Shaking It Up

by Jennifer Cook
Boulder Baseline District Women’s Leader

In 2007, at 18, I began practicing Buddhism seriously after a car accident left me battling depression and fear. I was uncertain if I even wanted to keep living. But hearing my mother chant earnestly for me awakened something powerful inside—the realization that my life had immeasurable value. Through chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, I learned how to smile again and create hope. That’s when I realized my happiness is my responsibility.

Because I’ve seen my own life transform, I don’t want to miss a single opportunity to share this Buddhism and support others, especially youth. I want no one to feel powerless or alone.

One year ago, my husband, son and I moved to Colorado. I was welcomed so warmly into my new district, and when I was appointed as district women’s leader, I made a vow: to build a joyful, youthful groundswell of kosen-rufu and let Ikeda Sensei know there is nothing to worry about here.

Together with my incredible co-leader Barbara, we nurtured the seeds that were already planted by the current members of Boulder Baseline District. This January, we determined to take courageous action to reach out to the youth and members who were not coming out to activities and invite guests to our discussion meetings. Most importantly, we united in daimoku and began doing home visits. We reviewed our membership lists and fought, person by person, to revive our district and increase participation.

Only one young woman, the district’s young women’s leader, was active. Haruka had so much heart but also anxiety about how to reach out to other youth. We noticed one more young woman on our membership list, and we decided to visit her right away. That single visit sparked a complete transformation. Hesitation and anxiety melted into courage and mission.

From there, both young women began coming to my home every Tuesday to chant. We shared meals, laughter and honest dialogue about their lives and dreams. Week by week, their confidence grew. As college students, they challenged themselves to do shakubuku on campus and courageously established an SGI campus club at the University of Colorado Boulder—the largest university in the state!

One youth became two, then six, then more. Students as well as other friends that members had invited started attending our district discussion meetings, finding a second home where they could ask questions, be fully themselves and feel deeply welcomed. 

We have been hosting an intro-to-Buddhism meeting each month as well as small gatherings for those guests who can’t make it. Since our initial determination at the beginning of the year, we have welcomed two new members into our district!

As our November general meeting approaches, we are chanting to raise more youth, to bring forth more beautiful stories of transformation from each member and to build a full leadership team.

Our district is becoming a bastion of youth and victory—a place where each person is experiencing the power of this practice and receiving tremendous benefit. We will be the most vibrant, youthful district where everyone feels at home—a living example of Sensei’s heart. This is our determination.

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Our Expanding Family of Victory

by Priscilla Stratten
Washington Park District Women’s Leader

I was born and raised in Chicago, and I have been practicing Nichiren Buddhism with the SGI for 45 years. Throughout my life in this great city, my practice has shaped who I am and how I face every difficulty and triumph. I first encountered this practice during a challenging moment in my career—workplace politics and negativity weighed heavily on me, but there was one colleague who always maintained her composure no matter what was going on around her.

One day, I asked her how could she stay so calm despite the tension around us. She smiled gently, wrote “Nam-myoho-renge-kyo” on a piece of paper and handed it to me. That single action opened the door to a new world. My life began to change when I started chanting and became a member. The more I experienced great benefit and inner transformation, the more I understood the importance of supporting and sharing this Buddhism with others. 

A few years ago, Washington Park District was formed. In the beginning, our district meetings were humble—sometimes just five of us, the leaders, praying together in our district home. Though attendance was low, our determination was sky-high. We set clear goals: support each member wholeheartedly, strengthen our faith, practice and study and—above all—bring forth youth into our district who would carry on the heart of kosen-rufu into the future.

And through united daimoku, young people began to emerge. 

A young women’s division member, Kayoko, moved to Chicago to attend the University of Chicago and began practicing in our district. A bright spirit, she instantly lit up the district with her determination to take on any challenge. I made sure she felt safe and supported—sometimes picking her up for meetings to ensure she never faced the city alone. Soon, she began joyfully inviting her classmates and friends to join our gatherings. Our once quiet district meetings were transforming into lively celebrations of hope—filled with chanting, faith experiences, study, songs and refreshments.

