Restructuring and Retooling

From April 23-25, 2010 Jakara Movement volunteers came together to think about the future goals of the organization.  Restructuring was high on the priority list.  This powerpoint was the combined efforts, based on consensus decisions, of the twenty sevadars that came together.

Monthly Update – March 2010

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa
Waheguru Ji Ke Fateh

Stay in Touch:

• Along with Twitter, Facebook, our website (www.jakara.org), and our blog (www.jakaramovement.org), we have added this “Monthly Movement Update” as well as can be reached via formspring (www.formspring.me/jakaramovement)

Upcoming Projects:

• Jakara Conference 2010 – “The Guru Granth Sahib: The History of the Sikh Soul“. Registration to follow soon.  The Conference will be held in Fresno, CA from June 18-20, 2010.  We need help advertising!
• Ladoos: Pink and Blue – a project for mother’s health and beginning to explore the problem of sex-selective abortions in our community.  The project has received a grant from the Sikh Spirit Foundation and has applied for another one via the Changemakers non-profit support groups.  The project will begin at a pilot stage in Fresno, CA and upon its success, we will seek to expand it.  More information to follow.  The launch date is Vaisakhi 2010.
• Singh Strength – In August 2010, we are organizing a two-week retreat for young boys at risk of gang/drug involvement. The camp will look to build character and leadership through Sikhi.  We are looking into camping facilities and sites.  More information to follow shortly.
• SSA Collaborative – A project to begin towards improving our collegiate SSAs.  A number of students have shown interest in leading the project.  We are hoping to use Spring Break 2010 as a period to get the project really going.

That’s on the table for now. More projects are in the work (DV shelter town-halls, and much more).

Miscellaneous:

• Special Shout-outs to the Fresno Jakara Movement group for its participation and work with Valley Children Hospital’s Kid’s Day project.  The fundraiser earned $400,000 throughout Fresno County in efforts to build a new pediatric hospital in North San Diego County.  The young Jakara Fresno Chapter always does a tremendous job.  Read more here.
• Sikholars: Sikh Graduate Student Conference was held at Stanford University on February 20, 2010 and was a tremendous success.  Special thanks to the Sikh Spirit Foundation and Stanford Satrang Sikh Students Association.  Read more here.
• We have received numerous inquiries with regards to the Chase Bank Community Giving competition.  We have not yet received the funds.  When we do, they will largely go towards funding all of the above mentioned projects.  We will provide regular updates as we receive the money on behalf of the community.
• The April tax season will soon be upon us.  As 2009 marks the first year that the Jakara Movement has acted as an independent 501c3 nonprofit tax-exempt organization, it will also be the first year we file our taxes.  All records will be hosted on our website for easy access and reference to all community members.  We hope to file quarterly reports on the website in our desire to be one of the most transparent Sikh youth organizations.

The next call will be on April 15, 2010.

Gur Fateh,

Das of the Panth
Jakara Movement

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Monthly Movement Update Tonight

Tonight will be the start of the Monthly Movement update conference calls.  All are invited to attend, participate, and find out what is in the works.  Hope you can join us.

The conference call will begin promptly at 9:15 pm PST.  The information is listed below:

Conference Call
Conference Dial-in Number: (218) 844-8230
Participant Access Code: 718910#

Please note this is NOT the usual conference service Jakara uses.

Monthly Movement Updates

Each 3rd Thursday of the Month, the Jakara Movement will hold an open session to the public to inform about current programs, future programs, and take questions and comments from the general public.

The schedule for the conference call will be as follows:

March 18, 2010
April 15, 2010
May 20, 2010
June 17, 2010

All conference calls will last no longer than 30 minutes and will begin promptly at 9:15pm PST (unless notified prior).  Each call will be hosted by a Jakara Movement volunteer.  All members of the public are welcome to attend.  The conference call phone number and access code will be published on the Jakara Movement blog (j.Khabar) 2 days prior to the call.

Hope you can join us.

Together, we are the movement.  Gur Fateh!

Together, we did it! Sikh Community Gains $25K

Together, we can do great things.  Together, we just did.

Chase Bank offered $25,000 in their Community Giving competition on Facebook.  During the month of November and December, when many of us were suppose to be busy at work or studying for finals, the community rallied together to find time to vote for the Jakara Movement.

With over 500,000 amazing nonprofits competing, it was with Guru’s Nadir (Grace) shining through the udham (efforts) of the community that we achieved Fateh (victory).  The Jakara Movement is well aware that this is not an organizational victory; it is the community’s victory and all earning will be in the benefit of the Qaum.

A special thanks to everyone that voted, to the entire Sikh Slate, to the entire community for supporting, to all the radio stations that made announcements, to all the FB groups that sent messages to their people, to Humble and Icky for the videos, and finally to all the unsung and nameless sevadaars that pushed their friends/family/(and even some randoms) to get out the vote.

Together, we really are the movement.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa
Waheguru Ji Ke FATEH (victory)

The Jakara Movement at Sikhlens’ SAFF

This weekend Sikhlens will be presenting its annual Sikh Art and Film Festival 2009.  The film festival showcases the best in Sikh movie-making talents from around the globe.  It also presents a forum for aspiring Sikh artists to also come and display their burgeoning talents.

he inaugural Sikh Art and Film Festival will be held at the historic Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, CA on November 13-15th.

The weekend features a number of different clusters, highlighting issues on the youth, creative Sikhs, short films, feature films, and even Remembering 1984.  The Remembering 1984 cluster on Sunday afternoon will be co-hosted with the Jakara Movement in conjunction with it’s Visions of Truth film series.

So whether you come for the entire weekend, make it out to just one cluster (at $15 pre-sale, you won’t find a better price), or at least to Sunday’s mela, check the schedule, check out the films, and make sure you come out and support Sikh arts!  Come join us in Southern California this weekend!

Jakara Movement at NASMDA

This past weekend the North American Sikh Medical and Dental Association (NASMDA) held their 17th annual conference in San Diego, CA.  The organization’s website provides a brief description:

Started in the summer of 1992 at Poncos, Pennsylvania, NASMDA has grown to an organization of over 1000 Sikh medical and dental professionals spread across North America. NASMDA strives to provide a platform for Sikh medical and dental professionals to network and interact with each other while promoting the ideals and the mission of Guru Nanak. The members of NASMDA have been actively involved with helping out and supporting various Sikh organizations, young medical students and physicians.[link]

NASMDA provides a platform for Sikhs of various ages to engage in medical exchanges as well as be briefed by various organizations that presented.  Members of the Jakara Movement made one such presentation.

We have to admit that we were were showered with love and it was really the Guru’s Kirpa that our efforts were received with such kindness.  Over $5,000 were collected to help continue to promote Sikhi in California.  We hope to continue our relationship with NASMDA in the future.  Together, we can inspire and be inspired.  Together, we are the movement.

General Projects Update as of September 29, 2009

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.