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!

j.Kommunity Fresno – Update July 9, 2009

For those of you who were unable to attend last week’s meeting, lots of information was discussed – we have some exciting events coming up and have included details below.  Please note, that our next meeting with be on Friday July 31st at 6pm at Dakota Gurdwara. We encourage all our volunteers to attend these meetings.  Without your support and attendance, many of these events cannot be implemented.

• Visions of Truth: 1984 Movie Screening (Proposed date: August 22nd, 2009) – This event will take place in six regions across California.  It will be a mini film festival where we will invite the Sikh and non-Sikh community to watch films about the events surrounding 1984.  We are looking for volunteers to help with publicizing the event.  In addition, we will need volunteers to help on the day of the film festival.  If you are interested – please email Simran Kaur (i n f o [a t ] j a k a r a . o r g).
• Girls Summer Youth Program (First meeting: July 15th, 2009 from 6-8pm) – Jakara is starting a Girls Summer Youth Program that will have meetings once a week, every Wednesday, for two hours over the next four weeks. We encourage any girls that are between the ages of 14-17 to attend. Our first meeting will be at Dakota Gurdwara, Wednesday July 15th from 6-8pm.  If you are interested or would like more information – please email Aman Kaur at (i n f o [a t ] j a k a r a . o r g).
• Bhai Amrik Singh Scholarship for Excellence (Deadline: August 15th, 2009) – Jakara is currently offering two $250 scholarship for all incoming-college students.  For more information and to apply, follow the link.
• Bibi Upkar Kaur Scholarship for Excellence (Deadline: August 15th, 2009) – Jakara is currently offering two $250 scholarship for all college transfer students.  For more information and to apply, follow the link.
• Green-Clean our Gurdwaras (First weekend in August) – This is a new program we will be piloting in the Fresno Region where we will visit a gurdwara each month to do Seva and clean the entire gurdwara.  If you are interested, please email Iqbal Singh for more information on how to get involved (i n f o [a t ] j a k a r a . o r g).

Other events we discussed were:

• Car Wash Fundraiser – September 2009
• S.H.A.R.E.S. Fundraiser – Ongoing
• Junior Jakara Camps – October 2009
• Silent March – October 2009
• Alliance for Justice Week – November 2009

We encourage you to come to our next meeting to learn more about these events.

Firework Fundraiser 2009 Wrap-Up

This year we sold $16,000 in fireworks!  We came close to our 2008 record.  While our take home is about 33% of the total sales, we want to send a special thank you to all the volunteers and supporters of the Firework Fundraising effort.  They are the ones that keep the entire organization afloat.  A sincere thanks to all of them and a special thanks to the nameless few (those at the booth know who they are) that do the back-breaking work in 105 degree weather for the greater cause and oversee that it all works together.

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Funding the Jakara Movement

Although we get some community support, our major funding comes from the hardwork of volunteers.  It is their sweat and toil that keeps this movement going.  From carwashes, to fireworks, to even food vendors at sporting events the Jakara Movement does it all.

Our largest fundraising is our annual fireworks sales.  It is grueling work in the hot sun.  This year our firework stand is located in Fresno at the north-west corner of Cornelia and Shields.  We need your help!

• If you are from Fresno and will be buying fireworks – buy from us and get all of your friends, family, and co-workers to buy from us as well.  Also come and volunteer over the weekend!  Friday evening and all day Saturday (July 4th) will be a HUGE rush.  We need your help!
• If you are from Fresno and will not be buying fireworks – buy them anyways and get all of your friends, family, and co-workers to buy from us as well.  Also come and volunteer over the weekend!  Friday evening and all day Saturday (July 4th) will be a HUGE rush.  We need your help!
• If you are not from Fresno, and will be buying fireworks – contact us so we can arrange a sale and delivery.
• If you are not from Fresno, and will not be buying fireworks – leave some comments of support.

Support the Sikh youth!  To volunteer or purchase, contact us by calling 1-888-JAKARA-1 or email us at jakaramovement@gmail.com

Together, we are the movement.