Today, we now regularly welcome between 15 and 18 people to our monthly meetings, including new guests each time. At our last discussion meeting, one of Kayoko’s friends received the Gohonzon.

In 2011, Ikeda Sensei presented three points to districts toward the Soka Gakkai’s centennial in 2030. They are:

•First, let’s make the joyous chanting of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo resound from our districts. 

•Second, let’s bring forth many capable Bodhisattvas of the Earth from our districts. 

•Third, let’s raise the banner of victory from our districts. (See Jan. 1, 2011, World Tribune, pp. 4–5.)

I am determined to unite with my district team and make these points a reality. I want every member, especially our youth, to have hope, to never be defeated and to believe in the power of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

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Making Our District Part of the Community

by Noraima Garcia and Felipe Pirela
Wynwood District Women’s and Men’s Leaders

When we became co-leaders a few years ago, unity was a challenge. The members were people from many different countries and cultures, beautifully diverse but it made communication difficult. We were also just beginning to have in-person meetings after COVID.

Our meetings were small, and everyone was cautious. This was our first great challenge: to bring people back together again.

We started by chanting—a lot. Sometimes from 5 in the morning; sometimes alone in our own homes because gathering was still hard. But our determination grew only stronger. The guidance we received was to raise youth—and we took that to heart. We chanted intensely for wisdom, courage and the capacity to open our hearts wider than ever before. Then, our environment began to transform.

Felipe—Building Bonds in the Community

In my building, the owners asked me to display artwork in the lobby—a place where neighbors constantly pass by. What began as conversations about color, meaning and creativity turned into heart-to-heart talks about dignity and respect. Without saying the word Buddhism, I was able to share the humanistic values we practice every day. Little by little, around 15 neighbors started coming to our discussion meetings—right in my home. They didn’t just see me as the guy who mounted paintings on the wall or a Buddhist but a genuine friend in the community. Two of my neighbors have received the Gohonzon.

Noraima—Friendship With Young Women

The SGI-USA’s focus for 2024 was strengthening bonds of friendship, strengthening our district and strengthening our community. Around that same time, I connected with a young woman who was struggling deeply. She needed more than a meeting once a month—she needed stability, encouragement and, most importantly, a friend who would walk beside her. I made a determination to be that friend.

I challenged myself to go to her house every day for a full week to chant together. I drove her places and hung out with her friends. She opened her world to me, and I opened the kosen-rufu world to her.

Those friendships became bridges. One young woman gained strength, then another, then another. Slowly, a vibrant young women’s network blossomed. Rooted in trust and friendship, these one-to-one relationships became the source of the expansion of youth participating in our discussion meetings.

Joyful and Spontaneous Gatherings

The youth really enjoy our discussion meetings because their structure facilitates spontaneity—free expression. We have an agenda, but we flow with it—making it fun and easy for people to express themselves in a natural way. In addition to always having a faith experience, our meetings are filled with conversation, singing, food and the vibrant spirit of our community. We want everyone to feel comfortable in expressing who they are.

Our three groups conduct their own discussion meetings each month while the district hosts an introductory meeting. At our intro meetings, guest attendance is beginning to exceed member attendance. By the November Kosen-rufu Gongyo Meeting, we will have five guests who have received the Gohonzon so far this year.

The neighborhood of Wynwood in Miami is fun, bold and overflowing with art and music. But beneath the bright murals and nightlife, many feel disconnected, even when surrounded by crowds. That is where we come in.

We chant and pray every day so the youth of Wynwood can rise above their struggles—so they don’t lose themselves in their environment. With shakubuku through friendship, we are determined to continue to expand the ranks of youth in our district by courageously engaging with the person right in front of us.

November 14, 2025 World Tribune, pp. 8–9