Get on the VAN – Yuba City Nagar Kirtan 2011

AWB 2011 “SUJH”: Registration

For details on last year’s trip – see here for the initial call out, here for the agenda, and here for the concluding write-up.

For Payment only

Schedule for Conocimiento – ASB 2011

A number of people have asked what will we be doing from March 23-25, 2011.  So here it is:

Wednesday – March 23, 2011

• Set out from Los Angeles at 12pm
• 4pm – meeting with Border Angels, crossing the border and having a workshop at the unmarked cemetery that is the final resting point for a number of people that never make their destination
• 6pm – Understanding Immigration Workshop – “Power to the powerless; Voice to the Voiceless”

Thursday – March 24, 2011

• 8am – arrive at Border Angels site
• 8:30am – drive to Imperial Valley
• 11-5pm: visit the cemetery, see the potter’s grave, create markings for those that died, workshops with immigration advocates, visit barrier wall and talk to law enforcement agencies, put out humanitarian aid and water in the desert, visit Jacuma city, and return.
• 6-8pm: Sneak preview of the Freedom Riders documentary, followed by a Q&A with Freedom Rider Congressman Bob Filner, Civil Rights Activist Harold Brown and Dr. Shirley Weber, Department Chair of the SDSU Africana Studies Department.
• 10pm – following dinner, debriefing

Friday – March 25, 2011

• 7am – make sandwiches for day workers
• 8am – arrive at Border Angels site
• 8:30am – Set off and meet and interview day workers, visit Friendship Park (lunch as beach picnic), visit Chicano Park – park in Hispanic community with murals – tour by mural artist
• 4pm – return and debriefing
• 7pm – following dinner, return to Los Angeles

Immigration Matters – Conomociento

Immigration is a popular topic amongst Punjabis. Many of us being immigrants ourselves, if not the children of immigrants, the topic often hits home. Still anytime the topic of ‘illegal immigration’ takes place (at least here in the United States), many Sikhs believe that it is the problem of Mexicans. Despite the fact that many of us know, have family members, have ourselves come to this country without ‘legal’ documentation, still the problem is that of another.

A recent article in the Los Angeles Times helps explode this myth:

About 650 Indians were arrested in southern Texas in the last three months of 2010 alone. Indians are now the largest group of immigrants other than Latin Americans being caught at the Southwest border…Most of the immigrants say they are from the Punjab or Gujarat states.

I strongly suggest Langa(r)eaders to take a look at the article.  Interestingly enough, despite the importance of the issue, few Sikhs really engage with the issue.  Most Sikh advocacy organizations in the US (SALDEF, Sikh Coalition, etc.) are sympathetic to the issue, but hardly promote action or dialogue within the community.  In fact, the institution that most deals with the issue are our local Gurdwaras.

I am pleased to announce the Sikh youth as taking a strong engagement with the issue.  The College Sikh collaborative has teamed up with the Jakara Movement, to create the first all-SSA Alternative Spring Break (ASB).  This pilot project will look at the issue of immigration through working with border human rights groups, working with families of day laborers, speaking to law enforcement officials, and visiting numerous sites to engage with the issue.  If you are free on the dates – March 23-25, 2011, do register (hey, actually do something during your spring break!).  THE DEADLINE FOR REGISTERING HAS BEEN EXTENDED until Sunday, March 20, 2011!  I hope to provide a report of the initiative afterwards.

Concimiento – First-Ever SSA Alternative Spring Break

Two New Sikh Scholarships by the Jakara Movement

This year marks the the creation of two great scholarships by the Jakara Movement.  One aimed at high schoolers: “Bhai Amrik Singh Scholarship for Excellence” and the other at junior/community college transfers: “Bibi Upkar Kaur Scholarship for Excellence.“  In this 25th year of commemoration of the 3rd Sikh Genocide (Ghallughara), these are the institutions that will last. The Scholarships provide national recognition and financial support for students, who exhibit outstanding academic strength as well as exceptional service to Sikhs and the American community at large.

In honor of two pioneers of Sikh activism, Bibi Upkar Kaur and Bhai Amrik Singh’s exemplary dedication to the Sikh community are illustrated by their association with Sikh student organizations. Both were presidents of their respective Sikh student organizations and lived by their convictions of striving for excellence through dedication and perseverance in all aspects of their lives. Both applied this conviction to their educational pursuits, being accomplished students, and supportive of other students in pursuing academic excellence and achievement as well. They believed that as Sikhs, students had the obligation to not only excel in education, but also to carry the responsibility of being of service to the community. Bibi Upkar Kaur and Bhai Amrik Singh gave their lives for this very cause. Hence, these distinguished awards reflects Bibi Upkar Kaur and Bhai Amrik Singh’s legacies of commitment to academic excellence and service to the Sikh community as well as the greater community at large.

ALL Sikhs that have shown excellence education and community service are invited to apply.  The deadline for both is August 15, 2009.  While I am not sure how many high schoolers/or even community college transfers read the j.Khabar: Jakara Movement Blog, I am sure that many of our readers have younger brothers/sisters, cousins, nephews/nieces, etc. that are.  Let them know and get them to apply!  What marks this award apart from other Sikh scholarships is the emphasis is not on appearance, but rather on service.  Help spread the word!