Sikh youth engaged in leadership and advocacy training
Public health awareness campaigns conducted
Community members reached through workshops & events
Cultural advocacy partnerships formed with other nonprofits
Collaborations with Local Healthcare Institutions
What We Do
Public Health Education
Cultural Identity Empowerment
Youth Political Advocacy
Community Wellness Programs
Our Mission
The Chardi Kala Empowerment Initiative is dedicated to fostering resilience, well-being, and equity by addressing critical public health challenges and empowering communities through education, policy advocacy, and youth leadership. By connecting Sikh youth and other marginalized communities with opportunities in healthcare innovation, public service, and civic engagement, we strive to create sustainable solutions that improve lives, reduce disparities, and inspire collective action for meaningful, lasting change.
Why It Matters
- Public Health → Raising awareness, increasing access, reducing disparities
- Political Science/Advocacy → Empowering youth voices in policy decisions
- Sikh Values → Promoting service (seva), resilience (chardi kala), and justice (sarbat da bhala)
Upcoming Initiatives
Our Team
Armaan Sethi
Founder and CEO
Nanak Ghariyal
Founder and CEO
Aikus Singh
Chief Operating Officer
Viraaj Singh
Chief Financial Officer
Our Team
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...
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...
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...
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...