Washington, USA: A press release by Nationa Sikh Campaign (NSC) says [a] most comprehensive study of Sikhs in America has been completed and is set to be released in Washington this January 2015. The research was conducted by American notable pollster Geoff Garin, the Chief strategic Advisor to Hillary Clinton’s 2008 Presidential campaign, and will be published by the National Sikh Campaign (NSC). The Campaign, launched earlier this year to help promote the Sikh image in America, hopes to use this data to shape the Sikh community’s communication strategy going forward.
The report discusses how different Americans perceive Sikhism today while also reveling the facts, images, and stories the Sikh community needs to convey to effectively build positive awareness in America. It will undoubtedly impact the way the Sikh community will communicate for generations.
Gathering of Sikh Gurdwaras in Washington last August giving endorsement to NSC
Gurwin Singh Ahuja, Co-founder and Executive Director of NSC, said, “This study will help our community because we now know what we need to be communicating and whom we need to be communicating with to build awareness — which is critical for a brighter, violence-free future in America. This future hinges on our ability to effectively tell our fellow citizens that our values are their values, that Sikh values are American values.”
The report will reveal in unprecedented detail how Sikh Americans are currently viewed by their fellow Americans at large, the key targeted messages Sikhs need to communicate to the broader public to build maximum understanding of their faith and their identity, and the specific communities the Sikh community needs to communicate with to build relationships. This thorough study is the result of a political style national polling methodology, including focus groups.
“Wherever I go, I see massive interest in this campaign and its groundbreaking work. There is a massive demand for the work that this campaign is doing and I am confident that this report will embody the revolutionary efforts of the National Sikh Campaign.” Dr. Rajwant the Chairman of the Sikh Council on Religion and Education (SCORE) and senior advisor to NSC indicated. Last August, it hosted a national meeting of Sikh Gurdwaras in Washington to engage them in this media campaign.
This report will pave the way for NSC to begin larger advertisement and media collaborations with highly-regarded political consulting firm, AKPD – founded by David Axelrod, one of President Barack Obama’s main campaign strategists. Since its launch, NSC has been networking with business leaders and Gurdwaras around the country to engage them to join this unprecedented campaign for Sikhs in America.
Mr. Garin, the President of Peter D. Hart Research and lead researcher on this report, is well-known for being one of the most prominent communication strategists in politics and his work has shaped prominent policy debates in the United States. Besides being Hillary Clinton’s campaign strategist, Garin has worked with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, United Nations Foundation and Harvard University – among other institutions.
According to NSC Strategist, Jivan Singh Achreja, “We are appreciative of the feedback that we have received from Sikh civil rights groups and leading individuals throughout America to sharpen our strategy to build Sikh perception in USA.”