Suzanne Ahn Civic Engagement & Social Justice Award: Nimarta Narang
Nimarta Narang is a Thai Punjabi writer and journalist from Bangkok, Thailand, who is now based in New York. She graduated from Tufts University and the University of Oxford in 2017, and from New York University in 2022 where she was an International scholar. For her writing, Narang was a part of a 2022 fellowship with the Sikh Coalition, Gold House’s 2023 Accelerator, 2023 Autumn Incubator, Tin House’s 2024 Winter Workshop, and 2024 Aspen Summer Words. In 2023, she won an honorarium award from the Revolutionary Love Project for her journalism work in civic engagement and social justice. This year, she was honored with the Young Alumni Achievement Award from Tufts University for her work in the media. Narang is also a two-time mentor for the online New York University Journalism Program.
ABOUT THE RECIPIENT: Nimarta Narang, through her journalism and her advocacy work at the Sikh Coalition, has amplified Sikh awareness in the media and provided coverage of civil rights and social justice. Her work has shed light on painful but crucial truths, including her coverage of the 2012 mass shooting at a Sikh gurdwara in Oak Creek, WI. Narang's op-ed piece, The Oak Creek Temple Shooting Forever Changed America's Sikh Communities, was published in Teen Vogue, while her journal article in the Harvard Asian American Policy Review intelligently addressed recent hate trends and recommended federal policies to protect targeted communities.
Beyond her coverage of tragedy, Narang has also explored the importance of culturally competent healthcare resources for Sikh communities in the United States. Additionally, she has been interviewed as a journalist for NBC Asian America, highlighting how Asian Americans celebrate their culture through fusion Thanksgiving meals.
Narang's impactful work extends to her role in co-leading the media and communications breakout room of a hate crime rapid response stimulation for The Asian American Foundation. She facilitated discussions on engaging with the media and ensuring accurate reporting of hate crimes and civil rights issues.
Furthermore, Narang has collaborated with Emmy Award-winning producer Harbaldeep Singh of Nishkam TV on the co-produced documentary, Baywatana. This project sheds light on the experiences of Afghan Sikh families who have faced discrimination and violence, aiming to help them build new lives. Narang's expertise as a consultant and her efforts in promoting the documentary to media outlets have been instrumental.
As a member of TAAF's Communications Community Council, Narang represents the Sikh Coalition, contributing her expertise to nonprofit communications and media. Additionally, she has led the development and execution of the Sikh Coalition's monthly Instagram Live series, featuring influential voices in the media industry.
Narang's articles, media presence, and broader communications work significantly shape public perceptions of the Sikh community and combat the discrimination they face. Her dedication to culturally sensitive journalism, social justice, and civil rights is commendable, especially in a time when the Sikh community faces increased scrutiny.