In the midst of the great challenges facing society, 1,181 junior high and high school division (JHHS) members and guests, as well as SGI-USA youth leaders from around the country, joyfully gathered by videoconference on June 28 to celebrate Future Division Month.
Under the theme “Suns of Hope: Illuminating the Future Toward 2030,” the participants held meaningful dialogues about pursuing their dreams to make a positive impact in the world.
In Ikeda Sensei’s message celebrating Future Division Month, he addressed the youth as the “most valuable treasures of hope for humanity.” He also shared: “The Buddhism we uphold is the Buddhism of the Sun, which illuminates the lives of people throughout the entire world with the vast light of hope and happiness. It enables the dignity of each person to shine with utmost brilliance.”
The gathering was planned by a diverse core of 11 JHHS members from across the U.S., who worked together over several months with future division leaders to actualize their vision for a national JHHS meeting.
The future division members joined various interactive sessions, which included an introduction to Buddhism, a presentation on Soka University of America, a talent show, a game room and a discussion on racial injustice from the perspective of Buddhism. During this session, the youth discussed their own experiences with discrimination and how they are personally determined to transform the current realities of society.
“After the meeting, we heard tremendous positive feedback from the JHHS members and youth leaders who supported as discussion group facilitators,” said SGI-USA Future Division Leaders Jen Wilmeth and Ryan Hayashi. “One youth leader supporting the session on the ‘Buddhist Perspective on Racial Injustice’ said, ‘With so many of these Soka successors fighting for racial justice, the future is bright!’ ”
—Prepared by the World Tribune staff
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