster (in English & Punjabi) – download here Survey & Pledge to Vote – download here Email Sign Up Sheet – download here Voter Rights Information – in English and Punjabi Quarter Sheet handouts (in English & Punjabi) – Full page (four to a page) and 4.25″x5.5″ Sample gurdwara announcement (in English & Punjabi) – download here Online Registration Widget Want to put an online registration widget on your website? Get it here. Resources National Voter Registration Form – http://www.eac.gov/voter_resources/register_to_vote.aspx Instructions for the National Voter Registration Form in Punjabi (unofficial) – download here Absentee Ballot Information – http://www.longdistancevoter.org/absentee_ballots State Specific Information – http://www.rockthevote.com/election-center/ Voter Protection Hotline, Legal Aid, and Resources – http://www.866ourvote.org/ State Voter ID Laws – http://www.ncsl.org/legislatures-elections/elections/voter-id.aspx APALC – www.apalc.org APIAVote – www.apiavote.org 18 Million Rising – www.18mr.org SikhVOTE is a project of the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) with the purpose of empowering Sikh American voters. SALDEF is a 501(c)3 non-partisan organization that does not advocate on behalf of any party, candidate, or campaign. Use of these materials does not constitute an endorsement by SALDEF.

SALDEF Conducts Cultural Awareness Presentation for Baltimore Office of EEOC

On March 28th, SALDEF conducted a cultural awareness presentation for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) District Office in Baltimore, MD. The entire Baltimore staff was invited to attend. Participants were informed about the Sikh faith and religious practices through these trainings, along with providing recommendations for interacting with the Sikh American community. SALDEF staff discussed the various employment related challenges faced by the Sikh American community and shared examples of cases from different industries and professions. SALDEF believes that through these trainings, employment discrimination cases against Sikh Americans will be more effectively and efficiently handled.

To read about our recent engagement with EEOC offices in Washington, DC and Los Angeles, click here.

SALDEF Attends Congressional Forum About Racial Profiling and Shooting of Trayvon Martin

On March 28, SALDEF staff attended a Congressional Forum addressing racial profiling, federal hate crimes enforcement and issues surrounding the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, in an effort to support the call for a full investigation by the Department of Justice into this tragic death.

On February 26 2012, Trayvon Martin, 17, was walking in a gated neighborhood in Sanford, Florida. He was returning to his father’s house after buying a bag of candy and a can of iced tea from a local convenience store. George Zimmerman, a neighborhood crime watch volunteer, said Martin looked “suspicious” and decided to follow and confront Martin against the instructions of a 911 police dispatcher. The exact chain of events following this confrontation is not fully known. What is known, however, is that Zimmerman shot and killed Martin. Although a homicide occurred, the Sanford Police Department chose not to press charges or arrest Zimmerman because he claimed he shot Martin in self defense.

Many argue that Martin was racially profiled and targeted because of the way he looked – the color of his skin, and the clothes he was wearing. SALDEF believes racial profiling is wrong and ineffective. Support the End Racial Profiling Act here by notifying your Senator/Congressman.

SALDEF Joins Other Organizations in Support of Immigration and Civil Rights

SALDEF joined the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the Southern Poverty Law Center and over 100 other local and national civil rights and faith groups, have signed-on to an amicus brief filed with the U.S. Supreme Court. The brief argues that Arizona’s S.B. 1070, an anti-immigration bill, and copycat bills passed in other states, fundamentally conflicts with federal law and would have an unprecedented negative impact on the lives of American citizens and lawful permanent residents, as well as many others living in the U.S. legally. Recounting real-life examples, the brief documents how law-abiding Americans, particularly minorities, will now be subject to constant scrutiny, lengthy detentions, and false arrests.

Additionally, SALDEF has signed-on to a letter drafted by the Rights Working Group asking Attorney General Eric Holder and the Department of Justice to revise the June 2003 Guidance Regarding the Use of Race by Federal Law Enforcement Agencies. The June 2003 Guidance is in need of revision as it does not prohibit profiling based on religion or national origin and contains loopholes in the context of border and national security.

