S3 E08: Kiran Kaur Gill on fighting Turban Myths with occupationally relevant training programs at the TSA, FBI, and other law enforcement agencies.

GUEST BIO

Kiran Kaur Gill is the executive director at SALDEF, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, where she oversees and executes programs related to policy, research, education, civic engagement, and youth leadership in the Sikh American community. Prior to her executive role, she volunteered at SALDEF to create and conduct Sikh awareness training around the country for schools, law enforcement, and state and local governments. She worked with the New Jersey Attorney General's office to develop statewide curricula and helped establish the SikhLEAD New Jersey program, which encourages civic engagement. among Sikh students. Additionally, Ms. Gill ran her own company PARS Environmental Incorporated from 2003 to 2017. Ms. Gill served as a board member of The One Project, an interfaith and community coalition organized to address social needs through education and volunteerism, and was the president and founding member of the Inspiring South Asian American Women. Her leadership and business acumen has won her numerous accolades. Full bio at nuancespod.com.

Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Facebook | LinkedIn | Web

DEFINITIONS

• TSA: Transportation Security Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security that was created as a response to 9/11
• Gurdwara: A place of worship for Sikhs

MENTIONED

• Sher Singh
• SALDEF
• Turban Myths

TAKEAWAYS

1. Most Americans know very little of Sikhism and associate their turban to Bin Laden
2. Sikhs & Muslims became victims of Islamophobic hate crimes after 9/11.
3. As leaders, we can redefine our workplace so everyone thrives.
4. Getting to know even just the basics of a community's culture goes a long way to prevent misunderstandings and reduce fear and distrust.
5. Trainings using relevant hypothetical situations, facilitated by people who are local to the community, or have ground knowledge of the day-to-day situations faced by the trainees are most effective.
6. Preserving our culture does not mean we have to keep the bad parts too.
7. Providing access to mental health resources that are culturally sensitive and timely are a key component to creating safer communities

CONTACT

Instagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | Twitter

Host: Lazou

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support