Oct. 15, 2021
Dear Kundalini Yoga and Sikh Dharma Communities,
We are happy to provide this biweekly update on the Compassionate Reconciliation Project.
Compassionate Reconciliation Commission (CRC) Update
The second meeting of the CRC took place on October 10. In our last communication, we shared the agenda of the first CRC meeting. We continue to work on those same group development topics, including what consensus decision making could look like in this context. This week, we wanted to share the names of the representatives from each Advisory Team who compose the CRC. All reps and alternate/back-up reps were selected by the Advisory Teams they represent:
| Advisory Team Name | Representatives |
| Second Generation members concerned with the harms experienced in schools and youth programs | 2 primary reps: Karan Khalsa (VA, USA), Shabd Singh (DC, USA) 1 back-up/alternate: Dharam Lietz (OR, USA) |
| Youth Programs | 1 primary rep: Eva Von Schaick (Netherlands) 1 back-up/alternate: Himmat Singh (USA) |
| Reporters of sexual harm in relation to Yogi Bhajan | 2 primary reps: Hari Simran (NYC, USA), Suzanne Jordan (NV, USA) 1 back-up/alternate: Soorya Kaur (HI, USA) |
| Community members who have expressed concerns about the actions of organizational leadership in response to the reports of harm | 2 primary reps: Sotantar Singh (Italy), Avtar Kaur (France/Germany) 1 back-up/alternate: Guru Jiwan (Greece) |
| SSSC Board and Staff | 2 primary reps : Atma Kaur (NM, USA), One spot currently vacant 1 back-up/alternate: Guruamrit Kaur Khalsa (VA, USA) |
| Sikh Dharmic leadership and representatives | 1 primary rep: Kartar Singh Khalsa (VA, USA) 1 back-up/alternate: Gurujot Kaur Khalsa (VA, USA) |
| Yogic leadership and representatives | 1 primary rep: Anand Anma (Puerto Rico) 1 back-up/alternate: Pavanjeet Nikola (CO, USA) |
| Informal community leadership (“Guerilla Peacemakers”) | 1 primary rep: Jaigopal Kaur (Chile) 1 back-up/alternate: Gururaj (Brazil) |
| Business Representatives | 1 primary rep (no back-up/alternate designated): Guruprakash Kaur (NM, USA) |
We want to emphasize that the CRC members bring a vast array of perspectives, lived experience, identities, and cultures to their role. This is not a monolithic group of like-minded people. Yet they share a commitment to healing and transformation, and will work by consensus to set a course for restorative justice and reconciliation that can reach deeply into the places and relationships most in need. We trust that they will have your heartfelt support as they work together to undertake the challenging and important work ahead.
Trauma and Resilience: A Presentation at Khalsa Council
Just Outcomes was invited to present at the Khalsa Council meeting in September. Aaron and Catherine were joined by colleague Dr. Carolyn Stauffer for this presentation. Carolyn engaged us in her reflections on what organizational trauma and resilience responses look like. Here is some content from her PowerPoint presentation:
Organizational Trauma Responses Often Manifest As:
• Blindness, Denial
• Numbing, Dissociation
• Hyper-vigilance, Flooding
• Becoming Trauma Organized
Organizational Resilience Responses Often Manifest As:
• Curiosity and Inquiry
• Building Compassionate Community
• Recalibrating Focus
• Moving Energy Through
Curious to learn more? Her presentation was in two parts, and you can listen to both sections (approximately 24 minutes each) here: Part 1 and Part 2. Note that sometimes audio can take a few minutes to download.
Upcoming Events Open to all Community Members
Circle Facilitation, 2-day Training — We are limiting this training to 24 participants with a waitlist. While we are now already at capacity, we anticipate that we will receive cancellations and therefore utilize the waitlist. So please do sign up for the waitlist if you’re interested!
- Friday- Saturday, October 22-23, 2021, 9:00 a.m. PT – 4:00 p.m. PT/4:00 p.m. GMT – 11 p.m. GMT. Click here to register.
- Monday-Tuesday, December 6-7 & 13-14, 2021, 7:00 a.m. PT – 10:30 a.m. PT/2:00 p.m. GMT – 5:30 p.m. GMT. Click here to register
Introduction to Restorative Justice Workshop (4-hours):
- Tuesday, November 16, 2021, 5:00 PM PT/12 AM GMT. Click here to register.
Q&A Sessions:
- Monday, November 15, 2021, 4:00 PM PT/11 PM GMT. Click here to register.
- Wednesday, December 15, 2021, 9:00 AM PT/2:00 PM GMT. Click here to register.
Yours in kindness, compassion, and gratitude,
Catherine Bargen, Matthew Hartman, Cara Walsh, Aaron Lyons, and our extended Just Outcomes Team
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