Our Bureau
New York, NY
The Sikh Coalition is proud to announce the name of Manpreet Kaur as the Education Director. She has joined The Sikh Coalition in the month of May, 2025. In this role, she will be responsible for developing and executing the organization’s strategy to push for a generational shift in Sikh awareness and make schools safer and more inclusive for all students.
Her job profile includes campaigns to ensure Sikhi is included in state standards and curricula across the country, develop lesson plans and other content that helps educators teach about Sikhs and Sikhi in accurate and appropriate ways, promote relevant professional development for educators at all grade levels, and engage Sikh parents and students in pursuit of these and other related efforts.
Manpreet Kaur is happy to name Bakersfield her hometown, having grown up in the Central Valley of California. Manpreet, who attended public schools in the area, graduated from UC San Diego with a Bachelor of Political Science degree with a minor in Law and Society. Manpreet graduated with two master’s degrees from the University of Wisconsin- Madison: one in public affairs and one in urban and regional planning.
In 2016, Manpreet founded the Kern County chapter of Jakara Movement, a youth leadership development organization focused on the health and wellness of the Punjabi Sikh population anchored in California’s Central Valley. The organization educates Sikh youth about their heritage, explores challenges facing them like gender equality, education and career pipelines, while preparing them to be leaders in their communities. Today the organization has 70 registered high school clubs and 25 collegiate chapters spanning 15 California counties.
Manpreet was elected to the Bakersfield City Council in 2022, making her the first Sikh Punjabi woman to be elected to one of California’s Top 10 cities. She is now the vice mayor. Manpreet spends her leisure time reimagining the physical environment to represent equitable urban architecture.
