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Training Community Advocates Nationwide

A project of Sikh Family Center
SIKH-FAMILY-CENTER-LOGO_BLACK-COLOR.png Sikh Family Center
Clovis, California, US
$43,833pledged of $55,000 goal
$43,833goal: $55,000
52donors
Yes tax deductible
Ongoing
$

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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!

 

  • 04/25/2023

    Spring Advocate Trainings Are in Full Swing!

    From February to April we began training two cohorts of 14 new Community Advocates. Thus far, 7 Advocates have completed the training program. We are so pleased to share our learning, experiences and principles in providing trauma-centered and human-centered advocacy and support, always aimed at increasing individual empowerment! 


    Did you know?

    The training is open for individuals and organizations! We have been invited to train an East Coast gurdwara as well as a Sikh organization. Organizational trainings are open for Board members, staff and volunteers, ranging from 5-10 people based on organization size. 


    How are trained Community Advocates supporting their local sangats?

    Advocates have helped drop off care packages of winter clothes and toiletries for a survivor in need, searched for rental assistance options for a survivor and her child, as well as, starting conversations with a domestic violence agency to learn how survivors can access services. 


    Interested in becoming a Community Advocate? 

    Learn more and Apply here

    Training participants sharing about their experience:

     

    Your ongoing support continues to makes a difference! Our advocates strive to create the change they wish to see in their communties. 

     

  • 01/19/2023

    Growing Our Grassroots Network!

    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.

    Our Community Advocates share some key takeaways following the training:

    • “Building a community that doesn't use words [such] as vachari or think that DV only affects certain people.”
    • “Relationships with local gurdwaras are key to getting information out.”
    • “Connect victims with resources, don't try to fix their issues.”
    • “Often the means of keeping a person in a sphere of abuse is more than just physical or mental.”
    • “The entire family system goes through violence and not just the parties involved.”

    Become a Community Advocate!

    Community Advocates help fill several critical needs in their communities.

    • They answer basic questions on sensitive issues, e.g. impact of trauma on survivors of violence.
    • They organize their local sangat to drive change on a range of intra-community needs.
    • They connect local sangats with Sikh Family Center, a national resource center and the only Sikh organization focused on gender justice.
       

    We are accepting applications for 2023 and especially seeking more applicants from middle America!

    “This was so wonderful to cover as a team in our org, because it helped us bond together in realizing these issues in our community and realizing our responsibility together as an org within it.” 

    **Open to individuals and organizations**

    Learn More & Apply - https://bit.ly/3VYCnbz

     

  • 10/05/2022

    We are dotting the map with change agents!

     

    Sikh Family Center is excited to share the following project about our ongoing project.

    Since opening applications for our Community Advocate Training Program, we have reviewed over 27 applications from sangats across the United States. As part of the application process, we conducted individual interviews to get to know our applicants better, answered their questions about the training, and set appropriate expectations. As of October 1, 14 of these applicants have completed the first of three modules of Community Advocate training.

    These trainings and one-on-one conversations have left us feeling inspired and ready to grow a collaborative network committed to wellness and safety of all Sikh families.

    We are also working with 5 Sikh community organizations who we will be training as a group. Our training helps them:

    • Build shared understanding and norms
    • Develop internal procedures and protocols to respond to gender-based violence
    • Recommit, collectively, to a spirit of Fear None, Frighten None

    Note: Organizational trainings are open for Board members, staff and volunteers, ranging from 5-10 people based on organization size. 

    Apply & Help Spread the Word!! 

    Know a Sikh in the U.S. who would make a great sevadaar and liaison for the Family Center, that is, a Community Advocate? 

    We are training at least 2 Advocates from each state.

