General Projects Update as of September 29, 2009

Posted by Jakara in General Update Sep 29th, 2009 | No Comments

The following are underway and will be occurring in the upcoming months:

Jakara Juniors Children’s Camps – Scheduled Saturday, October 24th, 2009.  Regions are being secured and signing on.  Be sure to make sure yours is represented. We are always soliciting new regions to join and looking for volunteers to strengthen existing ones.   Help us out on this year’s theme – “A Nation Never Forgets.”

Alliance For Justice Week – Scheduled first week of November.  Campuses are already getting engaged.  UCLA, UC Berkeley, UCI, UCD, UCSD, UCR, and San Jose State are already signed up.  We expect Fresno State, Sacramento State, Stanislaus State, and USC to follow shortly.  Get involved as we create a platform for all communities to be heard.

Remembrance Marches – Throughout California, we will be convening in early November to remember those lost during the Delhi pogroms of 1984.  We stand together as a nation in remembering the events and raising voice that we are still demanding justice.

Sikh Students Collaborative – Sikh Students Associations throughout California are coming together and getting organized.  From organized Gurbani Study groups with provided materials, to co-ed flag football leagues, to a joint float at this year Yuba City Nagar Kirtan, groups are beginning to come together to collaborate and mark a new chapter for Sikh student groups in California.  Make sure your group is on-board.

Sikholars: Sikh Graduate Student Conference – Bringing together our community’s expertise, this conference is aimed at those 25-35 and will be held at Stanford University from February 10-12, 2009.  For more information and for submitting a proposal PRIOR to November 15, 2009, visit www.sikholars.org

Details of each region to follow shortly.  Together, we are the movement.

Thoughts on “Visions of Truth” – Fresno and San Jose

Posted by Jakara in Fresno, Remember 1984 Campaign, San Jose Sep 20th, 2009 | No Comments

This past Saturday (September 19, 2009), the “Visions of Truth” film series came to San Jose and Fresno, California.  Both came to respective college campuses and drew audiences of 50+.  Families, the elderly, and the young joined together to reflect on the events of 1984, through the lens of film and visual media.

The attendance was larger than expected, for promoting independent small-scale productions, and drew accolades from the participants.  In Fresno, city councilpersons, including the president Cynthia Sterling, joined in the film discussions and marked that she enjoyed such community participatory events and hoped to come again in the future.  It was also discussed that they key for greater non-Sikh participation in our community events is through our own participation and presence in events by non-Sikh groups.  All enjoyed the “Visions of Truth” events and eagerly hoped that they would continue in the future.

The Visions of Truth series now shifts to Southern California.  We’ll keep you updated on future dates and times, in October.

The Jakara family also wants to extend special thanks to all its volunteers in Fresno, Kerman, and San Jose that continues to put on quality events and encourage youth participation.  Together, we are the movement.

Thoughts on “Visions of Truth” – Yuba City

Posted by Jakara in Remember 1984 Campaign, Yuba City Sep 8th, 2009 | No Comments

The “Visions of Truth” film series was launched this past Saturday, September 5th, 2009 at Yuba College.  It was a success, with even some non-Sikhs joining the audience.  The following was a critique by one of the organizers.  We are publishing it online to help other groups and cities that will be participating, as well as for helping other future initiatives by young Sikh activists.

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j.Kommunity Kerman – Update September 7, 2009

Posted by Jakara in Kerman Sep 7th, 2009 | No Comments

Things are happening in one of the Jakara Movement’s newest regions – Kerman.  Here is a calendar of upcoming events.

  • The Study Hall – Tutoring – will be offered for 2 hours on Thursdays from 4-6pm.  If there is a lot of interest, it will be increased to two days a week.
  • J.Kollegiates – Application Help for those applying to universities in November – at Gurdwara on September 19th.
  • Jakara Junior Kids Kamps – October 24th
  • J.Kollegiates – College Fair – to be held January or February at the Kerman Gurdwara

For more information about the latest happenings in Kerman, send us an email or phone number and we will put you in touch with our regional coordinator – Ramnit Kaur.

Visions of Truth

Posted by Jakara in Remember 1984 Campaign Sep 7th, 2009 | No Comments

LAUNCH OF SIKH FILM FESTIVAL DEVOTED TO 1984

The Jakara Movement is pleased to announce the launch of the Visions of Truth film festival.  Visions of Truth will be a traveling film festival taking place throughout the state of California from Yuba City to San Diego.  The goal of Visions of Truth is to spur dialogue between students and members of the community by showcasing film and music media related to the third ghallughara, or Sikh holocaust (1984).  By increasing awareness, this event will mobilize activism around these issues and move individuals and communities to be more involved in issues of injustice both locally and globally.

The third ghallughara remains to be one of the least recognized, yet most significant, events in the history of Sikhs.  In early June 1984 the Indian Army invaded one of the most historic of all Sikh Gurdwaras, the Darbar Sahib complex in Amritsar, Punjab.  The ensuing destruction and loss of life marked one of the darkest chapters of the later 20th century for Sikhs.The aim of the film festival is not only to remember the events of 1984 but also to raise awareness in the community and promote positive dialogue. Visions of Truth is open to the public and is free.

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