TagIkeda Center

by Lillian KoizumiSpecial to the Tribune  At a time when political and social polarization is perceived by many as nearing crisis level in the U.S., a capacity crowd of more than 130 people gathered at the Ikeda Center in late September to consider ways out of this dilemma. The occasion was the 21st Annual Ikeda

by Lillian KoizumiSpecial to the Tribune  CAMBRIDGE, Mass.—The Ikeda Center for Peace, Learning, and Dialogue hosted its 5th Global Citizens Seminar on June 21, 2025, to explore interdisciplinary approaches to fostering hope, resilience and value creation in the face of interlocking social and political crises. This year, 14 doctoral students joined co-facilitators Tim McCarthy, Ph.D.,

by Lillian KoizumiSpecial to the Tribune  Amid renewed global tensions and the ongoing threat of nuclear war, the Ikeda Center co-hosted a weekendlong conference, “Educating for Peace: A Teachers’ Conference for Nuclear Disarmament Education,” bringing together dedicated educators to address this critical challenge. The conference marked the beginning of a collaborative effort intended to help

by Mitch BogenSpecial to the Tribune  In 2025, the Ikeda Center for Peace, Learning, and Dialogue is building on its commitment to engage peace scholars, graduate students, youth leaders and researchers in key aspects of peacebuilding and dialogue, centering on Daisaku Ikeda’s philosophy of peace.  Alongside our established programs—including the annual Ikeda Forum for Intercultural

by Mitch BogenSpecial to the Tribune  After hosting more than 30 successful and engaging Dialogue Nights events, the Ikeda Center debuted a spin-off called “Dialogue Nights Lite” this July. On Oct. 4, the second gathering of the new series was held. During the inaugural event, the center’s Preandra Noel shared that, where the original Dialogue

by Mitch BogenSpecial to the Tribune  “This Dialogue Nights might be about anxiety,” said event moderator Preandra Noel, “but the energy that’s already prevalent in this room is certainly the opposite of that.” As the high-spirited crowd of more than 50 gathered for this August 2024 event, Noel explained that the mission of the Ikeda

by Mitch BogenSpecial to the Tribune  The 2024 edition of the annual Indigo Talks featured a longtime friend of the Ikeda Center, Andrea Bartoli, whose talk was called “Opening Pathways to Peace: The Role of Dialogue in Times of Conflict.” Bartoli currently is president of the Sant’Egidio Foundation for Peace and Dialogue as well as

by Mitch BogenSpecial to the Tribune  The Ikeda Center’s June 21, 2024, Dialogue Nights on finding connection in a digital age got off to a deeply analog start. To open, the center’s Preandra Noel invited the nearly 60 attendees to engage in a “quick grounding exercise.” For this activity, they closed their eyes and focused

by Mitch BogenSpecial to the Tribune  On May 10, the Ikeda Center hosted a multigenerational forum devoted to the cause of education for nuclear disarmament. With speakers and discussants ranging from student activists to veteran figures in the global disarmament movement, the event kindled fresh hope for a future free of nuclear weapons.   The

by Mitch BogenSpecial to the Tribune  The Ikeda Center hosted a Dialogue Nights event on April 5 that had the highest attendance since the pandemic. Called “Navigating Relationships: Can I Really Be My True Self With Others?,” the event welcomed nearly 70 Boston-area university students and young professionals, the majority of whom were first-time attendees.

by Mitch BogenSpecial to the Tribune The first Dialogue Nights of 2024 operated under the assumption that stress is, in the words of event moderator Preandra Noel, a “shared reality” these days. “Given this,” she explained, “we want to explore how we can not only manage our stress but use it as a tool to

by Mitch BogenSpecial to the Tribune Among the causes closest to the heart of Daisaku Ikeda was that of abolishing nuclear weapons. On Jan. 22, the Ikeda Center for Peace, Learning, and Dialogue furthered that cause by hosting a seminar that brought together 12 students from Soka University of America (SUA) with representatives from International

by Mitch Bogen Special to the tribune  In his Harvard lecture of 1993, “Mahayana Buddhism and Twenty-first-Century Civilization,” Daisaku Ikeda urged us to realize that “death should be acknowledged, along with life, as a blessing to be appreciated.” Cynthia B. Dillard embraced this challenge with courage and deep feeling. Dr. Dillard, Dean of the College

by Mitch BogenSpecial to the Tribune  Inspired by Daisaku Ikeda’s lifelong commitment to literature as a core aspect of his peacebuilding ethos, the Ikeda Center celebrated its 30th anniversary with a dialogue event devoted to that very topic. Held on Sept. 16, the 19th Annual Ikeda Forum for Intercultural Dialogue featured eight scholar-panelists sharing their

by Mitch Bogen  Special to the Tribune    The Ikeda Center hosted “Voices of Hope in a Critical Time: What Role Can We Play to Eliminate Nuclear Weapons?” The event, held on April 20, 2023, was co-sponsored by Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility. The featured speaker was Dr. Ira Helfand, co-founder and  past president

by Mitch Bogen Special to the Tribune  It was fitting that the first public event of the Ikeda Center’s 30th anniversary year was a Dialogue Nights gathering. After all, there is no activity or ethos more central to the life and body of work of the center’s founder, Daisaku Ikeda, than dialogue, in all its

by Mitch Bogen Special to the Tribune  “We are storied into being,” said Shirley Tang toward the end of the 2022 Ikeda Forum for Intercultural Dialogue. These words, first spoken by Vincent Harding in his dialogue with Daisaku Ikeda, America Will Be!, captured the spirit of the event. The forum, called “Our Stories Matter: Dialogue

by Mitch Bogen Special to the Tribune The most crucial element of dialogue, listening, is also the most difficult to practice. This was the focus at the most recent Ikeda Center Dialogue Nights, called “The Courage to Listen: What It Means and Why It Matters.” Held on Friday, Sept. 23, this second Dialogue Nights since

by Mitch Bogen Special to the Tribune On July 29, after two years of virtual Dialogue Nights, nearly 30 Boston-area university students and young professionals returned to the Ikeda Center for an evening of engaging dialogue.  In her introduction to the event, which was called “Revitalizing Our Relationships: What Does That Look Like Now?” Ikeda

The Ikeda Center for Peace, Learning, and Dialogue is accepting applications for its Education Fellows Program now through Sept. 1, 2022. Established in 2007, the program honors the educational legacy of Center founder and SGI president, Daisaku Ikeda. It aims to advance research and scholarship on the internationally growing field of Ikeda/Soka studies in education.