Our stories belong on screen. This April, we’re gathering the people who’ll put them there.
There is a moment that every Sikh who grew up on American media knows.
You are watching a film, a show, a documentary and someone appears who looks like someone from your family. For a second, you lean in.
And then the moment passes.
They are a joke. A threat. A stereotype. Or they disappear entirely.
For a community with such a rich storytelling tradition, this absence is not just noticeable, it is deeply felt.
For generations, we have told our stories through kirtan, through oral histories, through poetry and sangeet passed down across time. Our stories have always lived within us.
But in the rooms where American culture is shaped, where scripts are greenlit, where headlines are written, where narratives take form, we are still too often missing.
Not because our stories are not powerful.
Because we have not had enough of our own people in those rooms. That is what Sikhs in Storytelling was built to change.
This April 25, SALDEF’s third annual Sikhs in Storytelling returns to Los Angeles, bringing our community together at the UCLA Fowler Museum, one of the country’s leading cultural institutions.
This gathering is centered on storytelling for change, how narratives are built, who gets to shape them, and how Sikh Americans are actively using media, art, and journalism to shift culture from the inside.
Throughout the afternoon, you will hear directly from Sikh professionals working across film, television, journalism, and advocacy who are engaged in storytelling for change every day. They will speak candidly about identity, access, and what it
truly takes to move from the margins into positions of influence where stories are written and reshaped.
You will experience a live performance by Talibelco, whose work reflects the evolving sound of Sikh American expression.
You will walk through a powerful photography exhibit capturing gurdwaras across California, centering them not only as places of worship, but as spaces of memory, creativity, and community.
And for the next generation, there will be dedicated storytime and hands-on workshops designed to spark imagination, confidence, and connection to Sikh identity.
This is a space for all of us.
For those already in the room.
For those trying to get in.
And for those who will one day lead.
Because representation is not just about being seen. It is about who gets to tell the story in the first place.
Seats are limited and the room is nearly full.
Reserve your seat now: Click Here
The room is almost full. Your seat is still open.
Friday, April 25, 2025 · 3:00–7:00 PM UCLA Fowler Museum, Los Angeles, CA Tickets at saldef.org · Follow @SikhAmericans on Instagram for update.