Chandru Acharya, Kiran Kaur Gill join council representing diverse faith communities across US
Two Indian American faith leaders are among 25 members of Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) “reinvigorated” Faith-Based Security Advisory Council.
Council members will advise DHS Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas on the needs of the faith community relating to security and preparedness matters across all aspects of the DHS mission, according to a press release.
Read: Indian American Amit Jani named acting White House liaison at DHS (August 9, 2022)
Two Indian American faith leaders appointed members of the council are Chandru Acharya, member, Plymouth Canton Interfaith Community Outreach and Kiran Kaur Gill, Executive Director, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF).
“These prominent faith and law enforcement leaders will help us build and strengthen the community partnerships that are so vital to our mission success,” said Mayorkas.
“We will work together to increase access to our services, ensure equity, maintain openness and transparency, and fully restore the trust of the communities we serve.”
The Council will provide organizationally independent, strategic, timely, specific, and actionable advice to the Secretary on diverse homeland security matters, according to the DHS release.
Specifically, the Council’s contributions will enhance the Department’s work to protect houses of worship; improve coordination and information sharing of threat information with the faith community, and through the faith community, within the broader communities in which they serve; increase access to DHS resources by building trust and addressing potential barriers; and prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from acts of targeted violence, terrorism, and other threats, it said.
Acharya, president at Imetris Corporation, Saline, Michigan is also president, South Asian American Voices For Impact (SAAVI), member, Canton Township Planning Commission, advisory board, Detroit Indian Women’s Association and board member, India League of America ,Michigan.
Read: Indian-American appointed to DHS’ Faith-Based Security Advisory Council (October 18, 2022)
In her role as SALDEF Executive Director, Gill is responsible for executing and overseeing programs related to policy, research, education, civic engagement, and youth leadership for the Sikh American community.
Gill served as president and CEO of PARS Environmental, Inc, an environmental consulting firm in New Jersey from 2003 – to 2017. She was also the president and a founding member of Inspiring South Asian American Women (ISAAW), an organization dedicated to promoting civic and community engagement among South Asian American women.