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Helping children understand the WI Gurdwara tragedy

August 11, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

During the week, I was interviewed by the editor of masalamommas.com Anjum Choudhry Nayyar, in which she discusses the use of social media by mothers to help children deal with the tragic shooting last week at the Gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin: Many of us, as moms, can play a role in raising awareness about different cultures and tolerance right here in our own homes. While time isn’t always on our side, common sense is. If we can arm our […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Hate Crimes, Resources • Tags: Gurdwara, hate crimes, Masala Mommas, Oak Creek, resources for children, Sikh Coalition, Wisconsin

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Applications invited for Junior Sikh Coalition leadership program, due July 25, 2012

July 19, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

If you are a Sikh high school or college student in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut and are interested in working to help your community, the Junior Sikh Coalition leadership program might be for you: Junior Sikh Coalition members gain valuable skills and training in youth leadership and will have multiple opportunities to utilize these skills within their communities and the Sikh Coalition network. In the past, youth members have led community organizing campaigns, organized anti-bullying conferences, participated in […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Events • Tags: Connecticut, Junior Sikh Coalition, New Jersey, New York, Sikh Coalition

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“My Crown, My Faith”: Call for entrants for Sikh Coalition video competition

June 28, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The Sikh Coalition is calling for participants for their third annual Diversity Video Competition. Michigan’s Gulshan Singh, who won last year for his video called “Let It Out” (see above) was even interviewed in the Wall Street Journal about his video and experiences with bullying. This year, the topic is “My Crown, My Faith”: Are you tired of being looked at negatively because you are Sikh? Are you interested in filmmaking? Create awareness. Make a difference We are inviting you […]

Categories: Events, TV/Movies • Tags: Diversity Video Competition, Gulshan Singh, I Will Stand Up, Jasleen Kaur, Let It Out, Sikh Coalition

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“Some of our greatest achievements will be seen after our lifetime.” ‪

June 27, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

At a recent TEDx Talk event entitled “Forces of Change” at Adams Morgan in Washington, D.C., Amardeep Singh, co-founder and Director of Programs of the Sikh Coalition, talks about his motivation in working for civil rights and social justice. What is especially poignant about this talk is that the very next morning, Amardeep Singh led a group of Sikhs to the first-ever policy briefing on Sikh civil rights issues at the White House. Forces of change, indeed.

Categories: Civil Rights • Tags: Adams Morgan, Amardeep Singh, Sikh Coalition, TED, TEDx

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Workplace Religious Freedom in CA takes another step forward

June 27, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

After recently being approved by the California State Assembly, the proposed Workplace Religious Freedom Act (AB1964) took another step forward yesterday on the path to becoming law when it was passed by the State Senate Judiciary Committee: Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada was joined Tuesday by representatives from the interfaith and civil rights community as AB 1964, the Workplace Religious Freedom Act of 2012, passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee. AB 1964 strengthens the religious accommodation standard under the California Fair […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Politics • Tags: AB1964, California, California State Assembly, California State Senate, California State Senate Judiciary Committee, Employment Discrimination, Mariko Yamada, Sikh Coalition, Workplace Religious Freedom Act, WRFA

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A jakara in the White House

June 12, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Last week was a historic moment for the American Sikh community, as the White House held the first-ever briefing to discuss Sikh civil rights issues: For those of us in the audience, it was a deeply moving moment – particularly when the briefing started out with Bole So Nihaal, Sat Sri Akal. Yes, a jakara in the White House! There was something symbolic in that moment. Once, a long time ago, Sikhs would have made the jakara call while raising […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Events, Politics • Tags: Sikh Advocate Academy, Sikh Coalition, The Langar Hall, White House

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CA Workplace Religious Freedom Act passes Assembly vote

May 29, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

This afternoon, California’s proposed Workplace Religious Freedom Act (AB 1964 – mentioned previously here), introduced by Assemblymember Mariko Yamada, passed through the State Assembly: SACRAMENTO, Calif.—The state Assembly has approved a bill that would add more protections for religious freedom in the workplace, specifying that discrimination laws also apply to religious clothing and hairstyles. Lawmakers on Tuesday approved AB1964 by Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada. The Davis Democrat says she was upset to learn that Sikh and Muslim workers continue to face […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Politics • Tags: AB1964, California, California State Assembly, Mariko Yamada, Sikh Coalition, Workplace Religious Freedom Act, WRFA

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CA Workplace Religious Freedom Act heading to Assembly vote

May 17, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The proposed Workplace Religious Freedom Act (AB1964) in California (discussed previously on this blog), sponsored by the Sikh Coalition, cleared its third milestone when it was approved by the California Assembly Appropriations Committee yesterday. AB1964 makes more clear the requirement of employers to accommodate the religious articles of faith of employees, and is meant to reduce discriminatory practices in the workplace. This issue has a direct bearing on Sikhs, who often face employment discrimination based on their articles of faith […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Politics • Tags: AB1964, California, California State Assembly, Mariko Yamada, Sikh Coalition, Workplace Religious Freedom Act

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A look at America’s Sikh advocacy organizations

May 15, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

A recent study called “Lobbying for the Faithful” from the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life provided a survey of religious advocacy organizations in Washington, D.C.: The number of organizations engaged in religious lobbying or religion-related advocacy in Washington, D.C., has increased roughly fivefold in the past four decades, from fewer than 40 in 1970 to more than 200 today. These groups collectively employ at least 1,000 people in the greater Washington area and spend at least $350 million […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Reports/Studies • Tags: "Washington, D.C.", Pew Forum, religious advocacy, SALDEF, SCORE, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Sikh Coalition, Sikh Council on Religion and Education, Washington DC

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Considering the experience of Sikhs in America.

Tag: Sikh Coalition

Helping children understand the WI Gurdwara tragedy

Applications invited for Junior Sikh Coalition leadership program, due July 25, 2012

“My Crown, My Faith”: Call for entrants for Sikh Coalition video competition

“Some of our greatest achievements will be seen after our lifetime.” ‪

Workplace Religious Freedom in CA takes another step forward

A jakara in the White House

CA Workplace Religious Freedom Act passes Assembly vote

CA Workplace Religious Freedom Act heading to Assembly vote

A look at America’s Sikh advocacy organizations