Making Partners in 2011

Members of the Jakara Movement recently presented thoughts and reflections on the organization and various projects it engages in at two national forums.

At the Advancing Justice conference (10/27-28), one member talked about the Sikhs of the Central Valley, sharing insights, challenges, and futures.

At the American Public Health Association (10/27-31), Semran presented her qualitative study from our project – Ladoos: Pink and Blue – about gender preference in the Punjabi Sikh community in California.

Such presentations are necessary to connect with coalitions and allies.  We hope to continue these efforts in the future as well.

We’re HIRING!

Job Opening: Join the Movement as a Director of Programs

The Jakara Movement with the Guru’s Nadir (Grace), seva of our volunteers, and the baksh (benediction) of the Sangat we are pleased to announce our first employment position. We are seeking a part-time Director of Programs to help coordinate the gambit of Jakara Movement projects – from mentoring, to social services, to leadership development, to educational programs and community-service projects. This is an important position that will offer someone a chance to create the culture and help coordinate a growing youth movement.

Position Title: Director of Programs
Organizational Relationship: Reporting to the Executive Council

General Summary:

The director of programs is responsible for the implementation, management, supervision and evaluation of all the organization’s programs in accordance with the goals set out by the organization. As a member of the senior management team, the director of programs participates in strategic planning and budgeting initiatives in addition to problem solving. He/she works within the guidelines, policies and mission of the organization and will be accountable and responsible for specific projects as assigned.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Human Resource Management

• Direct, plan and coordinate the work of the program staff and volunteers, including supervision and evaluation, training and team building.
• Organize and attend meetings to maintain effective communication.
• Ensure adequate and qualified staff to carry out the program activities.
• In consultation with the executive council, responsible for the screening, selecting, coaching, and discipline of program staff and volunteers.
• Develop, implement and evaluate recruitment strategies to expand staff and volunteer participation.

2. Program Delivery

• Responsible for implementation, management, supervision and evaluation of all activities of the program in accordance with organizational goals.
• Stay abreast and implement all modifications to the goals of the organization in a timely manner.
• Manage and supervise data management software.
• Maintain record, compile, and analyze monthly, quarterly, and annual program statistics including: monthly newsletters, website and social media updates, and internal communication.
• Develop and recommend solutions to executive council by analyzing trends in various programs.
• Implement, manage, supervise and evaluate all activities related to the core programs.
• Develop, implement and evaluate recruitment strategies to expand client participation in various programs.

(more…)

NASMDA 2011 and the Jakara Movement

This year, as in the past 3 years, members of the Jakara Movement flew across the US to participate in the 16^th annual North American Sikh Medical and Dental Association (NASMDA) conference in the ‘City of Brotherly Love’ – Philadelphia.

This year as in every year, we left humbled by the generosity displayed by our community.  One particular brother from Florida left us in awe.  We left challenged by engaging conversations with our brothers and sisters.  We left inspired by the amazing seva our Sikh brothers and sisters are doing across the US  (pagh salute to Rucha Kaur and the United Sikhs team at Richmond Hills Gurdwara and so many others from that evening).  However, we also left puzzled by the lack of participation by young health and medical professionals in our community.  NASMDA has attempted to bring in more ‘young blood’ through its offering of scholarships and grants, especially to medical students.  We hope that other young Sikh health professionals get involved and help shape the organization to become an important institution.

While the organization decides where its annual conference will be held next year, we, as part of the Jakara Movement, seek for this organization to realize its potential.  We aim to help it grow.  Sikh-Americans are far too overrepresented in the field of medicine to not be able to take on creative, innovative, and Gurmat-oriented initiatives.  If the conference does come to the west coast, next year, we will seek to bring a contingent of over 25 new medical and pre-medical students for this unique opportunity to network, reflect on health from a Sikh perspective, and begin re-thinking the role Sikhi and Sikhs can play in the field of medicine in the United States.  Be prepared to hear more from us about this soon!

Much More in 2011

So, we will need your help, but here’s what’s going on for the rest of the year.

