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by David BarolCentral Territory Bureau Chief CHICAGO, Oct. 1—Can our prejudicial thinking be overcome? A definite “yes,” asserted Ceasar McDowell, who explored this outlook during the 2019 Ikeda Lecture, “Dialogue in Demographic Complexity: Overcoming Our Discriminatory Consciousness.” Professor McDowell, who teaches the Practice of Community Development at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, started his talk

This report was adapted from an article by Religious News Service. NEW YORK, Sept. 21–24—SGI youth representatives joined a series of events in New York City as part of Climate Week. In the run-up to the U.N. Climate Action Summit, the Japan Times published the SGI article “Winning the Climate Change Challenge: What One Person

SALT LAKE CITY, Aug. 26–28—The 68th United Nations Civil Society Conference on Building Inclusive and Sustainable Cities and Communities included the workshop “Amazon Frontline Report—Challenges and Partnerships for Sustainability in Manaus, Brazil’s Amazonas State.” The SGI and the Soka Institute for Environmental Studies and Research of the Amazon were among the organizations that co-sponsored the

Soka University of America (SUA) is ranked No. 27 in National Liberal Arts Colleges by the 2020 U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges rankings. The university also places No. 7 in Best Value Schools and No. 9 in Top Performers on Social Mobility (enrolling and graduating large proportions of economically disadvantaged students awarded with

by Mitch BogenSpecial to the Tribune CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 16—Eager to explore the meaning of friendship and its power to help us overcome life’s challenges, nearly 50 Boston-area university students and young professionals joined the Ikeda Center’s fourth Dialogue Nights event of 2019, “Friendship: An Antidote to Despair?” In welcoming remarks, Ikeda Center Program Manager

TOKYO, Aug. 2—The Brazilian university Federal University of Sergipe conferred an honorary doctorate on SGI President Ikeda for his efforts to foster global citizens and his contributions to peace. Federal University of Sergipe President Angelo Roberto Antoniolli attended the ceremony, held at Soka University. To date, President Ikeda’s honorary doctorates and professorships number over 386

TOKYO, July 3—To commemorate Mentor and Disciple Day, a day of justice in the history of the Soka Gakkai, SGI President and Mrs. Ikeda visited the Tokyo Makiguchi Memorial Hall and performed a solemn gongyo filled with determination. This visit was reported in the July 4 Seikyo Shimbun, the Soka Gakkai’s daily newspaper. They chanted

Some 400 gather for the first Culture of Peace event especially for women.

by Lillian ISpecial to the Tribune More than 50 Boston-area university students and young professionals gathered on May 31 at the Ikeda Center for Peace, Learning, and Dialogue in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to explore the topic of authenticity. This was the center’s third Dialogue Nights event of the year. In small groups, participants explored questions regarding

Dr. Peter N. Stearns discusses lessons from history to build a culture of peace.

DENVER, June 9—In an annual tradition that began in 1989, SGI-USA members of Rocky Mountain Zone celebrated the 31st SGI Cherry Tree Planting Ceremony at Sloan’s Lake Park in the Mile High City. On hand to join them were Consulate-General of Japan in Denver Midori Takeuchi; City and County of Denver Deputy Manager of Parks

DePaul University is seeking applicants from around the world for its master’s degree in Value-Creating Education for Global Citizenship. Offered exclusively online, this is the first and only degree of its kind. On Jan. 2, 2018, the Chicago-based DePaul University, the nation’s largest Catholic University, introduced the program, which engages students in actualizing the Soka

by Anri Tanabe and Mitch BogenSpecial to the Tribune CAMBRIDGE, Mass.—Above all, dialogue is a process. So is learning to value dialogue and successfully facilitate it in classrooms. Such were the guiding themes from the seminar “The Art of Classroom Dialogue,” held on April 19 at the Ikeda Center for Peace, Learning, and Dialogue. The

The following is an excerpt from Soka University of America Founder Daisaku Ikeda’s message to SUA’s Class of 2019, which was read at its commencement ceremony on May 24. The full message can be found on www.soka.edu. This day marks the time in which you—members of the Class of 2019—take wing as youthful leaders of

Soka University of America’s Class of 2019 graduates; keynote speaker is Leymah Gbowee, 2011 Nobel Peace Prize laureate. ALISO VIEJO, Calif., May 24—In a poignant tribute to the graduating Class of 2019, Soka University of America President Daniel Y. Habuki recalled the unforgettable words of SUA Founder Daisaku Ikeda nearly 50 years ago at his

Soka University welcomes mental health experts to discuss “Suicide: A Conversation. Real Insight. Real Hope. Real Help.” The “Critical Conversations @Soka” series is a program at Soka University of America that focuses on igniting conversations, connecting the community and offering actionable information to positively transform pressing local and global issues. On April 16, Critical Conversations

Soka University of America (SUA) has signed an agreement with Claremont Graduate University (CGU) to provide accelerated bachelor’s to master’s programs for its students. This unique partnership creates an opportunity for SUA undergraduate students to use their earned credits toward the completion of a master’s program in international studies, education/teaching credential or business administration at

Ramesh Jaura, a journalist specializing in globalization, nuclear disarmament and culture of peace, conducted an interview with SGI President Ikeda on the topics of nuclear abolition and lethal autonomous weapons systems. The following is an excerpt. Ramesh Jaura: While nuclear weapons are being modernized, lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS) are beginning to pose a grave

The fascinating new book by Lawrence Edward Carter Sr., dean of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College, titled A Baptist Preacher’s Buddhist Teacher (Middleway Press), is earning high praise. The book, which discusses how Dean Carter’s interfaith journey with SGI President Daisaku Ikeda made him a better Christian, received its most

by Mitch BogenSpecial to the Tribune CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 29—In the most well-attended Dialogue Nights event yet, over 80 Boston-area university students and young professionals came together at the Ikeda Center for Peace, Learning, and Dialogue to discuss “The Loneliness Epidemic.” The turnout suggests that loneliness is an urgent issue for young people today, and