PHILADELPHIA, PA – The American Sikh Council (ASC) has released a statement regarding its participation in a landmark educational initiative aimed at fostering collaboration between faith communities and public schooling. A copy of the written release is available with Sikh Siyasat News (SSN).
On May 7, 2026, ASC representative Kavneet Singh was invited to represent the Sikh faith at the School District of Philadelphia’s Inaugural Faith-Based Leaders’ Summit. Held at the Dr. Constance E. Clayton Education Center, the summit gathered over 130 faith leaders—including pastors, priests, and rabbis—alongside senior administrators responsible for the education of more than 200,000 students across the Philadelphia metropolis.
The primary objective of the gathering was to “build deeper working relationships” between religious organizations and the district to support the academic achievement and overall well-being of the diverse student body. Administrators expressed a desire to create a “workable synergy” where collective wisdom leads to “actionable ideas” that assist children in becoming “educated good citizens as adults.”
During the proceedings, Kavneet Singh shared a shabad (verse) from the Sri Guru Granth Sahib. In his address, he emphasized the importance of “holding students to a higher standard” while focusing on core values such as teaching empathy, building resilience, and fostering mutual respect. Singh was one of five featured speakers, joining representatives from the Baha’i, Muslim, Jewish, and Christian traditions.
The summit also featured roundtable sessions to address systemic challenges facing parents and students. With an annual budget of $4.6 billion, managing the Philadelphia School District is a “monumental task,” and the ASC highlighted the necessity of community support to help educators overcome daily hurdles.
In its concluding remarks, the ASC reaffirmed its commitment to educational outreach, stating it “continues to strive to collaborate with various organizations… building long-term relationships at multiple levels, that respects diversity, create peace and harmony among all people, while standing against all forms of violence.”