2012 Sikh American Pocket Calendars Still Available

This handy resource can be used in your local community to educate and increase awareness of Sikhs and Sikhi. The calendars feature full-color images of Sikh Americans, along with examples of core Sikh values and facts about Sikhs in the United States. On the inside, the cards have a 2012 calendar in an easy-to-use design. Sikhs across the nation have distributed them at their workplace, schools, convenience stores, gas stations, taxi cabs, senior citizens centers, and public libraries. The calendars are available in bundles of 100 for $10 plus shipping and handling. .

SALDEF Invited by DHS Secretary to Participate in Faith Based Advisory Council

At the request of Secretary Napolitano, a faith based advisory council comprised of leaders from state and local government, the private sector, and academia was created to provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary on matters related to homeland security. The Council has been tasked to explore current and potential security enhancement opportunities and methods between DHS and the faith-based communities. It will address how DHS can best support local security officers and organizations” efforts to keep faith-based communities safe, secure, and resilient.

SALDEF Conducts Training of Transit Police Academy in Massachusetts Bay

On March 28, 2012, SALDEF conducted a training for the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority Policy Academy (MBTA). The MBTA provides law enforcement services to designated areas within all public transportation associated areas and is one of the oldest law enforcement agencies in the country. More than 50 members of the service were in attendance and received the training. SALDEF recognizes and specially thanks Jaswant Singh Chani as a dedicated SALDEF volunteer and Law Enforcement Trainer.

SALDEF Attends White House Event With First Lady
SALDEF was invited to attend the Centennial Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington DC on March 27th. 100 years ago, First Lady Helen Herron Taft and Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese Ambassador to the United States, planted the first cherry blossom trees in Washington, DC. The 3,000 trees were presented to the country as gift symbolizing the friendship between the United States and Japan. First Lady Michelle Obama joined Japanese Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, and President Taft’s great-grandson William H. Taft IV at the Tidal Basin to plant a new cherry blossom sapling. The First Lady spoke of her hope that this friendship between the United States and Japan could be celebrated again one hundred years from now.

Interested in Working in the World of Intelligence?

Interested in obtaining an exciting job that requires a security clearance? CAPAL and the Sejong Society will be holding an informative discussion with representatives from the CIA, other government agencies, and private sector organizations in order to provide interested individuals with necessary information on how to apply and acquire such jobs. These agencies will also have job recruiters present and will be collecting resumes. Please RSVP if you plan to attend the event by Tuesday April 10 by clicking here. The event is on Thursday April, 12 from 6-8:30 pm at the Johns Hopkins SAIS in Washington, DC.

Upcoming Events

April 18 — Dept. of Justice Training– Lexington, KY
April 22 — Bullying Workshop, Khalsa Care Foundation — Los Angeles, CA
May 6 — Know Your Rights Forum — San Jose, CA
May 13 — Know Your Rights Forum — Seattle, WA
May 25-28th — SikhLEAD Leadership Development Program Retreat — Los Angeles, CA

Educate your neighbors, friends, and co-workers about Sikh Americans in an easy, informative way through our annual pocket calendars.

In their ninth year of production, the 2012 calendars feature full-color images of Sikh Americans, along with examples of core Sikh values and facts about Sikhs in the United States. In a new folded style, the cards have a 2012 calendar in an easy-to-use design that fits the sizing of standard business cards.

To reach out even more effectively, Spanish language versions are also available.

The annual SALDEF Pocket Calendars have already been widely distributed; today! This handy resource can be used in your local community to educate and increase awareness of Sikhs and Sikhi.

“The pocket calendars are a great way to introduce myself to my customers. They are a must have for all Sikh businesses.”

– Oregon Small
Business Owner

The calendars are perfect for distribution at your workplace, schools, convenience stores, gas stations, taxi cabs, restaurants, senior citizens centers, or public libraries. Sikhs across the nation have shared them with their friends, neighbors, customers, and local officials.

SALDEF encourages the Sikh American community to take initiative in informing and educating others about their culture and faith.

