The Sikh Coalition was founded as a volunteer organization on the heels of 9/11, as the Sikh community experienced hate, violence, and discrimination, alongside Muslim communities. Today, it is the largest Sikh civil rights organization in the United States with roughly 25 staff members in 15 states, organizing the Sikh community to fight back against hate crimes, workplace discrimination, and school bullying. The Sikh Coalition takes a holistic approach to address these issues. Its legal team takes on roughly 300 related pro bono cases per year. Federal and state policy team members draft legislation, and the education team works to reduce bullying through inclusive professional development and lesson planning for educators. The community development team works to mobilize community member around issues impacting them, and the communications and media team actively pitches stories to promote the inclusion of the Sikh community in broader media narratives, beyond the too frequent coverage of hate crimes, and ensure accurate reporting about the community.

With the important work the Sikh Coalition’s staff undertakes, Harman Singh, its executive director, says the support of RTF has been incredibly valuable.