SikhLEAD DC & Regional Internship Program

We are proud to announce our intro to SikhLEAD 2024 Summer Internship Program, running from June 8 - Aug 10, 2024! 

Our theme this year is “Sikhi-inspired Leadership: Past, Present, Future”. 

Our Summer Programming is complete! Some new Programming includes:

My Sikhi Journey reflections
Social Intern Mixer with Stop AAPI Hate and NAPAFASA
Sikhs in unconventional careers
Student-led panel (bringing this back from last year, due to its success last year)

We will continue our partnership with the Sikh Health Network (SHN) on starting new Seva Clinic locations, while sustaining our CA clinics from last year. These efforts will be led by a SikhLEAD Regional Alumni who is now actively working with SHN! The states that we are focusing on for this year’s Clinics include: IL, MI, NC, CO, and CA 

We are in the process of welcoming our brand new SikhLEAD DC and Regional cohort of 80+ candidates who are currently in the Internship placements phase. The SikhLEADers are in the process of getting placed in prestigious and valuable Internships in D.C. and their local federal offices. Through reaching out to Internship coordinators, writing letters of recommendation, and editing cover letters and resumes, the Programs team has made significant strides in improving our cohort’s chances in being placed in a summer Internship. The placements reflect a diverse field of study and profession; we have placed interns in the legal, public relations, and governmental fields. The D.C. program’s five significant placements so far are -  United States Senator Chuck Schumer, Becket Law Firm, United States Commission on Civil Rights, United States Representative Andy Kim and New Heights Communications Firm

Regional SikhLEADers are applying to Sikh partner organizations, such as: the United Sikh Movement (USM), Sikh American History Project (SAHP), Sikh American Veterans Alliance (SAVA),  Dasvandh Network (DVN), and Colorado Sikhs, to diverse partner organizations such as: APIAVote and, as well as prominent offices of members like: Senator Manka Dhingra, Bob Menendez, and Josh Harder, and even within our own SALDEF-specific Communications Dept.

Throughout our Summer programming, our Cohort will have the pleasure of listening and asking questions to prominent speakers. Some of these include: Jashdeep Singh of Jakara Movement to share his Sikhi Journey, Stop AAPIHate and NAPAFASA facilitate the value of art to help heal, Sikh Elected Officials Panel, Dr. Jasmeet Bains - the 1st Asian/Sikh Assemblywoman.

We look forward to kickstarting the 2024 SikhLEAD DC & Regional Summer Internship Program and thank you for your continued support.