The calendars are available in bundles of 100 for $10 plus shipping and handling fees.

• Las Vegas Police Department and SALDEF Partner on Training • Law Enforcement Training a Success in Birmingham, AL • SALDEF Presents to Office of Director of National Intelligence • TAKE ACTION: End Racial Profiling • SALDEF Attends TSA Coalition Conference • Gates Millennium Scholarship Now Accepting Applications • Follow Us on Twitter • Upcoming Events Las Vegas Police Department and SALDEF Partner to Develop Training Program Earlier this fall, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) and SALDEF partnered to create a one of its kind cultural awareness training program for the LVMPD. The LVMPD Southern Nevada Counter Terrorism Center (SNCTC), the Sikh American community of the greater Las Vegas area, and SALDEF, came together to develop a cultural awareness training course to introduce and inform local law enforcement officials about the Sikh American community and their cultural practices. To read more, click here. Law Enforcement Training a Success in Birmingham, AL Navtej Singh, SALDEF’s Southeastern Regional Director, conducted a Law Enforcement Partnership Program training for officers across Alabama on September 20, 2011. The training provided information on the Sikh faith and theology, as well as the challenges Sikh Americans face on a daily basis. Participants watched On Common Ground, a training film co-produced by SALDEF and the Department of Justice, to help articulate the steps officers can take to identify and respect members of the Sikh faith. SALDEF Presents to Office of Director of National Intelligence In September, SALDEF Policy Advisor, Navdeep Singh, made a presentation to leaders of the National Intelligence Community about Sikh Americans at a meeting hosted by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. He covered the history of Sikhs in the United States and provided an overview of Sikh beliefs. He also discussed how Sikh Americans can be an asset to the United States national security and intelligence communities and shared ways in which the government can engage, interact, and recruit more effectively from the community. TAKE ACTION: End Racial Profiling The End Racial Profiling Act was recently introduced to the Senate. This landmark legislation aims to eliminate racial and religious profiling that has singled out various minority communities, including Sikh Americans, in the United States. Send a message to your Senators asking them to co-sponsor the bill. SALDEF Attends TSA Coalition Conference On September 7, 2011, the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Office of Civil Rights and Liberties held their 9th annual Coalition Conference. Various community groups were in attendance for this conference in which information regarding screening practices, policies, and initiatives were discussed. In addition, community groups were given the opportunity to address their concerns with current and future TSA programs. Gates Millennium Scholarship Now Accepting Applcations For students entering college for the first time in Fall 2012, the GMS 2012 Scholarship Application online process is now open. The deadline for all submissions is Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. EST. GMS will select 1,000 talented students each year to receive a good-through-graduation scholarship to use at any college or university of their choice. The Gates Millennium Scholars are provided with personal and professional development through the GMS leadership programs along with academic support throughout their college career. Find more information on their website 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: * Nagar Kirtan–Yuba City, CA– November 6th * SikhLens Film Festival-– Orange County, CA– November 18-20th * Know Your Rights Forum— Buena Park, CA– December 4th * Know Your Rights Forum–San Jose, CA–December 11th

(Washington, DC, 10/18/2011) – Earlier this fall, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) and SALDEF partnered to create a one of its kind cultural awareness training program for the LVMPD. The online training module is based on the Law Enforcement Partnership Program developed by SALDEF in 1999, and includes video and imagery of On Common Ground, a law enforcement training video developed by SALDEF and the United States Department of Justice. The LEPP training program has been used by numerous federal, state, and local law enforcement departments, including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the entire Washington Metropolitan Police Department and Boston Police Department. Beginning in January 2011, the LVMPD Southern Nevada Counter Terrorism Center (SNCTC), the Sikh American community of the greater Las Vegas area, and SALDEF, came together to develop a cultural awareness training course to introduce and inform local law enforcement officials about the Sikh American community and their cultural practices. The training was also specifically tailored to the needs of Las Vegas area law enforcement for the likely interactions they may have in the course of their duties.

