AWARDS AND HONORS We Are Sikhs: Our Impact. Our Story. PRESSING FORWARD IN DIFFICULT TIMES n recognition of the Adele, Bill Nye the Science Guy, tremendous results Neil Degrasse Tyson and DJ Khaled. s we write this While we alone can’t extinguish all of the complex factors that lead to of the We Are Sikhs Without a doubt, 2017 had the most positive report, tensions heartbreaking acts of violence, we can I press coverage and news shared about campaign in 2017, the are high in cities promote facts, critical thinking, and Sikh Americans since our community A human connection—all of which lead National Sikh Campaign immigrated to the United States due and towns across America. to greater unity over time. (NSC) won the PRWeek U.S. to the We Are Sikhs campaign. In the past year alone, we’ve watched Through the promising results of the Award for ‘Best Cause’, an Further, our measurable success educating unthinkable acts of violence unfold time We Are Sikhs campaign, and the many Americans across the country on Sikh and time again, including most recently honor fi rmly established unprecedented efforts and partnerships values, such as equality, tolerance, and in Charlottesville, Virginia, where a white as the communications that led to our success, we can say with service, demonstrates how the tenets supremacist drove a car into a crowd bold certainty that is possible to change industry’s highest accolade. of the Sikh faith are universal and of anti-racist protesters, killing a young hearts and minds. Today’s skeptics fundamentally resonate with people. woman. In February, three men were shot A PR Week award is often and fearers of Sikhism—and any other This campaign was a humble attempt to and one killed in a suburban Kansas bar misunderstood group—have the potential referred to as an “Oscar” share those values and build relationships when a shooter targeted a pair of Indian to become our greatest allies tomorrow. in the PR and marketing with our communities. patrons and was heard yelling “get out For this reason, our work continues. of my country.” Just a few months earlier, industry. We want to deeply thank all our donors a Sikh American man was shot in an WHAT’S NEXT FOR WE ARE SIKHS and supporters. The campaign started as anti-immigrant hate crime in Kent, We Are Sikhs was among fi ve fi nalists Energized by the momentum of this a small team working in coffee shops Washington while working on his car for the “Best for a Cause” award, which campaign, we are currently raising funds and college libraries in Washington D.C., in his own driveway. recognizes the premier marketing to continue reaching out to our neighbors communications cause showing a and within a few short years the campaign through grassroots efforts, purchasing grew into a nationwide movement. The forces of discrimination and tangible, worthwhile benefi t to a specifi c much-needed advertising, and engaging intolerance at work in our communities community. The campaign competed with new communities to advance our goals. Countless Sikhs have had to face bullying, and country each day are real and against Cigna Health Insurance, Facebook’s discrimination, and hate crimes due to powerful. FWD.us, Planet Fitness, and Clorox/Brita. With every mind we are able to change, the lack of understanding of our faith and we bring our country one step closer to our values. Our community decided that Yet so too are the voices of Americans It’s an incredible feeling to know that our embracing the differences that make our we needed to take a stand by using this who are uniting unlike ever before work won this award in a category fi lled communities stronger. We offer our sincere campaign to share the Sikh American to vocalize the belief that America is with other excellent campaigns that have thanks to our generous supporters—past, story and share our values. Thousands of a country that succeeds because of also made a tremendous social impact. current, and future—who are making this Sikhs across the country volunteered and our diversity—not in spite of it. It is also incredible to have won the award progress possible. in 2017 – a year marked by social activism donated to make this campaign a reality campaigns. with the ultimate intention of creating a better future for their children and loved ones. The National Sikh Campaign was also a fi nalist for a Shorty Awards, which honors This campaign absolutely would not have the best of social media by recognizing made it this far without these folks. infl uencers on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and Snapchat. Previous winners Accordingly, these honors do not belong include Michelle Obama, JK Rowling, to National Sikh Campaign. They belongs 20 to the entire Sikh community. 21.