The Political Activism of Sikhs in Canada and the United States, Feb. 4

Happy 2015! Join CUNY’s Asian American / Asian Research Institute for a co-sponsored talk on, The Political Activism of Sikhs in Canada and the United States, by Prema Kurien, on Wednesday, February 4, 2015, from 3:30pm to 5:30pm, at Roosevelt House – Hunter College/CUNY, 47-49 East 65th Street, 2nd Floor Meeting Room, Manhattan. This talk is free and open to the general public.

Dr. Preema Kurien will discuss differences in the civic and political activism patterns of Sikhs in Canada and the United States. Dr. Kurien’s talk draws on an ongoing research project examining how differences in the social, political, and religious opportunity structures of Canada and the United States, as well as the characteristics of groups, shape the political incorporation of religious minorities. South Asians comprise the largest “visible minority group” in Canada. Her main focus is on Sikhs and Hindus (from India, Sri Lanka, and the Indian diaspora in the Caribbean) since they manifest interesting differences in political mobilization within Canada and the United States and between the two countries. She is conducting research for this project in Toronto, Vancouver, New York, and Northern California through interviews and some field research, analyses of information regarding the advocacy organizations as well as the media coverage of the groups in the two countries.  

Prema Kurien is the 2014-2015 CUNY Thomas Tam Visiting Professor and Professor of Sociology at Syracuse University. Dr. Kurien’s recent research focuses on race and ethnic group relations, as well as the role of religion in shaping group formation and mobilization among contemporary ethnic groups. She has received postdoctoral fellowships and grants from the National Science Foundation, The Woodrow Wilson International Center, the Carnegie Corporation, the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, the Pew Charitable Trusts, the Center for the Study of Religion at Princeton University, the American Institute of Indian Studies, the Louisville Institute, and the New Ethnic and Immigrant Congregations Project. Her work has been recognized with a Contribution to the Field award, two national book awards, and three national article awards. 

Co-Sponsor: Mapping of Asian Americans in New York (MAANY)

To RSVP for this talk, please visit www.aaari.info/15-02-04Kurien.htm. See you on February 4th!