“I am proud of our long standing tradition in providing the best possible cultural awareness training to our organization” said Doug Gillespie, Sheriff of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. “Our valued collaboration with SALDEF has produced a unique and informative curriculum which will serve to strengthen our partnership with the Sikh American community.” “We are pleased to partner with the LVMPD as they continue to play a leading role in developing best practices for the law enforcement community”, said SALDEF Managing Director Kavneet Singh. “Cultural awareness training breaks down barriers of communication, leads to better policing, and creates a stronger relationship between law enforcement officers and the communities they serve.” SALDEF would like to applaud Sheriff Gillespie and Detective Kenneth Mead for their leadership and partnership in this initiative, and hope that this collaboration serves as a model showing the need for and benefit of, collaboration between law enforcement and the Sikh American community across the country. If you would like to work with your local law enforcement department on a similar initiative, please contact SALDEF.

Midwest University Tour Creates Awareness and Highlights Post 9/11 Challenges

Washington DC; September 27, 2011 – Earlier this month, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) was invited to participate in a series of presentations and panel discussions at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and the University of Indiana-Bloomington. On September 6th, speaking as part of the Food for Thought discussion series at the Asian American Cultural Center of the University of Illinois, SALDEF Associate Executive Director, Jasjit Singh, provided the over 100 attendees, comprised of students and faculty, with an introduction to Sikh Americans and the challenges Sikh Americans have faced post 9/11. Later that day, SALDEF participated in the Interfaith Speaker Series hosted by the Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Relations. The Interfaith Speaker Series featured a panel of representatives from several faiths and focused on the topic of what “service” means in each faith. Mr. Singh spoke of the prominent place ‘service’ has in the Sikh scriptures (Gurbani) and throughout Sikh history. The panel discussion was followed by a lively question and answer session. Then, on September 7th, the University of Indiana, hosted an interfaith panel to discuss the impact of 9/11 on religious communities. Some of the topics included the changes in America since 9/11, media reports and the rise against multiculturalism, and how the events of 9/11 affected the United States in terms of diversity education. If you would like SALDEF to make a presentation about the Sikh religion and Sikh American civil rights issues to your college, law school, or graduate school, please contact us via email.

The role of media in creating and reinforcing stereotypes. The issues surrounding the hyphenated name. The irony in America’s tendency to attract so many immigrants to the country while simultaneously pushing them away. These were just some of the topics covered by last week’s religious pluralism forum hosted by the Los Angeles Human Relations Commission. SALDEF Managing Director Kavneet Singh shared the Sikh perspective on a panel that included representatives from the Coptic, Muslim, Armenian Christian, and Israeli Jewish communities. The evening was a great exercise in discussing the ways in which such diverse communities can agree on certain issues for the ultimate benefit of all their communities. Approximately 40% of the Los Angeles population is foreign born, yet these immigrants are vital to the functioning of the city, filling jobs and contributing to the economy. However, their ethnic and religious backgrounds often cause others to undermine their value. The panel moderator, Brie Loskota, noted that such a high percentage reminds us of the image of America reaching out and welcoming immigrant communities with one hand and pushing away immigrants who test acceptable boundaries with the other. Thus, those with foreign backgrounds would fare far better when working together with their fellow “hyphenated Americans” than working alone. And during the course of the evening, quite a bit of attention was given to the idea of the hyphenated Americans. One woman asked why there was even a need to even identify oneself as a “Sikh-American” or a “Coptic-American,” and so on. We are all Americans, why the need to indicate a more specific identity? I believe Kavneet Singh answered this question most adequately – we shouldn’t think of the hyphenation as something negative; we should think of it as something being added to being American. Hyphenations do not take away from being American, but add to the diversity that marks the uniqueness of America. There is a difference between acculturation and assimilation that is critical to the hyphenated name. To lose Coptic-, Sikh-, Christian-, Chinese-, Israeli-, is to lose part of one’s history, culture and background. Acculturation to American values and way of life is different from assimilation. To assimilate is to forget roots and history of an ethnic or religious background, and without individuals’ pride in their ties to a certain history, America would be much less interesting place. Religious pluralism, thus, is not only a matter of recognizing and merely tolerating other religions. It is the acceptance of other religions and the ability to be open-minded towards working with one another to reach goals such as religious freedom in the workplace or the ability to wear religious headdress as a teacher. Many religions face similar problems. Ms. Loskota pointed out that if you want to get a temperature reading of Islamaphobia, ask a Sikh. The targets of many hate-motivated attacks are based on a highly biased perceptions, perpetrated by media, of who the “enemy” is – identified as turbaned, Muslim fundamentalists. Thus anyone that looks Middle Eastern and anyone with religious headdress is targeted and because 97% of those who wear turbans in America are Sikhs, they are especially stereotyped as threats. The media, probably the most powerful tool in creating such biased stereotypes, had done very little to change such biases. Even to this day, major news stations will use images of Sikhs in conjunction with reports about terrorists in the Middle East. The misrecognition and blatant disregard for reality runs deep. That is why it is up to targeted communities to work together and rally behind this idea of religious pluralism in order to create change and overcome the negative perceptions about those who look different from the average Caucasian American, have foreign accents, or alternative religious practices. The forum was a small but very positive step in a direction of needed change in America’s perceptions of the unknown. I commend SALDEF for contributing to the evening and hope that the Sikh community can continue to be involved with discussions such as these in the future.

