by the South Central Zone team
What is your zone motto? We are the Happiness Group!
Tell us briefly about your zone’s history. South Central Zone was formed in September 2017 when we split from South Zone. Encompassing five states—Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle—our zone was first part of East Territory and later became part of Central Territory after the historic 50K Lions of Justice Festival in 2018.
Do you have a Buddhist center in your zone? Yes, we currently have one center, the New Orleans Buddhist Center.
Does your zone have a particular point of pride? We are proud that New Orleans was one of only three southern cities Ikeda Sensei visited on his trip to the United States in 1974. In 2004, a Friendship Grove named after Sensei and Mrs. Ikeda was established in New Orleans City Park.
What is your prime point with Sensei as a zone? We have two prime points with Sensei, the first being his visit to New Orleans in March 1974. On short notice, members from across the southern U.S. quickly gathered to meet him, and on March 15, more than 300 members from eight states assembled at the University of New Orleans for a spontaneous guidance meeting—his only visit to the southeastern United States outside Florida. During this historic gathering, Sensei named those in attendance the Happiness Group.
Second, in 2005 New Orleans and the surrounding Gulf Coast were devastated by Hurricane Katrina, which at the time was the greatest natural disaster in U.S. history. We received multiple messages from Sensei in the aftermath of the storm encouraging us to create great good from this great evil and to change poison into medicine. Sensei continuously mentioned and encouraged us though Soka Gakkai meetings in Japan for months after the storm.
Do you have something that is unique to your zone? Having only one center serving the entire area, our chapters joyfully host nine kosen-rufu gongyo meetings each month in local communities, advancing our peace movement with strong spirit and unity. These gatherings are led by dedicated chapter leaders and warmly supported by region and zone leaders. Through these local meetings, many members are empowered to step forward as protagonists for kosen-rufu, contributing to the vibrant growth of our movement.
What is your zone’s vision toward 2030? As the Happiness Group, we are determined to fulfill our mission by becoming genuinely happy and helping others do the same. By Jan. 1, 2028, we are determined to welcome 500 new youth, contributing to the SGI-USA’s goal of raising 10,000 youth and advancing the transformation of the world. In addition, we aim to double the membership of South Central Zone—from 3,000 to 6,000 members—by awakening each person to their mission as a Bodhisattva of the Earth and encouraging them to help at least one individual begin practicing Nichiren Buddhism.
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