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Community Relations
Current Initiative in New York City
The Sikh Coalition has worked to introduce two bills to the New York City Council which take huge steps for the New York City Sikh community, as well as serve as a political precedent for all Sikh s in the United States. These two bills will help make New York City more accepting of all religious groups and help protect New York City’s communities that are vulnerable to hate crimes.[More] |
The Sikh Coalition's Community Relations Program interacts
with and serves as the representative for the Sikh community
with groups outside of the community. On a grass-roots level,
Community Relations members facilitate a meaningful interaction
with government, interfaith alliances, social justice groups,
non-governmental organizations and media representing all
segments of the Sikh community. The Community Relations
program area is also responsible for coalition building
with likeminded organizations and gurdwaras, the Sikh houses
of worship.
Sampling of Office of Community Relations
in Action
- Received a grant to hire a full time New York Community Advocate as a pilot program for increasing the interaction between local Sikh communities and local government.
- Working with the victim of a hate crime and the perpetrator to increase understanding of who Sikhs are
- Assisted US Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division
in translating its "Federal
Protections Against National Origin Discrimination"
brochure to Punjabi
- Created a roadmap of activities with Department of Justice's
Community Relations Service across several regions in
the United States
- Organized Sikh prayer recitation at the United Nations
upon the opening of the General Assembly
- Worked with NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Community Affairs
and Queens County District Attorney's office in New York
to dismiss an improper concealed weapon case against a
Sikh for wearing the kirpan, a Sikh article of faith
- Awareness campaign on hate crimes, employment discrimination
and airport profiling in gurdwaras across the United States
- Participated in the 2002 Kahil Gibran Humanity awards
dinner honoring significant philanthropic achievements
- Participated in National ACLU Civil Rights Meeting,
offering the Sikh perspective on rights and freedom
- Involved in an interfaith Solidarity Seder organized
by the Anti Defamation League (ADL)
- Presented the issues facing the Sikh community to the
Ford Foundation
- Worked with the LA County Police chief to have a statement
issued welcoming Sikhs to apply to the LA police force.
- Participated in the interfaith Rabbi Marshal Mayer Retreat
focused on social activism on the East Coast of the United
States
We strongly encourage all community members' involvement.
The efforts of The Sikh Coalition cannot succeed without the
support of the community at large. The Community Relations
Program actively works with gurdwaras, local communities and
other grassroots organizations to ensure that all segments
of the Sikh community are represented and informed. In this
spirit, we want all segments of the community participating
in the program.
We actively seek representatives in local
communities. If you represent or attend gurdwara/Sikh organization
and would like to work with The Sikh Coalition, please contact
community@sikhcoalition.org
or call 917-771-4801.
External, non-Sikh groups are also welcome
to join us in our efforts to promote tolerance and education
thorough activism.
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