What We Do
Mission: Tackle hate crimes against Sikhs, and others, via education.We bridge Whatcom County, WA Sikhs with non-Sikhs to end hate crimes by fostering connections between Whatcom County Sikhs and the broader community. CKP staff and volunteers have a handful of outreach programs we use, such as Interfaith Galas, Job Fair, and school presentations, among other events held throughout the year. CKP was founded in January of 2018 by Kamalla Kaur Whitley with the help of Whatcom County Gurdwaras (Sikh temples) and Sikh volunteers. We know that the antidote to hate and bigotry is education and getting to know our neighbors.
ONE Whatcom
A quarterly community event organized with Connect Ferndale, Better Together Lynden to promote unity and inclusion.ONE Whatcom has one strategy- facilitated meetings, dinners, and educational sessions.The mission of ONE Whatcom is to bring people together within the rich diversity of Native American, minority, and immigrant cultures in Whatcom County so that we can get to know each other and support each other. ONE Whatcom brings minorities and allies together for friendship and a broader sense of community, to stand as ONE, as needed, against racist attacks and hate crimes.We see the work this collaboration has done is different from much of the anti racism, outreach, and equity work going on right now - much of that focus is on educating white people about the more general history and contemporary challenges of those who are members of minority or marginalized groups. A lot of the materials and approaches are drawn from larger national efforts. That's a space that is quite crowded right now, and while it's important work, ONE Whatcom is working in a gap that other groups are not currently addressing.Please reach out if you want to participate in the next ONE Whatcom dinner. For safety reasons, we do not publisize widely.
Presentations
Sikh volunteers enrolled by CKP enter k-12 classrooms throughout multiple school districts as well as university classes and clubs, and city organizations to enhance Sikh awareness and cultural competency.CKP also provides educational materials for teachers to educate staff about Sikh students' needs and experiences.Looking for field trip ideas? We host school field trips at the Guru Nanak Gursikh Gurdwara in Lynden, WA.This year, we are expanding our presentations to include universities, more city organizations and other school districts south of Whatcom County.Please contact us if you want to host a presentation at your organization, school or visit the Gudwara with your students.
School fireld trip to the Gudwara
Presentation for Bellingham, WA Parks and Rec
Whatcom County executive Satpal Sidhu gives a class presentation
Lowell Elementary School, Bellingham, WA
Children's Art Festival
This annual spring event, plays a pivotal role in our efforts to combat long standing stereotypes and racism. It allows us to expand our outreach efforts by providing Whatcom County’s children and families with an opportunity to explore diverse art mediums, participate in Langar (a free community meal), and, if they choose, take an educational tour of the gurdwara. Importantly, the Children’s Art Festival is offered free of charge!
There are six art stations where children can experience various art mediums like painting, glue guns, jewelry making, making god's eyes with yarn etc. Participants may partake in Langar (free indian food) prepared through Seva by members of the hosting Gurudwara and can receive a tour if interested. No proselytizing, only educating.Pace Atelier Art Studio and Anne Harrington Ats facilitates activities and art projects.
(Jack Warren/Cascadia Daily News)
Job Fair
Held annually since our founding, organizations such as Bellingham School District, Chicago Tile, Goodwill, The Bellingham Police Department, Opportunity Council, Lynden Fire Department, WTA, and Peace Health to name a few, table at our annual job fair.
Our Team
The Chardi Kala Project was founded in January of 2018 by Kamalla Kaur Whitley with the help of Whatcom County, WA Gurdwaras (Sikh temples) and Sikh volunteers.Our offices are located in Lynden, WA and Everson, WA.
Kamalla Kaur Whitley, executive director, has a diverse background in journalism, community service, and advocacy. From 2001 to 2004, she contributed as a columnist to Sikhe.com, which was the largest Sikh publication on the internet during that period. She has written for other Sikh publications and served as a journalist for NW Citizen. She is a volunteer community voice contributor and board member for the Salish Current, a nonprofit news organization dedicated to local journalism.In addition to her writing, Kamalla has extensive experience in event management and community engagement. She is responsible for organizing and managing all CKP programs and events, including planning, budgeting, venue coordination, and community partnerships. Her role also involves managing logistics, recruiting speakers and volunteers, and delivering presentations.In 2001, she mobilized a national coalition between the Unitarian Universalist community and Friends of Sikhs to advocate on behalf of Sikhs and Muslims, addressing issues of mistaken identity and anti-Muslim sentiments following the events of that time. This advocacy marked the beginning of her active involvement in Sikh-related causes.
