The Bakersfield native is throwing her hat in the ring to represent Ward 7 after the efforts of Jakara Movement and the local community was successful in district unification for Sikh Punjabis  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

	Open in browser Community Activist and Organizer Manpreet Kaur Sandhu Runs for Bakersfield City Council The Bakersfield native is throwing her hat in the ring to represent Ward 7 after the efforts of Jakara Movement and the local community was successful in district unification for Sikh Punjabis Kaur Republic Jul 29 A new generation of Sikh Americans is tapping into political power and running to represent their communities. Image of Manpreet Kaur Sandhu, Candidate for Ward 7. Image Credit: Manpreet Kaur Sandhu for Bakersfield Ward 7 This year we have seen redistricting efforts lied to either disunification of voting blocks or the unification of otherwise marginalized groups who are now able to participate in the democracy around them. As New York City undergoes its redistricting process for city council districts, we are seeing the impact of what happens when the Sikh Punjabi community can bring together the community to build political power and influence. Nowhere is that more evident than in the recent launch of Manpreet Kaur Sandhu’s campaign for Ward 7 after a strong push by the local Bakersfield community to have a broader say in how the community is run and what real representation looks like for the community without a seat at the decision-making table. Kaur Republic Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe now In 2016, she started the Greater Bakersfield chapter of the Jakara Movement, a grassroots community-building organization shaping the next generation of leadership by engaging Sikh communities, building strong families and healthy individuals, and inspiring youths, providing a voice for a community within a community. “Punjabi is actually the third-most-spoken language in Bakersfield and also in Kern County,” Manpreet said. “That’s actually true across the Central Valley and that’s a little known fact because there’s been this language discrimination that’s happened when the population is so large but it’s been systematically largely ignored. We don’t find basic service needs met. -Bakersfield.com According to Bakersfield.com, Kaur is on the 20 under 40 list to watch. This list was published in 2019 but clearly shows the work that Manpreet has done in the community, and how that will reflect in her work on the City Council. Manpreet would be the second Sikh Punjabi woman elected to City Council should she win her race for Ward 7 in Bakersfield. She would also be the second Sikh Punjabi woman in the United States to be elected to a municipal body after Kent City Councilmember Satwinder Kaur in neighboring Washington State (who is now running for Washington State Senate). Kaur Republic Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe now In her own words: My name is Manpreet Kaur, and I am running for city council in the Ward that raised me!  Born and raised in Bakersfield, there’s no place I’d rather be.  I attended the public schools in this Ward and have worked in community work that addressed everything from health and wellness, youth mentorship, and COVID-19 relief efforts to name a few. There’s a common sentiment of speaking down on places like Bakersfield - it doesn’t have the glamor of LA or the buzz of the Bay Area.  To me, it holds something far more special: it’s where immigrants have settled for centuries. It gave a home to those displaced by the Dust Bowl.  It’s where my neighbor can tell me stories about her French Basque heritage while I tell her the same of my Sikh Punjabi heritage.  It’s a place where determined, resilient, working class communities have created a thriving city. People here have true grit, and a commitment to the Central Valley you might not find in other parts of the state. And it’s rapidly growing. I am excited to speak with my neighbors - the residents of Ward 7 - as we campaign. I am excited to connect with more youth and see how we retain young talent.  I am looking forward to exploring ways we keep communities safe, even through traffic calming as I put my Urban Planning degree to use! During Manpreet’s launch day, Farm labor icon, Dolores Huerta attended the launch of Manpreet’s campaign, where community members spoke about the positive influence of Manpreet’s organizing and the hard work she put into the community. It is also a testament to the strength and history of the Latino and Punjabi communities, who have lived side by side for decades and farmed California together. Dolores Huerta advocated alongside protesting farmers in Punjab during the Farmers Protest by rallying together unions and civil society advocacy groups to push back against Modi and his giveaway of farmland. All images belong to the Manpreet Kaur Sandhu campaign and election day is November 8th. Find out more here. Kaur Republic is an independent newsletter covering Punjabi Perspectives on American Issues. We are completely funded by our newsletter subscribers and hope that you will consider a monthly or yearly contribution to keep the paywalls off our stories so they can remain open for learning. Follow us on Instagram| Follow Us on Twitter| Follow Navigating Politics with Navjot| Paid Subscribers get an exclusive Weekly Round-Up Newsletter| Kaur Republic Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe now Like Comment Share You’re a free subscriber to Kaur Republic Newsletter. For the full experience, become a paid subscriber. Subscribe © 2022 Kaur Republic 548 Market Street PMB 72296, San Francisco, CA 94104 Unsubscribe