Washington D.C. (August 11, 2014): As per information over 50 Gurdwaras are gathering for a meeting in Washington to chart a grassroots strategy that will raise the profile of Sikhs in America. Newly formed National Sikh Campaign (NSC) is holding this meeting of Gurdwara leaders from across United States to engage in the largest effort to change the perception of the community.
Gurdwara leaders will strategize with Hillary Clinton’s former Chief Strategist, Geoff Garin, who is already conducting a polling and an in depth survey about Sikhs in US, under an agreement with NSC. In addition, they will explore further collaboration with AKPD, President Obama’s media firm, founded by David Axelrod, the President’s former senior adviser.
This strategy session is scheduled for Saturday, August 16th at University of Maryland at Shady Grove Conference Center, 9630 Gudelsky Drive, Rockville, MD 20850 from 10:30 AM to 4.30 PM.
Garin’s research will help the NSC to organize a massive, well-coordinated, strategically designed campaign to put Sikhs in the most positive light possible. “This meeting will be an unprecedented step to organize the Sikh community in the United States towards a common goal, which is shaping the Sikh image in America,” said the campaign’s Executive Director and former National Field Coordinator for President Obama, Gurwin Singh Ahuja. “Our community has been waiting for this opportunity for over 100 years,” he added.
Dr. Rajwant Singh, the chairman of the Sikh Council on Religion and Education and senior advisor to the National Sikh Campaign, emphasized, “Inclusion and collaboration are core components of our strategy.” He added, “This is the first time that the Gurdwaras are meeting for the single agenda to display Sikhs as vital members of American society and this has the potential to be the largest promotion of Sikhs in the western world. We have tried our best to invite Gurdwaras from all over the country since they have a key role in involving members of the community in this massive presidential style campaign. As a community, we have no choice but to take this critical and much needed step.”
While the gathering has a strong focus on organizing Gurdwara leadership, there will also be a youth meeting occurring simultaneously. Youth from across the country will be coming to Washington D.C. to meet with the campaign’s strategists and discussing how they can promote the campaign in their local communities and beyond.
Neal Singh, the campaign’s National Youth Director, said, “I truly believe the youth component is the driving force of this campaign, as we are the future of this community.” He added, “It will lay the groundwork for the next generation of Sikhs to succeed and become leaders in America.”
Jivan Achreja, the campaign’s National Strategy Director, said, “The meeting and this campaign is ultimately about building a campaign the entire Sikh community across the globe can be a part of. Sikhs across the US and the world are fighting against, discrimination, racism, and intolerance since 9/11 and we need to work together on these issues. This effort will hopefully bring an affirmative response for the community.”