Michigan’s August primary did not just decide who will appear on the ballot in November. It revealed something deeper about the state’s political climate: many voters were open to challenging the usual political assumptions about who can win and which issues matter. For Sikh, immigrant, and minority communities, that matters. Too often, politicians know how to find our communities during campaign season, but do not always show the same commitment when it comes time to turn ou

Singh is not a punchline. Sikh Michiganders are not a target. Umeed strongly condemns the recent Department of Homeland Security post depicting a man identified as “Mr. Singh” alongside the words “self-deport or find out” and “get off our roads.” Using the name Singh, carried proudly by Sikh men and boys around the world, in this way turns an entire community into a stereotype. For Sikh Americans, especially as we approach the anniversary of 9/11 and remember the hate and vio

For many immigrant families, fear of immigration enforcement is not theoretical. It shapes ordinary decisions: carrying immigration paperwork everywhere, driving to the Gurdwara, attending a community event, sending children to religious class, or walking into a public building that should feel open to everyone. This is especially true in communities where many people are here on visas, including H-1B workers, students, religious workers, and family members whose lives depend

The Michigan Sikh community is too often recognized only in moments of crisis, visibility, or misunderstanding. Politicians may attend community events, praise diversity, or issue statements after hate incidents, but real representation requires more than symbolic outreach. It requires listening to what communities are actually saying and turning those concerns into policy. That is why Umeed conducted a preliminary survey of Michigan Sikhs: to begin a broader listening effort

In recent months, violence targeting places of worship, including incidents like the shooting at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, has forced faith communities across the country to confront a difficult and unsettling reality: the spaces meant to offer peace, reflection, and belonging are no longer guaranteed to be safe. For many, houses of worship are more than religious institutions. They are community centers, classrooms, gathering spaces, and cultural anchors. They host c

Throughout American history, limits have been placed on voting to disenfranchise marginalized groups of people while protecting the rights of others. Poll taxes once forced Americans to pay for the right to vote. The grandfather clause ensured that only certain families could access that right at all. While these policies are now illegal, the question remains: what happens when barriers to voting do not disappear, but simply evolve? Today, Michigan finds itself confronting a