Reflections on the 10th Jakara Movement Conference

10 years ago the Jakara conference was born;
5 years ago the Jakara Movement was born.

This year we held our 10th annual Jakara Movement conference.  This year we came together to Remember 1984.

From remembering the past, reflecting on Gurbani, reconnecting with the voices of the people, rethinking the role of the meda, and revering our heroes and sheroes – it was an eventful Friday!  Saturday included recognizing the lessons of 1984, reaffirming our commitment to the Sarbat Khalsa and Gurmata tradition of consensus building, recollecting with our brothers and sisters, reacting to their personal histories, responding to the past, and finally realizing a new reality is possible.

From evenings of recreation to days of reflection, we hope that the Jakara Movement Conference 2009 proved to be inspirational, not only to those participating, but for the greater Sikh Qaum as well.

We write this post as a space for you to leave your comments.  All are invited to share their thoughts – those in attendance and those that may have missed it this year.

Many made commitments during the conference.  We hope you keep true to them.  We hope you remember the lesson of 1984 – divided we fell; united we’ll stand.

It is only as a “collective” that we will build a brighter future for tomorrow; it is only as a united Qaum that we have the power to change tomorow; it is only together,
we are the movement.

PS: Please leave your thoughts and comments – also please take the time and fill out our numerous applications at our ugly website (yes, it is underconstruction) – www.jakara.org

LIVEBLOGGING – 10th Jakara Conference – Responding with Activism

Learning about 1984 is not enough.  The Jakara Movement is providing avenues to respond and to engage with your community.  With a growing activist base, hundreds of volunteers throughout California will becoming together to host a series of events commemorating 1984.  These include:

• “Sukhmani Sahib for the Shaheeds” (Jun 2009) Success!
• Jakara Movement Conference (Jun 2009)
  Soon to be Success!
• The Gift of Blood – Blood Drive (Jun -Nov 2009)
  Underway!
• Visions for Truth: 1984 Movie Screenings (Aug 2009)
• Jakara Juniors Camps (Oct 2009)
• “Silent Marches” (Nov 2009)
• “Alliance for Justice Week” (Nov 2009)

Send us a message and get involved.  Also follow the Jakara Movement Blog – j. Khabar – for updates and details!

we are the movement.

LIVEBLOGGING – 10th Jakara Conference – Recollections of Eye-Witnesses

1984 is not some distant past.  It is within the lifetime of many Sikhs.  It is one of those ‘critical’ events that has shaped the history of the Qaum.  No book can be written on the Sikhs without this important chapter.  While many young activists were born after 1984, it is important that they connect with those older that can share their experiences.

At the Jakara Movement Conference 2009, Sikh activists, whose experiences during and after 1984, shaped their desire to engage with their community recollect and recall their stories to the Jakara Movement audience.  Leading activists in groups such as Sikh Research Institute, Sikh Coalition, and SALDEF all participated at the Jakara Movement conference.

Bridging voices of the past, with the leaders of tomorrow.

we are the movement.

LIVEBLOGGING – 10th Jakara Conference – Revering Shaheeds

At the Jakara Movement Conference, we revere our Sikh heroes and sheroes.  We celebrate all that they bore witness (’shaheed’ is a witness) to injustice and never hesitated in their fight for Truth and Justice.

We remember Sardar Jaswant Singh Khalra and Sardar Sukhbir Singh Osan.

The nation that forgets its sheroes and heroes is a nation destined to be forgotten.

We will not forget.

Parnaam Shaheedan Nu.

we are the movement.

LIVEBLOGGING – 10th Jakara Conference – Saturday Morning

Oh yes, in case you didn’t know.  We are live-blogging.

Yesterday is past; today is tomorrow.

Today we move from the past to the present and beyond.  A new day awaits.

LIVEBLOGGING – 10th Jakara Conference – Friday Afternoon

Groups remain busy in discussion, contemplation, and reflection.  The Friday sessions draw to a close.

But, the conference is far from over.  Today we focused on the past and how it shapes our present.  Tomorrow we focus on the present and how we will define a new tomorrow.

we are the movement.