Just Another Jakara Junior Story – Fresno

My ties with Jakara first started during my junior year in high school. I wanted to get involved with volunteering and I came across information about an upcoming Sikh camp. I participated in Jakara Juniors as a volunteer, and as I began to learn and get more in touch with my Sikh roots, my interest grew and soon I was a moderator. Being involved with youth and teaching them about our history has helped me tremendously in developing public speaking and social skills.

When I was initially introduced to Jakara I was your typical shy kid.  During the past three years, I have noticed a transformation in my confidence and comfort speaking with others.  Now I find myself to be more outgoing and most important, I’m in touch with my community and my Sikh roots.

This past summer I attended the summer Jakara conference where I met lots of other Sikh youth making change within their communities.  It’s pretty amazing that I started off as a volunteer and just last weekend I was in charge of organizing “Our Nation Never Forgets” Jakara Juniors camp in Fresno. Jakara has helped me grow both as an aspiring lawyer and as a Sikh.  Thank you Jakara!

Iqbal Singh, Age 18, Fresno

Upcoming Jakara Juniors Kids’ Camps

This year’s theme is “A Nation Never Forgets” and will focus on the most recent chapter in Sikh history.

We are looking for volunteers, advocates, and participants.

Volunteers – send us an email and help us put you in contact with your local region.

Advocates – encourage your friends and family members to attend and participate

Participants – we are looking for kids!  Make sure you children, nephew, nieces, brothers, and sisters come out and learn about their Sikh heritage, culture, and religion.

Click below to find out when and where it is happening in your community

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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.

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

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

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

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

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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j.Kommunity San Diego – Update July 19, 2009

Some tentative dates planned:

Film Screening- Sunday, October 4, 2009 @ UC San Diego Ballroom
located on campus. It is the week right after welcome week here at
UCSD and we just hope that it’ll give us a better turnout.

Jakara Kids Camp- Saturday, October 17th, 2009 @ Escondido Gurdwara

We’ve been to both gurdwaras here to make anouncements for the scholarship. And many parents
have come to us asking when we will be holding the kids camps which is a great sign.

Girls Summer Youth Program – Fresno

Girls Summer Youth Program – the following will be in Fresno, CA this summer.  If you would like to start your own group, send us a message.

Description:

What is this summer youth program?
The summer youth program is for high school girls ages of 14-17. This is a type of mentoring program for you to connect with your female Sikh peers, talk about the problems you are facing as high school students, and discuss some potential resolutions. Basically, you will be discussing social issues that are affecting you as young Sikh teenage girls within the community.

Some examples of these issues are:

• Gender inequality within your homes and overall community
• The pressures you face from your Sikh peers
• The stress of preparing for post-high school careers
• Self-esteem
• Self-confidence, etc.

Anyone who wants to join in the group who fits the populace above is welcomed, the more the merrier! The meetings will be held from 6-8pm every Wed starting July 15th. The location is TBA.
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