CategoryAround the SGI-USA

Over a century after 7 East 15th Street first opened in 1887, the SGI-USA restored the building, earning the Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award in 1995. Designed in the Romanesque Revival style, and originally containing 27 class-rooms, a library and an auditorium, this five-story building first served as a branch of the Young Women’s Christian

The new SGI Guam Ikeda Peace and Culture Center opened in August 2022. Located adjacent to the Guam International Trade Center, site of the SGI’s founding, this 15,000-square-foot center features a main room with a 275-seat capacity. A stormwater management system, hurricane-resistant design, large fans, all LED lighting and a rooftop covered with solar panels

Key Divisional Activities

FORT LAUDERDALE AND JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, Nov. 7, 2021—After a 19-month hiatus, the members of the Florida Everglades and North Florida regions reunited in exciting fashion—with new SGI-USA centers. The Florida Everglades Buddhist Center opened in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Nov. 7 with 265 members attending in-person and over Zoom. On the same day, 100 members

New SGI-USA Center

El Monte, California, Oct. 3, 2021—Following a year of unprecedented challenges brought on by COVID-19, the members of La Puente and East Los Angeles San Gabriel Valley Regions joyfully celebrated the grand opening of the SGI-USA El Monte Buddhist Center. Over 220 members and guests gathered for the morning and afternoon meetings in person, while

Starting in November, SGI-USA will go back to recording attendance for the district discussion meetings. Here’s why. When the SGI-USA began its statistics program in 2004, Ikeda Sensei applauded the effort, saying that, since he was the president of the SGI, he was also a member of the SGI-USA. And when his membership card was

Commemorating Nov. 18, the SGI-USA is encouraging its members to join our Sustaining Contribution program or increase their current plan. This program allows individuals to make financial contributions monthly or quarterly. It’s a concrete means to support our kosen-rufu movement for peace! For SGI-USA members who began practicing within the last year and are interested

The coming decade is an extremely important time, when we must work to resolve the challenges facing our planet and to build a new culture for humankind, a new human civilization, based on respect for the dignity of life and human revolution. “Let’s pledge together to advance cheerfully on our shared journey of hope and

Seattle, Oct. 3, 2021—Sixty-one years ago, Ikeda Sensei visited Seattle,[1] taking in the Douglas firs dotting the highway and boat traffic winding its way through the Ballard Locks. This past October, the same month as his visit, members from Greater Seattle and East King County regions refreshed their vow to spread peace in their community

Student Division

Central Executive Committee Report

by Kyler Nicholas Special to the Tribune Detroit, Sept. 12, 2021—For the members of Detroit and its surrounding cities, it was a homecoming worth the wait. After a nearly 18-month hiatus from in-person SGI activities, 150 Michigan Region members attended the long-anticipated grand opening of the SGI-USA Detroit Buddhist Center, with an additional 200 joining

They wore masks and smiled with their eyes, greeting one another with elbow bumps and hearty waves. After an 18-month hiatus, the second phase reopening of SGI-USA Buddhist Centers saw hybrid September kosen-rufu gongyo meetings held in person and by Zoom. For members at these eight centers, it was the first time to meet in

2021 Fall Semester Student Division Study Lecture

What does it mean to “Manifest Hope and Victory Toward 2030 With the ‘Vast Heart’ of Soka”? Professionals, students and retirees in the fields of education, academia, health care, law and medicine explored this theme together during the SGI-USA Culture Department Virtual Conference on July 10, 2021. Participants enjoyed a nationwide webinar followed by breakout

Everything you need to know about the SGI-USA’s phased plan to safely reopen our Buddhist centers.

“Everyone, please expect much of these young people. … They will carry out the battle for the Law. So long as we have these youths, the Soka Gakkai will be absolutely solid.”[1] Second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda uttered these words days after he established the young men’s and young women’s divisions (July 11 and

Future Division and Parents Group

The nation paid tribute to SGI-USA member and civil rights icon Alvin Sykes, who passed away on March 19, 2021. He was 64. Mr. Sykes, a self-taught legal defender, was best known for launching the Emmett Till Justice Campaign in January 2003 with Emmett’s mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, just days before her death. The campaign sought