Civil Rights Leader Anisha Singh Named Executive Director of the Sikh Coalition
- She has more than 15 years of experience in the public interest and social justice issues, legal and policy advocacy work, and grassroots organizing.
The Sikh Coalition has named civil rights leader Anisha Singh its new executive director. Singh has more than 15 years of experience in the public interest and social justice issues, legal and policy advocacy work, and grassroots organizing, the nonprofit said in a May 18 press release.
She was previously director of Judiciary and Democracy Affairs at Planned Parenthood Federation of America. In that role, she developed strategies to both protect reproductive healthcare in U.S. courts and find ways to bring the levers of power in government and voting systems back to the people
“As a first-generation Sikh woman who grew up in the United States, Anisha has had a passion for defending the civil rights of the Sikh community since the earliest days of her career,” the press release said. After the backlash against the Sikh American and other communities after 9/11, she began volunteering with the Sikh Coalition in the months that followed.
Singh has fought for the civil rights of all through work on legislation, direct lobbying, and organizing, and “she brings additional expertise around core areas of the Sikh Coalition’s work, including anti-bullying efforts, employment discrimination, and accommodations for articles of faith,” the press release said.
“I am honored and excited to be returning to the civil rights work that started my career by stepping into this new role with the Sikh Coalition,” said Singh. “This organization–with its incredible track record in advocacy, community development, education, legal, and media efforts–has long been near and dear to my heart. I look forward to working with sevadaars and sangats across the nation at the intersection of two pivotal moments: the third decade of the Sikh Coalition’s existence, and the continued, urgent reckoning with civil rights and hate violence in our country.”
Before her time at Planned Parenthood, Singh held two positions at the Center for American Progress (CAP), including senior organizing director for Generation Progress and Campaign Manager at Legal Progress, as well as a policy attorney and project manager position with United Sikhs.