Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa!
Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!
“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” For me, that day was June 12, 2019. It was a day when Livingston High School students, parents, community members, and Jakara Movement stood together against a school district trying to end Punjabi classes at Livingston High School. With Waheguru’s kirpa, we succeeded in bringing the community together and saving our language.
From being born in Punjab a year after 1984, to migrating to America a couple years before 9/11 roots me in our communities’ struggles. There are many lessons I have learned from the years of navigating these systems that I can share with our younger generation. I am eternally grateful for our parents who sacrifice every day so their children can have a better life. It is because of that foundation that I can stand here today, as your Sacramento Region Community Organizer.
Jakara Movement is an organization that steps in to fill that foundation for our wider Sangat. Whether locally or nationally, there are many old and new challenges we face as a Sikh and American community. We will persevere, but only if we walk that path together. I pledge to you that I will work towards creating unity not just for our local Sangat, but also for the Panth globally!
In Chardi Kala,
Mandeep Singh
