Spread Sikh Awareness for Vaisakhi

March 3, 2020 (New York, NY) -- With Vaisakhi just one month away, sangats across the country are getting ready to celebrate. Many are also taking the opportunity to encourage their elected officials to recognize April as Sikh Awareness and Appreciation Month (SAAM)--and you can take action today with our 2020 SAAM Toolkit.

The 2020 SAAM Toolkit outlines the importance of SAAM proclamations at the state and local levels of government, and it includes sample resolution language that you can share directly with your elected officials. Click here to read the toolkit and get started today!

In the past several years, the Sikh Coalition has provided tools and assistance to community members in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin (pictured above), Virginia, and Utah as they secured Sikh Awareness and Appreciation Month proclamations. This work has been complimented by congressional recognitions of the contributions of Sikh Americans, as well as a host of hyperlocal proclamations in cities and towns across the country.

The sangat in Seattle is already on the move: On Friday, they held an event at the state capitol in Washington to recognize more than 100 years of Sikh contributions to the state, and to encourage lawmakers to visit gurdwaras and celebrate Sikh awareness. Will your sangat join them by engaging your elected officials in the coming days?

In the weeks leading up to Vaisakhi, the Sikh Coalition will continue to support sangats pitching and amplifying their SAAM proclamations. Additionally, we will also compliment this work with our annual outreach to members of Congress regarding Vaisakhi, which has resulted in well-wishes reaching millions of Americans on social media in past years.

If you have questions about how best to engage your elected officials after reviewing the toolkit, please email advocacy@sikhcoalition.org for assistance. And once you’ve secured a recognition, be sure to email media@sikhcoalition.org so that we can help share the good news on social media!

As always, the Sikh Coalition urges you to practice your faith fearlessly.