Tarnjot (TJ) Singh Brar is the Chardi Kala Project liaison with the Punjabi American community. TJ knows everyone in the greater Whatcom County Sikh Sangat congregation. He speaks Punjabi; he guides the Chardi Kala Project on how we can best serve the needs of the local Punjabi-American community.Tarnjot Singh is a successful Real Estate agent and Mortgage Broker who brings his superior business and money talents to the Chardi Kala Project.
Harneet Kaur Matharu joined the team in January 2025. She will be making most of our community and school presentations. Harneet Kaur Matharu has experience in IT and Management across private and public sectors in India and Canada. She holds a degree in Engineering and MBA. Her experience in Healthcare has strengthened her empathy for marginalized communities. The mission of Chardi Kala Project is deeply meaningful to her, as she sees it not just as a project but as a movement for cultural, societal, and transformational change - one that is essential for building a respectful, inclusive, equitable, and just society.
Whatcom County Executive Satpaul SIdhu is a mentor and community liaison for CKP.
Satpal Singh Sidhu, a first-generation immigrant from India, came to Whatcom County in 1988 from Canada. He is a Fulbright scholar, an Electrical Engineer and holds an MBA degree. He has held senior business executive positions in USA, Canada and India and worked in Europe as well. He is a citizen of USA, Canada and India. He lives in Whatcom County with his wife of 45 years, they have lived in Lynden for 30 years.
Community Partners
Our mission is to bridge Whatcom County Sikhs and the greater community to combat hate crimes against Sikhs, and others, via education. And this is how we do it!We work with a myriad of community organizations that hold similar visions: faith-based organizations, school districts and public agencies, to create a powerful network of support because only through collaboration, cultural understanding, and collective action can communities thrive.We would not be possible without the Fiscal Sponsorship of the Chuckanut Health Foundation and generous funding from the organizations listed below.
Chuckanut Health Foundation
Inatia Foundation
Dr. Kirpal Singh Foundation
Whatcom Community Foundation
Mt Baker Foundation
Industrial Credit Union
WECUSikh Coalition
The Guru Nanak Parkash Gatka Team
SEVA Foundation - Sikh Education Volunteers of America
Bellingham Parks and Recreation
Whatcom County Executive
Bellingham School District
Ferndale High School - Principal
Better Together, Lynden
DSHS
The Birchwood International Market
Pace Atelier Art Studio
Anne Harrington Art
State Representative Alicia Rules
State Senator Sharon Shewmaker
Whatcom County Library Foundation
Whatcom County Library System
Guru Nanak Gursikh Gurdwara - Lynden, WA
Gurdwara Guru Nanak Parkash - Ferndale, WA
Singh Sabha Gurdwara - Bellingham, WA
Racial Unity NowHomesNow
Unity Village
Swift Haven
Common Word Alliance Clergy
Ministry and Spirituality Centers for Humanity
Racial Unity Now
Resources
Immigration Rights
You may be an American Citizen and feel secure, yet if you are a person of color in today's America, you need to carry a red card. Print your own red card from Redcards.com and study the Know Your Rights links below.Red Cards have scripted phrases for you to say to ICE should you run into them. You can post them on your door or slide them under the door for them to read.
Report Hate
About Sikh Americans
From Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, SikhiWiki and
the Sikh Coaltion come excellent educational tools you can use in your classrooms and community organizations.
Press
A celebration around The Arch of Healing and Reconciliation. The arch is a reminder of the past and bridge toward the future. The Chardi Kala Project Courtesy to The Bellingham Herald
"On Sept. 4, 1907, mobs of 400-500 white men took action against the Punjabis living in Bellingham. According to The Seattle Civil Rights & Labor History Project, the rioters wanted to scare Punjabis out of the mills and the city. The rioters broke windows in town, beat people, overpowered police officers and pulled men who were working that day out of the mills."
Children's Art Festival aims to unite communities through creativity, shared meals.
"Through its outreach, the Chardi Kala Project aims not just to raise awareness but reduce hate crimes by way of education. This is important given Whatcom County’s complex history of racism and anti-Asian violence.
"One Whatcom, born during the wave of hate crimes against Asians in March 2021, is creating a countywide network of organizations working to counter racism."
"South Asians in the Pacific Northwest reflect on the different journeys Sikhs took while making the United States and Canada home."
"Sikhi is the fifth largest organized religion on Earth with around 30 million followers worldwide. Most, but not all, Sikhs are of Punjabi descent and live in the Punjab state in Northern India"