Upcoming Events
May 2010
1 May
Sevadar
2:00 - 7:00 pm PST
Los Angeles, CA
28-31 May
Seattle Sikh Retreat
Longbranch, WA
August 2010
1-15 August
Sidak
San Antonio, TX
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Sidak 2010
Faith. Courage. Discipline.
Register for Sidak 2010 today!
We are currently accepting applications for Sidak 2010. The two-week long program, will be held in the Hill Country of San Antonio, Texas, from August 1-15.
Sidak is an excellent opportunity to develop your personal strengths and talents, in a supportive and challenging setting. Come spend two weeks with other passionate young people and our talented instructors. Classes and activities will help each participant identify and hone their ability to step into the leadership roles in the non-profit and community building organizations of the next generation.
Just see what past Sidakers are saying about their experience! “Sidak is a space to think critically about everything we do and about the world around us, just as the Gurus did. I appreciated this approach to Sikhi that is non-dogmatic, non-preachy, and non judgmental. Sidak could be seen as a training ground for the 21st century Sikh Revolution,” said Sundeep Singh who came from Brooklyn, NY.
This intensive, rewarding leadership development program offers participants three tracks to chose from when they register: Sikhi 101, Sikhi 201 and Gurmukhi 101. All classes are led by talented, passionate instructors and activities outside of the classroom allow students to relax with each other and form bonds which will serve them long after the last day of Sidak is over.
Please take some time to read our informative flyer and to watch our video. There is a place for you at Sidak this year-- your summer adventure awaits! Please Click Here to apply online.
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Vaisakh Activities
Resources for Educators
SikhRI's educational team is making materials available for educators to use during the month of Vaisakh. There are two detailed contest activities, one appropriate for younger students in grades Kindergarten through fifth, and another which is structured for students in grades sixth through twelfth. Besides these plans, there is also a new blog on Sikh Educators Network encouraging discussion of Vaisakhi among educators, as well as additional lesson plans to use in celebrating this special month in the classroom!
The guidelines for the activities and resource materials are available here for educators everywhere. If you haven't already checked out the new Sikh Educators Network (SEN), please do so today! The network has many resources, lesson plans and brainstorming guides very similar to this one, all designed to make instruction an easier and more enjoyable process for educators everywhere.
Registration at SEN is still free, and a log in ID gives SEN users full privileges for posting to discussion threads and downloading materials. SEN is a great way to connect with other educators all over the world. Find your inspiration today at sikheducatorsnetwork.org.
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Sevadar
Spotlight: Dr. Gurpal Singh Bhuller
Over the next several months, we would like to introduce readers to members of SikhRI's Board of Directors and Board of Advisors. Our first featured board member is Dr. Gurpal Singh Bhuller.
Dr. Bhuller has been with SikhRI's Board of Directors since its inception. He grew up in Malaysia and did his medical training in India, Malaysia and New Zealand. Dr Bhuller was involved with the Sikh Naujawan Sabha in its early days in Malaysia. Since moving to the US in 1980, he has been involved in several Sikh organizations and charities. He is a collector of Sikh paintings, manuscripts and coins and has authored “The Enquiring Guru”, which was published in 2006. He is in active practice with Colonial Orthopedics, in Chester, VA.
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Interfaith Service
A Nation of Immigrants
SikhRI participated in an Interfaith Service in San Antonio, Texas, on March 24. The service was dedicated to the issue of immigration in the US. Gurvinder Singh represented SikhRI at the event, and brought ideas and perspectives from Sikhi to the discussion. These concepts included the belief that Sikhi professes that all individuals are born with the divine right of freedom, and without freedom the potential of individuals is detrimentally restricted.
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Saneha
Bridgewater, NJ Community Connects
On March 20, some 60 people attended a Saneha session hosted by SikhRI in Bridgewater, NJ. Facilitators Inni Kaur and Harinder Singh designed the Saneha to explore the question "What Constitutes a Sikh?" with sessions titled " Personal Spirituality and Institutional Religiosity", "From the Ten Nanaks to the 21st Century" and "Spirit versus the Letter of the Law ".
Saneha sessions are designed for young adults and are intended to be safe, constructive spaces for participants to ask questions and explore their place in the world as contemporary Sikhs who wish to live spiritual lives and to contribute to their communities as leaders and thinkers. Please visit the Saneha page of our web site to see a list of topics that are available for Saneha session, or to be in contact about scheduling an event in your area.
