FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, May 27, 2026

Contact: Elisa Rivera at Elisa.Rivera@sen.ca.gov or (559) 264-3070

Senator Caballero Honors Jakara Movement as 2026 Nonprofit of the Year

SACRAMENTO – Senator Anna M. Caballero (D–Merced) selected Fresno-based Jakara Movement as the 2026 California Nonprofit of the Year for Senate District 14, recognizing their work to uplift Punjabi Sikh and underserved communities in the Central Valley. Jakara Movement is a grassroots organization that supports Punjabi Sikh and other marginalized communities through education, civic engagement, cultural preservation, and youth leadership. The group follows Sikh principles focused on equality, service, justice, and care for others, and draws on generational wisdom to challenge caste discrimination and expand opportunity for all working families.

“Jakara Movement has earned support and respect through years of consistent service and strong community relationships,” said Senator Caballero. “Their work with youth and families demonstrates what it means to lead through service, cultural pride, and long-term investment in community well-being.”

Senator Caballero has partnered with Jakara Movement on issues affecting Sikh and immigrant communities, including efforts to recognize and educate the legislature on transnational repression and community safety. Caballero also cited her own background in nonprofit leadership. She founded Partners for Peace and later served as its executive director, where she worked with schools, families, and local partners to reduce youth violence, support early childhood education, improve literacy, and connect residents with services.

“I understand how much effort it takes to sustain a community-based non-profit,” Caballero said. “Jakara Movement continues to build trust and open doors for the people it serves.”

“This recognition belongs to every family that kept our culture alive in a new land, every young person who found their voice through the Jakara Movement, and every neighbor who showed up for someone who didn't look like them. Senator Caballero has been a true partner in that work because she understands that building community is not a program, it's a commitment. We don't do this work for awards. We do it because our elders told us seva (selfless service) is not optional. This honor reminds us that when we root ourselves in that truth, the whole Valley rises,” reflected Naindeep Singh, Executive Director and co-founder of the Jakara Movement.

This year marks the 11th Anniversary of the California Nonprofit of the Year program, a statewide initiative that highlights organizations selected by legislators from each district. Honorees are recognized at a ceremony at the State Capitol. Nonprofits play a major role in California’s economy. According to “Causes Count 3.0,” a report soon to be released by CalNonprofits, the sector is the third-largest employer in the state, with about 1.5 million workers. California’s more than 110,000 public charities generate over $430 billion in annual revenue.

The program is sponsored by CalNonprofits in partnership with the California State Senate and Assembly Select Committees on the Nonprofit Sector. CalNonprofits works to strengthen the nonprofit sector through research, policy, and public engagement.

For interviews or inquiries, please contact:
Elisa Rivera at (559) 264-3070 or Naindeep Singh at (559) 647- 4700 or deep@jakara.org

About Senator Anna M. Caballero
Senator Anna M. Caballero represents California’s 14th Senate District, which includes much of Merced, Fresno, and Madera Counties. She is Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and a member of several other committees. Senator Caballero continues to work tirelessly on behalf of her district for policies that strengthen California’s agricultural industry, protect working families, support affordable, accessible healthcare for all and

fosters economic development across the state.

About Naindeep Singh
Naindeep Singh is the Executive Director and co-founder of the Jakara Movement, a California-based grassroots organization serving Punjabi Sikh and underserved communities across the Central Valley and throughout the State through education, civic engagement, cultural preservation, and youth leadership. Based in Fresno, Naindeep has spent over two decades rooting community power in the principles of seva (selfless service), while challenging discrimination and expanding opportunity for all working families. He has authored statewide legislation to expand bilingual services and built Jakara Movement into a nationally recognized organization that has brought millions of dollars in resources into the Valley.

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