A celebration of Lawrence E. Carter Sr.’s legacy inspires a renewed commitment to dialogue, dignity and everyday action for peace.
ATLANTA—On April 24, 2026, members and guests gathered at the Atlanta Buddhist Center for a celebration honoring Dr. Lawrence E. Carter Sr., founding dean of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College, whose life’s work has advanced peace through education, dialogue and friendship.
Hosted by SGI-USA South Zone, the event, titled “A Vow for Peace: Celebrating the Legacy of Dr. Lawrence E. Carter Sr.,” highlighted Dean Carter’s vision, which inspired the event’s theme, “Building the Rainbow Bridge Through Global Education and Friendship.” The evening opened with a video tracing the shared ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Ikeda Sensei, emphasizing their commitment to nonviolence, dialogue and the dignity of life. It also explored Dean Carter’s friendship with Sensei.
The program featured musical performances, youth presentations and messages from community leaders, including Mayor Andre Dickens, who praised Dean Carter’s role in helping make Atlanta “a global center for faith, education and understanding.” Emcees Markell Holiday and Miai Reed reflected on the dean’s decades-long friendship with Sensei, which began in 2000 and grew from a shared commitment to peace.
A highlight of the evening was a youth presentation. Building on remarks by South Zone 4D leader Amber Suitt-Zuehlke, who encouraged attendees to make a personal vow for peace rooted in respect for life, the youth declared: “A single vow made with a sincere heart can change the world.” They expressed their determination to advance peace through one friendship, one dialogue and one act of courage at a time.
SGI-USA General Director Adin Strauss described the dean as a unifying force whose example shows the courage required for meaningful dialogue. In his remarks, Dean Carter reflected on growing up in the segregated South, recalling a childhood experience at a segregated water fountain that sparked his determination to transform division into understanding. The assassination of Martin Luther King later became a turning point, solidifying his lifelong commitment to peace.
He urged all in attendance to “be peace, be compassion, be love” and that peace begins within each person. The gathering concluded with a renewed sense of purpose, as attendees resolved to embody these ideals in their daily lives—building bridges, heart to heart.
—Prepared by the World Tribune staff
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