Sikh Family Center's mission is to promote community health and well-being with a particular focus on gender justice. We are the only organization focusing on these issues within the Sikh community. In seeking to build grassroots power, Sikh Family Center's model remains:
Lean Staffing + Strengthening the Power of Grassroots Volunteers.
We are calling Sikhs from each state (training cohorts of at least 1 per state, and up to 3 per state) to apply for our Community Advocate Training Program.
Community Advocate Training Program
Over three days, for a total of 6 hours, Community Advocates will learn about how Sikh Family Center triages cases; what we provide as a national resource center as well as the only Sikh organization focused on gendered justice; the basics of trauma-centered and community-centered responses.
As a result of the training, Advocates will be able to better connect their local sangats with Sikh Family Center; will be able to ethically share bilingual resources while being an accessible point of contact for someone who seeks to be connected with resources; will feel confident in answering basic questions on “sensitive” issues.
The training will include 101/basic information about domestic violence; mental health; substance use; child abuse and safety. It will cover:
- What should we say and not say to someone in a crisis?
- How do you help a friend/community member in distress?
- What is emotional/ physical/ mental/ spiritual safety planning and how can we support it?
- What resources can we connect people with quickly and reliably?
- What should someone expect when they reach out for assistance: what are their range of options and why/how do we respect their choices?
Timeline
- During Fall 2022, Sikh Family Center grew our grassroots network of trained Community Advocates:
- 8 individuals across the U.S. completed the training program.
- 6 individuals are in the process of completing training.
- 5 Sikh community organizations have engaged with the program.
- January 2023-August 2023 we aim to train cohorts from remaining 35 states.
Your dasvandh will help fund
- the trainers, subject-matter experts in topics that require nuanced understanding
- offset costs for future Community Advocates who will travel for the training
- costs for Sikh Family Center team traveling to provide trainings to the advocates as a mutually conveninent location
- Training materials--copying and mailing--for participants who desire a remote training due to COVID.
Apply for the training
Complete the application for our Community Advocate Training Program!