by Mitch Bogen
Special to the Tribune
On Saturday, July 16, the Ikeda Center hosted its first in-person event since the beginning of the pandemic in early 2020. This event launched the 2022 Global Citizens Seminar in which seven doctoral students are gathering for two discussion sessions and engaging in a collaborative project based on SGI President Ikeda’s 2022 Peace Proposal, “Transforming Human History: The Light of Peace and Dignity.”
This is the second year for the now annual series, which brings emerging scholars into dialogue across disciplines to reckon with the most pressing issues of our time. The seminar is being led and co-facilitated by Drs. Catia Confortini of Wellesley College and Jason Goulah of DePaul University.
In preparation for the event, each participant selected a passage or two from the proposal that brought new meaning or resonance to their respective lines of inquiry.
During discussion of the passages, two clear themes emerged: 1) Developing a sense of global citizenship involves a commitment to honoring the full dignity and agency of those among us who suffer the most and have experienced the most difficulties; and 2) All of us must nurture hope, and think and act creatively to inspire hope in those who struggle.
Near the conclusion of the discussion, Dr. Goulah encouraged participants to engage their “poetic minds,” that which President Ikeda contends “is the source of human imagination and creativity. It imparts hope to our life, … gives us dreams and infuses us with courage.”
The group will reconvene at the Ikeda Center in August to continue the dialogue and brainstorm potential group projects that could come out of this series.
For more coverage of the event visit ikedacenter.org.
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