The Jakara Movement has served the Sikh community since 2000, and in 2022 we saw some wonderful reminders of this journey. We wanted to share with you a reflection on the 2022 elections and the way that the Jakara Movement continues to inspire a difference in the California Sikh body politic.

In 2022, we had 5 staff/board members and an outstanding volunteer run for political office. All 5 were successful in their elections due to the Guru's Kirpa. While the Jakara Movement does not endorse any candidates and absolutely stays within legal limits, it is amazing to watch so many young Sikhs try new ways to serve their community. What makes this group of candidates different than many others that run is that they truly have developed their talents and been incubated by grassroots community development with the Jakara Movement and beyond. This is a different type of candidate and one that we will watch, hold accountable, and remind to work for the sarbat da bhalla, just as they have in the past.

California Sikh Body Politic

In 2022, the election of the first Sikh to the California Assembly with Dr. Jasmeet Kaur Bains was undoubtedly exciting. There were a number of local races that illustrate a new wave of Sikh elected officials across the state.

Manpreet Kaur has been a member of the Jakara Staff since 2016. Initially serving as a Community Organizer, she is currently the Director of Development. After completing her double masters at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she returned to Bakersfield and ran for City Council from her Ward 7. In some way the election was a progression from her critical role in helping to build an engaged Sangat in the community, to her role in the 2020 Census efforts and the 2022 Redistricting work in the community. In November 2022, she became the first Sikh to ever be elected to the Bakersfield City Council. Few other elections gained as much interest and community support as this race. We are excited about the new possibilities and dedication she brings to the Council.

Harjot Kaur may be the youngest elected representative in California at the age of 19. While a high school student at Yuba City High School, Harjot was an active volunteer with the Jakara Movement through her high school chapter of the Sikh Honors and Service Society and has continued developing her engagement and leadership abilities as an undergraduate at UC Santa Cruz. In 2022, she decided to run as a candidate for Trustee in Yuba City Unified School District and was successful. She was elected as a Clerk for the Board and we are excited to see the new spirit and energy she brings to the Board.

Harjit Singh long participated in Jakara Movement programming before becoming a member of the staff in 2018. Currently he serves as the Director of Personnel and assists the various community organizers in their day-to-day work across the state. In 2020, he was appointed as a Trustee for the Sutter County Board of Education and in 2022 won his seat to serve the full term. We are excited about the poise and commitment he brings to the Board.

Jasjit Singh started volunteering at Jakara Movement events in 2001 as a high school student. Currently he serves as the Board Chair for the Jakara Movement Board of Directors while working full-time as the Director of Programs for California ChangeLawyers, a legal nonprofit. In someways Jasjit’s election was one of the biggest upsets in the state of California this election cycle. He was the only one from this list running against an incumbent and in fact one that is the wife of a sitting Assemblyman with lots of favor and power in the Sacramento area. Despite the odds, Jasjit Singh and his team walked tirelessly throughout the region and overcame an election night deficit to be named one of the newest members of the Sacramento City Unified School District’s trustees and was later named as the second vice-president by the Board. We are excited by the drive he brings to the Board.

Naindeep Singh ran unopposed in Central Unified School District in Fresno County and begins his second term with being voted Board President for the 2023 calendar year. Expect some big news in the months ahead!

Focusing the Issues

While the success of individual candidates are an opportunity to reflect, some of the most critical reflections are related to the issues where we work with our neighbors. In some ways, this is where we are especially proud.

In 2022, the Jakara Movement took a position on 3 local measures that after speaking with the Sangat were especially recognized as being important for the future of the communities.

In Kern County, we supported Measure J in order to have term limits for members of the Board of Supervisors (maximum of 2 terms of 4-years). All elected officials, even our own, need to be held accountable and not become lifelong politicians. We endorsed the measure with many community partners and the community responded - over 70% of the voters supporting the measure.

In Fresno County, we opposed Measure C, which was a 30-year transportation tax across the County. We had participated in meetings sharing our desire to see more charge stations for truck drivers as the state calls for more electric vehicles, better sidewalks in our communities, and safer paths to our schools. The committee decided to ignore all our demands and then we partnered with other community groups to oppose it without proper community participation. The tax required a 2/3 vote and it fell well short of the goal, thanks in part to so many community groups sharing their concerns and our own Sikh students volunteering and sharing their opposition.

In the City of Sacramento, we supported Measure L, which sought to create a Fund for Youth Development Programs. Partnering with groups across the City, the voters approved with over 62% calling for a Fund to support youth development and youth violence prevention programs such as mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment, early prevention and intervention, after-school activities, and services for homeless youth and foster children.

It is these measures and these opportunities to build power with our neighbors and those that share our values that are especially exciting. We hope you’ll join us and share your ideas!

Focusing On Community

What makes all of our work possible is listening, engaging, and connecting with community. You provided the vital link in 2000 and you continue to provide that in 2022. We hope you will continue to power this work through your generosity this year and in the future.