Name Donation Date
H. N. $13.00 May 2023
A. M. $17.00 May 2023
I. S. $22.50 May 2023
S. K. $25.00 May 2023
W. S. $20.00 May 2023
H. N. $13.00 April 2023
Anonymous $50.00 April 2023
A. M. $17.00 April 2023
I. S. $22.50 April 2023
S. K. $25.00 April 2023
W. S. $20.00 April 2023
H. N. $13.00 March 2023
J. B. $10.00 March 2023
A. M. $34.00 March 2023
J. K. $10.00 March 2023
I. S. $45.00 March 2023
S. K. $50.00 March 2023
B. S. $11.20 March 2023
W. S. $20.00 March 2023
J. B. $10.00 February 2023
H. N. $13.00 February 2023
A. M. $34.00 February 2023
I. S. $45.00 February 2023
J. K. $10.00 February 2023
S. K. $50.00 February 2023
M. S. $11.25 February 2023
B. S. $11.20 February 2023
Anonymous $50.00 February 2023
W. S. $20.00 February 2023
H. N. $13.00 January 2023
J. B. $10.00 January 2023
A. M. $34.00 January 2023
I. S. $45.00 January 2023
S. K. $50.00 January 2023
A. M. $34.00 January 2023
I. S. $45.00 January 2023
S. K. $50.00 January 2023
W. S. $20.00 January 2023
Anonymous $50.00 January 2023
Karam Singh $500.00 January 2023
Surinder Arora $101.00 December 2022
Match Fund $26.00 December 2022
Gurpreet and Jasjit Singh Ahuja $1,000.00 December 2022
Match Fund $100.00 December 2022
Jalmeen Arora $100.00 December 2022
Match Fund $13.00 December 2022
H. N. $13.00 December 2022
Match Fund $500.00 December 2022
Anonymous $500.00 December 2022
Navneet Kaur Anand Singh $100.00 December 2022
J. B. $10.00 December 2022
Match Fund $200.00 December 2022
Varinder Rathore $200.00 December 2022
Match Fund $500.00 December 2022
Chetandeep Singh $500.00 December 2022
Match Fund $250.00 December 2022
Anonymous $250.00 December 2022
Match Fund $500.00 December 2022
Balmeet Singh $500.00 December 2022
W. S. $20.00 December 2022
Match Fund $150.00 November 2022
J. B. $10.00 November 2022
A. M. $34.00 November 2022
Match Fund $10.00 November 2022
Laura Hale $10.00 November 2022
Match Fund $50.00 November 2022
Steven Weiss $50.00 November 2022
I. S. $45.00 November 2022
Anonymous $50.00 November 2022
Match Fund $150.00 November 2022
S. S. $250.00 November 2022
M. D. $12.50 November 2022
S. K. $50.00 November 2022
Match Fund $500.00 November 2022
Arjun Singh $500.00 November 2022
B. S. $11.20 November 2022
Match Fund $400.00 November 2022
Match Fund $1,000.00 November 2022
Gurpreet Kaur $1,000.00 November 2022
Match Fund $400.00 November 2022
M. J. $400.00 November 2022
Match Fund $20.00 November 2022
Match Fund $20.00 November 2022
Anonymous $20.00 November 2022
Match Fund $400.00 November 2022
Match Fund $1,000.00 November 2022
Manny Singh $1,000.00 November 2022
Match Fund $400.00 November 2022
Match Fund $2,500.00 November 2022
P Singh $2,500.00 November 2022
Match Fund $10.00 November 2022
Navdeep B $10.00 November 2022
Match Fund $30.00 November 2022
Komalpreet Toor $30.00 November 2022
W. S. $20.00 November 2022
Match Fund $250.00 November 2022
S. S. $250.00 November 2022
J. B. $10.00 October 2022
Amarpreet Singh Malik $34.00 October 2022
Amarpreet Singh Malik $33.00 October 2022
Inderpal Singh $45.00 October 2022
Manpreet Singh $250.00 October 2022
Anonymous $50.00 October 2022
Anonymous $11.25 October 2022
W. S. $20.00 October 2022
Match Fund $101.00 October 2022
S. S. $101.00 October 2022
J. B. $10.00 September 2022
Match Fund $20.00 September 2022
Minu Mammen $20.00 September 2022
Match Fund $100.00 September 2022
Jasvir Singh $100.00 September 2022
Gurpreet Kaur $1,000.00 September 2022
W. S. $20.00 September 2022
Match Fund $101.00 September 2022
Sukhmeet Singh $101.00 September 2022
J. B. $10.00 August 2022
Match Fund $200.00 August 2022
Harbir Kaur Bhatia $200.00 August 2022
K. C. $1,000.00 August 2022
Match Fund $101.00 August 2022
Sukhmeet Singh $101.00 August 2022
Match Fund $20.00 August 2022
Winty Singh $20.00 August 2022
Match Fund $110.00 August 2022
Jaskiret Rai $110.00 August 2022
Match Fund $200.00 August 2022
Gurbir Singh $200.00 August 2022
J. B. $10.00 July 2022
Match Fund $500.00 July 2022
Gurpal Bhuller $500.00 July 2022
Match Fund $1,100.00 July 2022
Anonymous $1,100.00 July 2022
Match Fund $2,500.00 July 2022
P. S. $2,500.00 July 2022
Match Fund $2,500.00 July 2022
S. A. $2,500.00 July 2022
Match Fund $1,000.00 July 2022
Anonymous $1,000.00 July 2022
Match Fund $51.00 July 2022
Anonymous $51.00 July 2022
Match Fund $1,000.00 July 2022
Anonymous $1,000.00 July 2022
Match Fund $250.00 July 2022
Anonymous $250.00 July 2022
Match Fund $200.00 July 2022
Anonymous $200.00 July 2022
Match Fund $100.00 June 2022
Arvinder Singh $100.00 June 2022
Match Fund $100.00 June 2022
Anonymous $100.00 June 2022
Match Fund $10.00 June 2022
Jugroop Brar $10.00 June 2022
Match Fund $15.00 June 2022
Jaskaran Singh $15.00 June 2022
Match Fund $100.00 June 2022
Anonymous $100.00 June 2022
Match Fund $51.00 June 2022
Harfateh Grewal $51.00 June 2022