Forgiveness, Transformation and Peace lecture

Former skinhead and Sikh unite Against Violent Extremism


A reformed white supremacist and the son of one of the six victims killed in

the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin shooting have joined forces to battle racism and violent radicalism.


Pardeep Kaleka and Arno Michaelis are the founders of Serve 2 Unite, an organization that fosters student leaders and peacemakers, based on the Sikh 

concept of Chardi Kala, of expressing relentless optimism in the face of adversity.


“Forgiveness, Transformation and Peace” will be a mix of storytelling and discussion. This event is free and open to the public.


Kaleka is the eldest son of Satwant Singh Kaleka, president of the Sikh

Temple of Wisconsin, who was killed by a white supremacist during the attack on Aug. 5, 2012.


In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Michaelis was a founding member of a

racist skinhead organization, a reverend of a self-declared Racial Holy War and

lead singer of hate-metal band Centurion. Now he is the author of “My Life After Hate.”


They met through Against Violent Extremism, a global network of former

violent extremists and survivors of violent extremism.


This presentation is sponsored by Carroll University and Plowshare Center.