Building our SACRED Democracy: SACRED ACTS Annual Fundraiser

On November 10, SACRED Acts hosted a sold-out annual fundraiser at Soho House Chicago featuring Illinois Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) and Congresswoman Delia Ramirez (IL-03). Over 75 attendees joined SACRED Acts to build progressive South Asian American power at a time when national leaders openly threaten immigrant communities in Chicago.

Rep. Ramirez, the first and only Latina Congresswoman in the Midwest, joined SACRED Acts in honoring Rep. Schakowsky for her longstanding, outspoken leadership in standing up for human rights in South Asia.

Rep. Ramirez described Rep. Schakowsky as someone "who has been at the forefront of demanding better for our democracy for decades. Jan Schakowsky has built a legacy in Congress based on integrity, courage, solidarity, and audacity to organize." Rep. Ramirez personally thanked Congresswoman Schakowsky for "her commitment to fostering new leaders," stating that "as the good old organizer that [Rep. Schakowsky] is, she has been building all of us to be able to step into those places" when Rep. Schakowsky retires at the end of this term.

Rep. Schakowsky responded, commenting, "I really am thrilled that this young woman, Delia, is a leader. She is absolutely the person I want to take my place in Congress, because she is fearless... Delia is always there to fight the fight that needs to be fought."

After Rep. Ramirez's introduction, SACRED Acts Co-Founder, Cyrus Rab, presented the Mirza Masood Rab Leadership in Human Rights Award, honoring his father, to Rep. Schakowsky.

Cyrus read a statement of support from Minnesota Attorney General, Keith Ellison: "Jan is a fierce advocate, but also a mentor and organizer. I loved the 12 years I got to be her colleague. Jan made Chicagoland and America better with her courage, compassion, and love. Bless you, Shak!"

Rep. Schakowsky then joined Cyrus in a conversation about American and global democracy. On the recent election of Zohran Mamdani as Mayor of New York City, Schakowsky opined: "I had the pleasure of meeting him in New York.... And I am so proud, so proud of him, from the minute that I met him and saw him. And so this is a big victory, and no one could bring him down. He was so fabulous."

SACRED Acts' Board Chair, Sufyan Sohel, awarded the SACRED Acts Advocacy Award to Neha Gill, Executive Director and CEO of Apna Ghar. The SACRED Acts Advocacy Award honors leaders who demonstrate persistent and fearless leadership in advocacy, often at a great personal risk. Sufyan commended Neha Gill for her demonstrated leadership in advocacy in Illinois and around the world.

In a Q&A session, Sufyan asked Neha Gill about how Apna Ghar and SACRED could work together in this climate. Neha responded, "I think it's imperative that we work together. I think it's really important that people understand that all of these issues are interconnected. We talk a lot about intersectionality, but what I see every day at Apna Ghar is that we're actually able to live it. And that is something that draws me to SACRED. I think that's really important in terms of SACRED's mission."

The event concluded with an intimate performance by Afghan American rabab virtuoso Qais Essar and Sikh American trumpet player and vocalist Sonny Singh's new collaborative project, SANGAT.

SANGAT's music weaves the ancient and haunting tones of the rabab—a 2,500-year-old instrument from Afghanistan—with bold trumpet melodies and uplifting Punjabi vocals. Grounded in mystical poetry from Sikh, Sufi, and radical bhakti traditions, SANGAT's performance celebrated oneness in a time of increasing division and offered a powerful musical reflection on solidarity, belonging, and connection across difference.

Rep. Schakowsky then joined Cyrus in a conversation about American and global democracy. On the recent election of Zohran Mamdani as Mayor of New York City, Schakowsky opined: "I had the pleasure of meeting him in New York.... And I am so proud, so proud of him, from the minute that I met him and saw him. And so this is a big victory, and no one could bring him down. He was so fabulous."

SACRED Acts' Board Chair, Sufyan Sohel, awarded the SACRED Acts Advocacy Award to Neha Gill, Executive Director and CEO of Apna Ghar. The SACRED Acts Advocacy Award honors leaders who demonstrate persistent and fearless leadership in advocacy, often at a great personal risk. Sufyan commended Neha Gill for her demonstrated leadership in advocacy in Illinois and around the world.

In a Q&A session, Sufyan asked Neha Gill about how Apna Ghar and SACRED could work together in this climate. Neha responded, "I think it's imperative that we work together. I think it's really important that people understand that all of these issues are interconnected. We talk a lot about intersectionality, but what I see every day at Apna Ghar is that we're actually able to live it. And that is something that draws me to SACRED. I think that's really important in terms of SACRED's mission."

The event concluded with an intimate performance by Afghan American rabab virtuoso Qais Essar and Sikh American trumpet player and vocalist Sonny Singh's new collaborative project, SANGAT.

SANGAT's music weaves the ancient and haunting tones of the rabab—a 2,500-year-old instrument from Afghanistan—with bold trumpet melodies and uplifting Punjabi vocals. Grounded in mystical poetry from Sikh, Sufi, and radical bhakti traditions, SANGAT's performance celebrated oneness in a time of increasing division and offered a powerful musical reflection on solidarity, belonging, and connection across difference.