NetIP welcomes SAALT to the family
South Asian Americans Leading Together is a national, non partisan, non-profit organization that elevates the voices and perspectives of South Asian individuals and organizations to build a more just and inclusive society in the United States. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s message, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world,” each year SAALT hosts a “Be the change” day.
Be the Change offers community members, young professionals and students the opportunity to cultivate a culture of volunteerism in their lives. This year NetIP North America proudly supports SAALT and Be The Change.
An America for All of Us
Did you know that the week after September 11th,2001, 645 reports of bias incidents and crimes targeting South Asians and Middle Eastern were reported? Or that between September 2001 and February 2002, approximately 1,200 individuals were detained by the FBI and Immigration and Naturalization Service, many of whom underwent secret trials and did not have access to legal counsel? Or that under the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) program, rolled out in 2002, over 13,000 people were placed in deportation proceedings due to immigration violations but no national security threats were identified?
That a survey found that in 2007, 75% of Sikh male schoolchildren in New York had been teased or harassed on the basis of their religious identity? That the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has reported a significant spike in workplace discrimination complaints against those perceived to be Muslim, Sikh or South Asian following September 11th? These facts underscore how seriously communities have been hit by post-9/11 backlash.
An America for All of Us aims to bring people from all communities together to address this backlash and work to build a truly inclusive and fair country.
An America for All of Us is an initiative of South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) in partnership with members of the National Coalition of South Asian Organizations and ally organizations. The campaign marks the 10-year anniversary of September 11 through documentation, policy initiatives, and community mobilization.
As we approach the 10-year anniversary of September 11, our country will engage in a process of reflection and recommitment to fundamental American values. An America for All of Us seeks to contribute to this process by ensuring that the experiences of South Asians, Arab Americans, Muslims and Sikhs are part of our observations and understanding.
An America for All of Us is an initiative of South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) in partnership with members of the National Coalition of South Asian Organizations and ally organizations. The campaign marks the 10-year anniversary of September 11 through documentation, policy initiatives, and community mobilization. Join and support the campaign today.
About SAALT
South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) is a national, nonpartisan, non-profit organization that elevates the voices and perspectives of South Asian individuals and organizations to build a more just and inclusive society in the United States. SAALT is the coordinating entity of the National Coalition of South Asian Organizations (NCSO), a network of 42 organizations that serve, organize, and advocate on behalf of the South Asian community across the country.
SAALT recently held the third, national South Asian Summit 2011, gathering over 250 professionals, students, non-profit and corporate staff members, government representatives and community members, among others. The Summit provided a forum to gather South Asians from all walks of life, and collectively strategize for solutions to issues faced by our communities. SAALT also encourages leadership development through its annual day of community service – Be the Change.
On the day, thousands of individuals from across the country participate in community service activities aimed to strengthen leadership. This year, Be the Change will be held on Saturday, October 1, 2011. This year, SAALT has launched a campaign to mark the 10-year anniversary of September 11th – An America for All of Us.
The campaign aims to document and include the perspective of South Asians in the national dialogue about the anniversary; and to demand accountability from our representatives and urge them to strongly condemn racism and xenophobia. To learn more about SAALT’s work, visit www.saalt.org.
