Education |

Mashing Up: A Sikh’s perspective about turning anger into hope

August 10, 2016 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Our world as exists today feels overwhelmingly negative at times and particularly during this uncharacteristic election season. Recently, it seems as though the news cycle has bombarded us with negative news, and especially so with disturbing acts of violence and slander at home and abroad. I was invited once again by The Mash-Up Americans to write about how we can both address feelings of anger and channel energies towards a hopeful mindset. I will not claim any expertise nor mastery of […]

Categories: Education, Reflections • Tags: anger, hope, podcasts, The Mash-Up Americans

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A mash up with Mash-Up Americans

March 2, 2016 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

I had the pleasant opportunity this week to work with the folks at The Mash-Up Americans, a website and podcast that discusses the experiences of multi-identity Americans. Head over to their site to find out about the 11 things you wanted to know about Sikh turbans.

Categories: Education, Humor • Tags: The Mash-Up Americans, Turban, turbans

Have you hugged a Sikh today? (Photo: Karaminder Ghuman)

November is California Sikh American Awareness and Appreciation Month

November 5, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

As it did in 2010 and 2012, the California state legislature has declared November 2013 as “Sikh American Awareness and Appreciation Month” across the state. The bill (Assembly Concurrent Resolution 25) was introduced by Assemblymember Robert Wieckowski, and it passed through the State Assembly and Senate in September. From the resolution: Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby designates the month of November 2013 to be California’s Sikh American Awareness and […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Education, Events, Resources • Tags: ACR-25, California, California Sikh American Awareness and Appreciation Month, California State Assembly, California State Senate, Sikh American Awareness and Appreciation Month, Sikh Awareness Month, Sikh Coalition

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Assessing the impact of discrimination on North American Sikhs

October 1, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Over the past week, I have spoken to several Sikhs who shared how personally upset they felt about the attack on Dr. Prabhjot Singh in New York just over a week ago. In the context of repeated attacks on innocent Sikh Americans in recent years, this most recent incident has left many with increasing senses of frustration, disappointment, and vulnerability. The solution to the issue of hate crimes against our community is not an easy one to parse, and this, […]

Categories: Education, Reports/Studies • Tags: Boston, Dr. Kiran S. K. Arora, hate crime, Massachusetts, mental health, Prabhjot Singh, Research, University of Massachusetts

"One Step Forward, Half a Step Back" -- A study by the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund and the Sikh Coalition about bullying in NYC schools, was released earlier this month. (Source: Sikh Coalition)

Study of Asian American students in NY finds increase in reports of bullying

September 18, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Two weeks ago, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) and the Sikh Coalition released a report entitled “One Step Forward, Half a Step Back,” gauging the implementation of New York Schools Chancellor’s Regulation A-832, issued in 2008 “which established policies and procedures on how New York City schools should respond to bias-based harassment, intimidation, and bullying in schools.” The New York City Department of Education serves 1.1 million students across 1,800 schools. For Sikh American students, the […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Education, Reports/Studies • Tags: AALDEF, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, bullying, New York, New York City Department of Education, One Step Forward Half a Step Back, Sikh Coalition

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Sikholars 2014 announces Call for Papers

August 16, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The Sikholars Graduate Student Conference is now inviting presentation proposals for Sikholars 2014, its fifth annual gathering to discuss topics in Sikh and Punjab studies taking place from February 15-16, 2014 at Stanford University in Stanford, California. The conference is sponsored by the Center for South Asia at Stanford University and Jakara Movement. I find remarkable that the conference is already planning its fifth session. I still recall attending the first conference, and the 2013 conference is still fresh in my mind. […]

Categories: Education, Events • Tags: Call for Papers, Center for South Asian Studies, Jakara Movement, Sikholars, Stanford University

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"How Do You Tie A Patka?" brochure from Little Sikhs and the Sikh Coalition. (Source: Sikh Coalition)

How to tie a patka

August 8, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Little Sikhs and the Sikh Coalition have released a new brochure with instructions on how to tie a patka, a typical turban for young Sikh boys. This would have been helpful for my kindergarten teacher, who, when my patka once came off while playing in class, had no idea how to retie it on my head. My mother later gave a modified head covering to my teacher in case such an instance happened to me again, but I would imagine […]

Categories: Education, Sikhism • Tags: Keerat Kaur, Little Sikhs, patka, Saffron Press, Sikh Coalition, Turban

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Sikh Research Institute provides Sikh educational resources

July 23, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Based in New Jersey, the Sikh Research Institute has made its Sojhi program available for free download, which includes over 150 lesson plans for teaching Sikh-related language and history/culture to students in the kindergarten through second grade levels. Professionally constructed and comprehensive, the curricula are excellent resources that provide thorough instructions for teachers and parents, and are designed with schools in mind: Khalsa schools and parents worldwide are encouraged to try out portions of this curriculum in their classrooms and homes. […]

Categories: Education, Resources • Tags: Lesson plan, Sikh Educators Network, Sikh Research Institute, Sojhi

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Kaur Foundation at a Punjabi mela (festival) in Washington, D.C., in May. (Source: Kaur Foundation)

The Kaur Foundation: promoting cultural diversity and Sikh awareness

June 14, 2013 by American Turban Guest Contributor

Founded in 2002, the Kaur Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to create awareness of the Sikh identity, heritage, and secular values, while promoting and pursuing cultural literacy through education in classrooms. As its primary focus, the organization works to accomplish these goals by providing teachers and students specific tools and resources for use in their classrooms. Through its innovative outreach programs, the Kaur Foundation is building institutional partnerships to help create safe and inclusive learning environments for […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Education, Resources • Tags: Jessica Arora, Kaur Foundation, Sikh awareness

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Considering the experience of Sikhs in America.

Category Archives: Education

Mashing Up: A Sikh’s perspective about turning anger into hope

A mash up with Mash-Up Americans

November is California Sikh American Awareness and Appreciation Month

Assessing the impact of discrimination on North American Sikhs

Study of Asian American students in NY finds increase in reports of bullying

Sikholars 2014 announces Call for Papers

How to tie a patka

Sikh Research Institute provides Sikh educational resources

The Kaur Foundation: promoting cultural diversity and Sikh awareness