October:

• Jakara Jrs. Kids Camps (all throughout October and November) – we have 21 cities confirmed (and counting this year!).  Make sure your city is part of it.  This year’s camp brings “Kaur Voices” to the next generation, with workshops ranging from body image, to internet safety from possible predators for girls to respecting women and never being violent to women for young boys.  Leave a message and we’ll get in touch with you.  PD/IB
• SAFAR (Sikh Feminist Research Institute) in conjunction with the Jakara Movement are hosting the “Our Journeys Conference” in Toronto, Canada (9/30-10/2). We’ve been in Sweden before, coming to London soon, and even sooner to Toronto.  Come out to SAFAR (if you are in the GTA) and meet some sevadars of the Jakara Movement.  They will be serving and presenting.  For more information, visit here.  DS/SK/SM
• Jakara Movement will be at the annual North American Sikh Medical and Dental Association (NASMDA) (Philadelphia, 10/7-8) – We will be hosting a presentation titled: “The Highest Path: The Aura of Anandpur” and talking about the programs of the Jakara Movement.  DS/GS  SUCCESSFUL!!
  
• The Jakara Movement is being honored at SALDEF’s 15th Anniversary Gala (10/8 in Washington DC). Do we care for the recognition, not really.  We are driven by our work.  We are inspired by our Guru.  Still it is kind of SALDEF to recognize the quiet work we have been doing in California for the past 12 years.  Nice for now, but so much to continue to do!  If you are in the DC area in October, come out and say hi!  We might drag you on stage! DS/GS SUCCESSFUL!!
• Advancing Justice Conference (San Francisco, 10/28) sponsored by the Asian American Center Asian Law Caucus has invited the Jakara Movement to come and talk about  ”Emerging Geographic AAPI Communities“.  If you are in the Bay Area and free on that Friday, register for the conference and come out! DS
• American Public Health Association (APHA) Conference on Healthy Communities (Washington DC, 10/31) – Members of the Jakara Movement will present their findings, data, and experiences on the Ladoos: Pink and Blue project.  The title of the paper is: Combating Gender Preference amongst Punjabi Sikhs in California: Research and Lessons Learned from a Community Based Health Education Initiative.  If you are in the DC area, come on out! SM

November:

• Yuba City Nagar Kirtan Weekend (11/4-6) – As for the past 3 years the Jakara Movement is helping to coordinate and organize the youth together for a united front.  While in the past, we have built a common float together, this year we will be going green and taking on the seva of collecting trash and recycling.  Come join us in Yuba! AG/SM
• Sikhlens (11/18-11/20) – This year as in the past, sevadars of the Jakara Movement will be aiding in the annual Sikhlens film festival.  Check out their website and make sure you come and attend. DS

December:

• Alternative Winter Break (San Diego, 12/19-21) – Last year we partnered with Border Angels to engage with the issue of immigration.  This year we will return to San Diego again.  Read about our experiences last year and come join us this winter.  JD
• Sikhi-Seva-Cinema (12/23-12/26) – Piloted in Fresno, but now we hope to export it throughout California.  This multi-day event brings youth – from 4-40 – together for days of learning, reflecting, and serving in memory of the Shaheedi of the 2 chotay sahibzadays through the various Sikh Cartoon Films, making of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and finally distributing it to members of our local community.  Make sure it happens in your community!  Message us here for more information.  SS/IB

Upcoming in Early 2012

• Kaur Voices Conference – we discussed it at Lalkaar 2011, in January we will hold a full-day conference aimed at young Sikh women, followed by an open event evening celebrating Kaur Experiences (similar to, but not completely like Yoni Ki Baat, but for our voices).  A first event of its kind, it will be held in San Jose.  More details to follow soon.  PD/BK
• Bhujangan Girls Academy – in Summer 2011, we held Bhujangi Boys Academy, the first retreat of its kind.  In early 2012, we will hold an event just for high school teenage girls, ages 13-16.  PD/BK

And Even More Exciting News….

• Jakara Movement will be announcing its first paid position
• Jakara Movement will be announcing internships
• Sikholars 2012 (February 2012) NB

More updates to follow.  Get in touch with us about any of the upcoming events.

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!