Coming to you from 634 S Spring Street, Jasleen K Singh

Since 2008, Sahaj Singh Khalsa, a Sikh American paramedic from New Mexico, has been discriminated against by his employer because of his mandated religious identity. Mr. Khalsa has endured disparaging remarks and threats, and, in one incident, was even physically assaulted. The hospital administration targeted him by suddenly implementing a “no-beards” policy in retaliation for his complaints, telling Mr. Khalsa he must either shave or lose his job. Show solidarity with Mr. Khalsa – nearly 1000 letters have already been sent demanding religious accommodation. Take action now! On May 6, 2011, Navtej Singh Khalsa presented at the Law Enforcement Training Conference in Fort Lauderdale, FL to 65 representatives of the Sheriff’s Hate Crimes Task Force, the US Attorney’s offices, and local police departments. The training, entitled Building Cultural Competence: Arab, Muslim, and Sikh Americans, provided information on the Sikh faith and theology, as well as the challenges Sikh Americans face. The presentation included a viewing of SALDEF’s training video On Common Ground, which was co-produced with the Department of Justice. A presentation, part of an on-going discussion about diversity and religion, was delivered on June 2, 2011, by Jaswant Singh Chani at Northeastern University in Boston, MA. Jaswant presented on the cultural, religious, and historical traditions of the Sikhs to an audience of over 100 faculty members. To read more, click here. Please contact us if you would like SALDEF to conduct a presentation in your community. On May 17, SALDEF hosted and presented at the Department of Homeland Security Community Roundtable in Los Angeles, CA. The meeting, held annually in DC and LA, gives community organizations and government agencies the opportunity to discuss current issues and government policies. SALDEF welcomed over 80 participants at our newly opened Southern California office, and spoke to the group about the success of our Law Enforcement Partnership Program (LEPP) over the past ten years. The Bhujangi Academy is a ten day outdoor camp for boys, ages 13-16, to provide life skills, goals, and expectations, while connecting them to their roots and heritage. The program is directed toward young men that are: having problems in school or with family, exhibiting low self-esteem and/or low motivation, making poor peer and relationship choices, defiant of authority, refusing to take responsibility, or experimenting with drugs or alcohol. The camp will be held from August 1-10, 2011. Trained professionals, youth role models, and invited guests will all make this a life-changing event that the young men in our community will not want to miss. To register, apply to volunteer, or for more information, click here. Khoj has announced three scholarships, worth $1000 each, for undergraduate students. The scholarships award students who have demonstrated humanitarian, academic, or all-around excellence. Applicants must be 17-25 years of age, currently pursuing an undergraduate degree at a four year institution, and a U.S. resident. The application, which can be downloaded here, must be submitted by July 1, 2011. Upcoming Events