Queens Community Development Fellow

For over 20 years, the Sikh Coalition, a national community-based, civil rights organization, has defended Sikh civil liberties in the courtroom, classroom, community, and halls of Congress. Whether it’s working to secure safer schools, combat and prevent hate and discrimination, create equal employment opportunities and access, or empower local Sikh communities, the Sikh Coalition’s goal is working towards a world where Sikhs, and other religious and racial minorities in America, may freely practice their faith without bias and discrimination.

The Sikh Coalition is a nonpartisan, civil rights nonprofit with nearly 25 full-time staff and over one hundred core volunteers that operates on a $2.8+ million budget with complete financial transparency. Our funding comes from grants, private foundations, and individual donors. We receive no funding from any government agencies.

We strive to do this work with integrity (sach), selflessness (seva) and with the lasting belief that our shared work holds a greater purpose (sangarsh). We will relentlessly pursue our goals while putting the community and these values first.

Reporting to the Director of Community Development, the Queens Community Development Fellow (QCDF) will be charged with engaging the Sikh community specifically in Queens, NY, to facilitate direct services and energize local civic life. A successful QCDF will administer organizational programs aimed at addressing the educational and civic needs of the local Sikh community and be responsible for mobilizing the community to work towards common goals through collective action. They will be focused on building social momentum, driving increased civic engagement, sharing resources, deepening relationships with community leaders and local government actors, coordinating initiatives, and developing partnerships that strengthen the Sikh Coalition’s relationship to the sangat we serve.

The ideal QCDF candidate relates well to Sikh community members across demographics, is a demonstrated self-starter, is committed to building relationships and motivating action, has an unwavering commitment to the Sikh Coalition’s vision and values, and exemplifies the Sikh Coalition’s commitment to serving as a catalyst for change.

In this position, the Queens Community Development Fellow will be responsible for:

• Mobilizing and empowering the local Sikh community to deepen relationships with their neighbors, school officials, policymakers, media, and partner organizations.

• Engaging and prioritizing engagement and programming with Sikh youth, Khalsa Schools, and key community leaders inside and outside the gurdwara structure as it relates to Sikh Coalition programmatic and community engagement goals.

• Advancing the civil rights agenda of the community by engaging various city and state government officials and educating sangat members about policies that impact their quality of life.

• Prioritizing engagement with community members, as well as school officials and partner organizations, to address school bullying by providing and/or delivering lesson plans, anti-bullying resources, and Sikh awareness resources

• Training sangat members to manage Sikh awareness opportunities including but not limited to presentations, seva projects, and special events (e.g. sports teams, Sikh Awareness & Appreciation Month, interfaith events, etc).

• Leading out on community fact-finding and mobilization in response to a rapid response crises (e.g. acts of hate violence).

• Facilitating Sikh community’s presence in critical spaces by liaising with like-minded local advocacy organizations and participating community-based initiatives including strategically placing community members in leadership positions as needed.

• Developing and sustaining relationships with gurdwaras to increase awareness of Sikh Coalition and its services and build community capacity through empowerment workshops

• Working with the Communications and Media team to identify opportunities for amplification, build community capacity to effectively engage with media (e.g. interviews, op-eds, etc), and serve as an organizational or community spokesperson when appropriate.

To perform successfully in this position, the following are critical:

• Proximity to and knowledge of Queens Sikh sangat.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written; fluency in written Punjabi is strongly preferred, and conversational Punjabi is required.

• Flexible self-starter with a strong entrepreneurial spirit who thrives in a fast-moving environment where decisions are often made quickly and with great consequence to achieving desired outcomes.

• Comfortable speaking publicly, including community facing settings, media opportunities and presentations, trainings, and workshops.

• Demonstrated attention to detail, resourcefulness in setting priorities, and ability to meet evolving deadlines.

• Willingness and enthusiasm to engage community members of all backgrounds and find common ground among diverse stakeholders.

• Demonstrated ability to translate ideas into actionable plans and can clearly demonstrate ability to adjust course as needed to ensure that goals are attained.

• Previous work or volunteer experience with the Sikh community is preferred.

• Flexibility with work schedule and must be willing to travel within Queens/New York; this position requires frequent evening and weekend work to meet with community members and attend events.

• Bachelor's degree preferred, high school/GED required.

• Belief in Sikh Coalition values, respect for the faith-based roots of the organization, and commitment to social justice and community empowerment