Sikh Temple supporters work to prevent tragedy in future

OAK CREEK (WITI) -- We are approaching the one-year anniversary of the shooting at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek. Many are not only remembering the lives lost that day, but they’re also talking about ways to prevent something like that from ever happening again. A program called "Serve 2 Unite" that hopes to do just that.

August 5th, 2012, is a day Amardeep and Pardeep Kaleka will never forget   it was the day their father and five others were killed at the Oak Creek Sikh temple.

The memories are hard. Obviously you remember the good times more than the bad times. But like Amardeep said everybody know him so there`s reminders of him everywhere. And that helps you move on,” said Pardeep Kaleka.

Another thing that helps, the brothers said, is turning the tragedy into a catalyst for change

“We don`t look backwards to the tragedy by look forward to what we can change in society,” said Amardeep.

The place they chose to start is in the schools.

“Serve to unite student chapters, we are trying to give kids the forum to be able to speak out and be socially conscious about their school culture as well as their regular culture,” said Pardeep.

Now Milwaukee public schools is picking up the program

“I need to say our community needs it. Let’s be very candid. This is a very trying time,” said MPS Superintendent Gregory Thornton.

The plan is to create student leaders by introducing them to other global leaders who inspire them to spread acceptance and peace, through digital magazine entries that feature literary, visual, multimedia and performance art.

There was a “soft launch" last semester in two of MPS schools. Students that participated said it works.

“I came a long way because before serve to unite I used to get kicked out of class and it was a possibly I wasn`t going to walk across the stage,” said 14-year-old Akyia Reed from Westside Academy.

“It helped me realize I should stand up and be a leader and stop trying to run behind everyone else,” said Leora Wells, 14 years old, from Westside Academy.

This coming year the program launches its first full year in the Milwaukee Public School district. Serve2Unite has teamed up with Arts at Large to make this possible. For more information and learn more about the program go to Serve2unite.org