TagOne Youth. Infinite Hope.

Azarel Ruiz challenges herself to open her heart, share Buddhism for the first time and help other youth discover hope.

Under the banner “One Youth. Infinite Hope.” the SGI-USA youth reintroduce its hope-filled focus to share Buddhism with many young people and help them begin practicing Buddhism. by Shota Okajima, Amelia Gonzalez Tesch and Kenichi Hackman SGI-USA Youth Leaders Dear SGI-USA members,  In 2020, the youth of America launched the campaign “One Youth. Infinite Hope.”

Grateful for how Buddhism transformed their lives, two members share how they are reaching out to youth and helping them begin their own journey of hope.

Two district leaders share how making a personal determination became the starting point for raising one youth and advancing kosen-rufu.

Changing the life of one person can create a ripple effect of peace.

After beginning her Buddhist practice amid addiction, anger and health struggles, Claudia Tate, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, discovers hope, a new family and a new direction for herself, her teenage son, Jalen, and his friends.

How prayer, building trust and courage helped one young woman receive the Gohonzon—and transformed my own life.

by Crystal Mae Fraser 32 years old Denver A really pivotal moment was in my first year of Buddhist practice in 2014. At that time, I began to love myself for who I was and came out to my family as a lesbian. For so long, I had been fearful of not being accepted, but

by Katy Saini 34 years old Centreville, VA. When I was 9 months old, I contracted bacterial meningitis and lost my hearing permanently. This experience eventually led me to become a teacher for deaf and hard of hearing children and those with other disabilities. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March, I decided that my

by Michael Silvestre33 years oldOverland Park, Kan. In high school, I struggled with depression and tried to commit suicide. My brother began dragging me to SGI meetings, and I felt stronger and more hopeful through chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Instead of just complaining about my problems, I became proactive toward overcoming them. In 2009, the year I received the

by Stuart Adams26 years oldAlameda, Calif. I was enrolled in the fire academy and working as an emergency medical technician when the coronavirus pandemic hit. With a local outbreak, I was transporting people confirmed to have or suspected of having COVID-19 on each shift. With a grueling schedule, I often slept at the ambulance station. Every time

by Nhi Truong30 years oldPompano, Fla. As an international student from Vietnam studying in the United States, I really struggled with low self-esteem, and because of the language barrier, it was hard for me to connect with others. I felt like no one understood me, not even my aunt who helped me move to the U.S.

by Briana Bell18 years oldDallas Recently, I was scrolling on Instagram and came across a petition advocating for large dancewear companies to make ballerina pointe shoes in various shades of brown for Black people and other people of color. Pointe shoes are typically European pink and made for white ballerinas. The petition only had a few signatures,

by Cameron WashingtonLos Angeles When I started chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo in 2008, I had just gone through a breakup, graduated from college and felt the mounting pressure and expectation to get a job. All the while, I was at a loss as to what my future would hold. I was searching aimlessly for some sense of purpose and

by Shreya Khuntia29 years oldWashington, D.C. I am an infectious disease epidemiologist, which is like a disease detective, and work at a health department that works closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fighting on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, I talk to a lot of people who have the coronavirus and try

by Dion Moore26 years oldWashington, D.C. The first time I went to nursing school, I was just seeking a career to sustain myself. Because I was struggling financially and wasn’t serious, I flunked out. The second time, about one year later, I realized that the only way to graduate from my program was to understand my mission

by Joyce Wang24 years oldCupertino, Calif. In my final semester of college in 2017, I had a full-blown manic episode. I had been introduced to Buddhism a couple weeks earlier by a fellow student, who told me that I could activate my Buddha nature by chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. I remembered his words during my episode and began chanting.

by Manav Mehta27 years oldChicago I grew up praying to external deities to solve my problems. I often begged for my wishes to be realized instead of taking action myself. When things didn’t happen in my favor, I’d call myself unlucky and blame others for my unhappiness. My girlfriend, on the other hand, was hopeful and

by Tajai Turner30 years oldMilwaukee When I became a licensed funeral director and CEO of a funeral home, I began longing for a strong spiritual foundation suited to my new lifestyle. Last year in June, I found the SGI online and attended an introductory meeting in Milwaukee. I was attracted to the modern-day application of the

by Megan Veirun27 years oldPearl River, N.Y. When I went away to college, my anxiety started to peak. Recognizing that mental health was a stigmatized area, I was drawn to study it. I’m now a registered nurse proudly working with the psychiatric population, while teaching an undergrad nursing course. I just celebrated my one-year anniversary as an