[Ikeda Forum] Engaging Difference in an Age of Division: The Power of Dialogue and Human Revolution in Restoring Our Shared Humanity

Join us for our 21st annual Ikeda Forum for Intercultural Dialogue on Friday, September 26, from 7:00 - 8:45 pm&nbsp;ET. Named after Center founder Daisaku Ikeda in honor of his untiring commitment to dialogue, this signature event brings scholars from diverse disciplines and backgrounds together to investigate the peacebuilding potential of key ideas drawn from Buddhist humanism. This year’s forum is titled, “Engaging Difference in an Age of Division: The Power of Dialogue and Human Revolution in Restoring Our Shared Humanity,” and features a panel discussion with four renowned scholars and&nbsp;peacebuilders:&nbsp;<ul><li>Catia Confortini, Professor of Peace and Justice Studies, Wellesley College&nbsp;(moderator)</li><li>Nadya Hajj, Associate Professor of Peace and Justice Studies, Wellesley&nbsp;College</li><li>Anna Ikeda,&nbsp;Representative to the&nbsp;UN&nbsp;for Disarmament of Soka Gakkai International (SGI) and Program Coordinator for Disarmament at the&nbsp;SGI&nbsp;Office for&nbsp;UN&nbsp;Affairs</li><li>James McCarty,&nbsp;Clinical Assistant Professor of Religion and Conflict Transformation; Director, Tom Porter Religion and Conflict Transformation Program, Boston&nbsp;University</li></ul>In light of the deep divisions of our current moment, this year’s forum theme draws its inspiration from the following words of Mr.&nbsp;Ikeda:&nbsp; …transforming the course of human history will require of each individual a truly profound inner resolution, an existential determination to seek one’s fundamental, inherent humanity and to transform one’s entire being–an endeavor that we… call human&nbsp;revolution. &nbsp; Crucial to this process is an awareness of the existence of others–to have what might be called an internalized other. It is only through intense spiritual interaction that humans grow and mature. An inner, spiritual dialogue is a necessary prerequisite for any attempt at external dialogue. &nbsp; The forum will include a pre-event reception with food, icebreaker activities, small group discussions and reflections, and&nbsp;more. Free admission. Pre-event reception with food begins at 6:30&nbsp;pm.&nbsp;

Ikeda Center for Peace, Learning, and Dialogue

[Dialogue Nights] Strength Through Peace: Learning From Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 80 Years Later

Join us on Friday, August 8, for a special Dialogue Nights commemorating the 80th anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In honor of the hundreds of thousands of innocent people who died and in solidarity with the hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors) who continue to courageously share their testimonies, our dialogue will explore what we can learn from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, what strength and peace really mean, and what each of us can do to transform a culture of war to a culture of peace.   Guest speakers:<ul><li>Joe Hodgkin, Hospitalist Physician at Mass General Hospital and Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility Co-Chair for Nuclear Disarmament</li><li>Molly McGinty, Program Director, International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War</li></ul>Doors open at 6:30pm for a pre-event reception. Open to college students and young people in their 20s &amp; 30s﻿ Free Admission &amp; Free Food <a href="https://www.ikedacenter.org/rsvp-august-2025-dialogue-nights-strength-through-peace">RSVP here</a>

Ikeda Center

Dialogue Nights Lite

Ikeda Center’s Dialogue Nights Lite is an extension of our signature event series <a href="https://www.ikedacenter.org/programs/dialogue-nights">Dialogue Nights</a>. Open to people in their 20s &amp; 30s, participants will have the opportunity to practice and experience the power of dialogue through speed-connecting, reflections, and group activities. The goal of this series is to empower participants to strengthen their dialogue muscles in community, open their hearts and minds, and get a taste of the Dialogue Nights experience. Doors will open at 6:45pm for light food and refreshments.  For everyone’s health and safety, we ask the following: Should you have any COVID-like symptoms, or are not feeling well, we kindly look forward to seeing you at a future in-person event!

Educating for Peace: Shaping a Future Free of Nuclear Weapons 

Are you a dedicated educator passionate about shaping a peaceful future?&nbsp;Join us for a timely conversation with educators and nuclear disarmament experts on the critical role of education in fostering civic responsibility in students and creating a world free of nuclear&nbsp;weapons. WHO:&nbsp;Educators, students, and anyone interested in the role of education in fostering&nbsp;peace WHAT:&nbsp;A panel discussion with educators and nuclear disarmament experts on the critical role of education in fostering critical thinking and civic responsibility in students and creating a world free of nuclear weapons. Organized by the Ikeda Center for Peace, Learning, and Dialogue, the Soka Institute for Global Solutions, the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, and EdEthics at the Harvard Graduate School of&nbsp;Education.&nbsp; WHERE:&nbsp;Askwith Hall at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (Longfellow Hall at 13 Appian Way, Cambridge,&nbsp;MA&nbsp;02138)&nbsp;&nbsp; WHEN:&nbsp;5:00&nbsp;PM&nbsp;– 7:00&nbsp;PM&nbsp;on Friday, May 9th (reception at 5:00&nbsp;PM&nbsp;with food and&nbsp;refreshments) WITH:&nbsp;Dr. Ivana Nikolić Hughes of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation and Columbia University, Dr. Ira Helfand from the&nbsp;International Steering Group of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), Emma Pike of Lex International, and Masako Toki of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Middlebury Institute. Dr. Meira Levinson of Harvard Graduate School of Education will serve as the panel moderator. Visit our website for more information and to RSVP: https://www.ikedacenter.org/events/educating-peace-shaping-future-free-nuclear-weapons-askwith-hall

Askwith Hall

[Dialogue Nights] A Dialogue Workshop with the Constructive Dialogue Institute (CDI)

Join us at our next Dialogue Nights on Friday, March 28, for a special Dialogue Workshop with Eliza O’Neil from the <a href="https://constructivedialogue.org/">Constructive Dialogue Institute</a>.  Doors open at 6:30pm for a pre-event reception. Open to college students and young people in their 20s &amp; 30s﻿ Free Admission &amp; Free Food This Dialogue Nights will have limited capacity. Please RSVP in advance to secure your spot.

