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.