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SikhRI in Canada
BC Sikhs Gather to Reflect
Over the weekend of March 26-28, SikhRI facilitators traveled to British Columbia, Canada, and brought packed days of programming, discussion and community building. Participating in radio and TV shows (News-Panjab; Vaisakhi Relevance)as well as leading workshops and addressing several sangats and Gurduaras, SikhRI facilitators reached out to large portions of the Lower Mainland Sikh population. Topics included "Panjab Today", "The Guru: Connecting with the Divine Light", and "Sikhi on Social Responsibility and the Environment." To read a more detailed account of the events in Canada please follow this link to our full press release.
SikhRI brings on GTA Coordinator
SikhRI facilitated two events in Toronto over the weekend of April 10-11. The first, a Saneha on the theme "Asa Ki Var: Transcending Duality", was held at the University of Toronto Mississauga and was well attended by nearly 60 people. The second event the following day was held at Shiromani Sikh Sangat Gurdwara on the topic of "Celebration and Thankfulness". The presentation highlighted way for participants to stay connected to their inner strength, their communities and families and especially their Guru as they worked toward advancement in schooling and career.
In addition to these events, SikhRI staff were able to meet with Kulvir Singh, who we are proud to announce, will be acting as the SikhRI's coordinator for the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Having a coordinator will make it easier for SikhRI to bring events to GTA similar to those which are already regularly presented in Vancouver. Workshops, community building activities and leadership and youth-oriented activities will be available on a more regular basis. SikhRI looks forward to suggestions for programming and would like to coordinate with religious, cultural and student organizations.
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Liv
Gender Neutral Teaching: A Sikh Context
On March 27, the SikhRI Director of Education, Jasmine Kaur, led a Liv session which explored the questions and ideas that educators may come across as they teach Sikh boys and girls in their classrooms. Session topics included: " Divine Beyond Gender", " Current Realities" and "History and Tradition", while also covering research on the topic of gender neutral teaching in the field and going over tools and resources for educators. Surender Pal Singh assisted in the development of the session's content.
"I have come to realize how much more important it is to work on developing a strong sense of identity for both our girls and boys. The webinar highlighted 25 examples of Sikh women in History and present day examples. No school can say we don’t have enough Sikh Women role models to talk about! That is the beauty of the webinars, our team compiles the research and resources and brings it straight to you," said Jasmine Kaur.
Liv webinars are offered on a regular basis and are available to anyone who has internet access, anywhere in the world! Previously recorded Webinars are also available for download at a discounted fee, and participants are allowed free access to past Webinars they have attended for a set period of time after the session has past. Visit the Liv page of SikhRI's web site to explore topics of upcoming sessions, register or to explore to possibility of sponsoring a future webinar.
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Sojhi
Teacher Training
On April 3, members of the SikhRI Sojhi team were in Richardson, TX, to lead a Teacher Training session. Six instructors attended the day-long session, which is designed to assist educators in using the Sojhi curriculum as effectively as possible in their classrooms.
SikhRI welcomes requests for personalized training sessions, and our education team is happy to put together one or two days worth of activities for educators who seek extra inspiration or resources when developing their own lesson plans. Please contact us at sojhi@sikhri.org with any questions you may have.
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Job Opening
Position: Executive Director
The Sikh Research Institute (SikhRI) is a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit organization seeking to develop a principle-driven community by protecting the core values and enlarging the resource pool. SikhRI’s mission is to facilitate training and development while inspiring Sikh values, create global awareness of Sikhi, and deliver strategic solutions to the key challenges faced by the Sikh community. SikhRI is currently seeking to fill the position of an Executive Director. The successful candidate will lead SikhRI and be responsible for providing direction to the staff. The primary task will be raising funds (70%) followed by administration (30%). S/he will work closely with the Board and the Chief Programming Officer to further the mission of SikhRI. Annual salary range will commensurate with experience. Benefits include vacation, holidays, sick days and insurance (medical, LTD, STD, Life & Accidental).
Click Here to Learn More
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Thank Yous
Sikh Research Institute exists to serve the community's education needs. As we strive to fulfill our mission of empowerment through education, we cannot be successful without the endless support of volunteers. Thank you to all of our volunteers this month who continue to inspire us with their strength, dedication, and passion!
Avtar Singh, Baljinder Kaur, Birender Kaur, Charanjit Singh, Gulshan Singh, Harliv Kaur, Harsheen Kaur, Inderjit Singh, Inderpal Singh, Inni Kaur, Jagdeep Singh, Jasvinder Singh, Kirpa Kaur, Kulvir Singh, Mandhir Singh, Narenderpal Singh, Patti Radle, Preeti Kaur, Rajinder Singh, Ranju Kaur and Varjeet Singh.
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