by We Are Sikhs — May 05, 2017
NATIONAL SIKH CAMPAIGN LAUNCHES NATIONAL MONTH OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Local Grassroots Effort A Critical Part of “We Are Sikhs” Campaign
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, May 5, 2017
Contact: [email protected]
Washington, D.C. – The National Sikh Campaign (NSC) today announced the launch of the National Month of Community Outreach, during which Sikh temples, known as Gurdwaras, across the country will open their doors and offer special events to welcome members of their local communities. The effort is a part of the national We Are Sikhs initiative, a new, national effort to improve awareness of Sikhism and Sikh Americans nationally and in local communities throughout the United States.
Beginning on Sunday, May 7, Gurdwaras across the country will invite community stakeholders, such as local elected officials, law enforcement officers, school district leaders and others, to participate in special events designed to help inform the community about Sikhism and the many contributions made by Sikh Americans across the country. The National Month of Community Outreach will run from May 7 until June 25, 2017.
“The National Month of Community Outreach is a critical component of We Are Sikhs, because it will give local communities a first-hand experience with the Sikh faith,” said Dr. Rajwant Singh, co-founder of the National Sikh Campaign. “By inviting community stakeholders and members of all faiths to our Gurdwaras, we hope to foster a better understanding of the values that unite us all as Americans.”
The Sikh community has been the target of discrimination, intimidation, harassment and hate crimes since the 9/11 Attacks because of a collective misunderstanding of what the turban means in the Sikh faith. Sikhs wear the turban to show their willingness to serve others in the community and their commitment to equality for all people. 99% of individuals wearing turbans in the U.S. are Sikh.
Sikh Americans are pillars of their communities in every corner of the nation. They run local businesses, serve on their local Parent Teacher Associations and lead Boy Scout Troops, for example. The American dream is fundamental to the identity of Sikhs in America, and Sikhs believe deeply in the freedom to pursue one’s own success through hard work.
Despite these many contributions, 60% of Americans admit to knowing nothing at all about Sikh Americans, and 66% of Americans have never interacted with a Sikh American. We Are Sikhs will utilize national and local television advertisements, digital advertisements, an innovative website and community events to affect change. To learn more about this effort, please visit www.wearesikhs.org.
To request information about National Month of Community Outreach events in your local area, please contact: [email protected]
About the National Sikh Campaign
The National Sikh Campaign (NSC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public about the many contributions Sikh Americans are making in their communities everyday. Whether it’s serving multiple tours in Iraq or Afghanistan, leading Fortune 500 companies, managing family farms, serving as elected officials, or promoting equality and serving the local community, Sikhs put into action the values that make America great.
NSC’s mission is to ensure that more Americans can immediately recognize and understand who Sikh Americans are, what their faith is all about and how it shapes their significant contributions to American life. To learn more, please visit www.sikhcampaign.org
###