Ikeda Center’s Dialogue Nights Lite is an extension of our signature event series Dialogue Nights. Open to people in their 20s &amp; 30s, participants will have the opportunity to practice and experience the power of dialogue through speed-connecting, reflections, and group activities. The goal of this series is to empower participants to strengthen their dialogue muscles in community, open their hearts and minds, and get a taste of the Dialogue Nights experience. Doors will open at 6:45pm for light food and refreshments.  *For everyone’s health and safety, we ask the following: Should you have any COVID-like symptoms, or are not feeling well, we kindly look forward to seeing you at a future in-person event!

[Dialogue Nights] Dialogue Nights 2025 Kickoff!

Join us for an exciting kickoff of Dialogue Nights for the new year! Doors open at 6:30pm for a pre-event reception. Open to college students and young people in their 20s &amp; 30s﻿. Free Admission &amp; Free Food! New to Dialogue Nights? Learn more about the event here: https://www.ikedacenter.org/programs/dialogue-nights *For everyone’s health and safety, we ask the following: Should you have any COVID-like symptoms, or are not feeling well, we kindly look forward to seeing you at a future in-person event!

[Ikeda Forum] Imagining A World Where Peace Is Possible: Engaging Daisaku Ikeda’s Ideas on Dialogue, Youth Empowerment, and Nuclear Disarmament

Join us for our 20th annual Ikeda Forum for Intercultural Dialogue on Saturday, November 2, from 1 - 3:30 pm ET. Named after Center founder Daisaku Ikeda in honor of his untiring commitment to dialogue, this signature event brings scholars from diverse disciplines and backgrounds together to investigate the peacebuilding potential of key ideas drawn from Buddhist humanism. This year’s forum, “Imagining A World Where Peace Is Possible: Engaging Daisaku Ikeda’s Ideas on Dialogue, Youth Empowerment, and Nuclear Disarmament,” features presentations by three speakers: Dr. Lauren Leigh Kelly of Rutgers University, Emma Pike of Lex International, and Dr. Eben Weitzman of University of Massachusetts Boston. Employing the lenses of dialogue, conflict resolution, education, youth empowerment, and nuclear disarmament, they will explore how we can imagine and create a world where peace is possible.&nbsp; The inspiration for the Forum is found in these words of Mr. Ikeda: “Imagination is the wellspring from which hope flows. It is the power of imagination, the power to imagine different realities, that frees us from the mistaken notion that what exists now is all that will ever exist, and that we are trapped inside our problems.”&nbsp; The forum will also include a pre-event reception with food, icebreaker activities, small group discussions and reflections, a musical performance, and more. Free admission. Pre-event reception with food begins at 12:30 pm. For everyone’s health and safety, we ask the following: Should you have any COVID-like symptoms, or are not feeling well, we kindly look forward to seeing you at a future in-person event!

Ikeda Center’s Dialogue Nights Lite is an extension of our signature event series Dialogue Nights. Open to people in their 20s &amp; 30s, participants will have the opportunity to practice and experience the power of dialogue through speed-connecting, reflections, and group activities. The goal of this series is to empower participants to strengthen their dialogue muscles in community, open their hearts and minds, and get a taste of the Dialogue Nights experience. Doors will open at 6:45pm for light food and refreshments.&nbsp; *For everyone’s health and safety, we ask the following: Should you have any COVID-like symptoms, or are not feeling well, we kindly look forward to seeing you at a future in-person event!

[Dialogue Nights] Are We Living In An Era of Anxiety? Let’s Talk About It…

Join us at our next Ikeda Center Dialogue Nights on Friday, August 16, for a discussion on the theme: “Are We Living In An Era of Anxiety? Let’s Talk About It…”&nbsp; Doors open at 6:30pm for a pre-event reception with food Event starts at 7:00pm Open to college students and people in their 20s &amp; 30s Free Admission &amp; Free Food *For everyone’s health and safety, we ask the following: Should you have any COVID-like symptoms, or are not feeling well, we kindly look forward to seeing you at a future in-person event!

Ikeda Center’s Dialogue Nights Lite is an extension of our signature event series Dialogue Nights. Open to people in their 20s &amp; 30s, participants will have the opportunity to practice and experience the power of dialogue through speed-connecting (one-on-one dialogues), reflections, and group activities. The goal of this series is to empower participants to strengthen their dialogue muscles in community, open their hearts and minds, and get a taste of the Dialogue Nights experience. Read more about Dialogue Nights here: https://www.ikedacenter.org/programs/dialogue-nights

[Dialogue Nights] Are We Really More Connected in a Digital Age?

Join us at our next Dialogue Nights on Friday, June 21, for a discussion on the theme: “Are We Really More Connected In A Digital Age?”&nbsp; Doors open at 6:30pm for a pre-event reception with free pizza! Open to college students and young people in their 20s &amp; 30s Free Admission &amp; Free Food For everyone’s health and safety, we ask the following: Should you have any COVID-like symptoms, or are not feeling well, we kindly look forward to seeing you at a future in-person event!

[Dialogue Nights] Navigating Relationships: Can I Really Be My True Self with Others?

Human relationships can be hard. They can be both a source of joy as well as a cause of suffering. How do we build positive relationships with others and can we be our true selves in the process? Ikeda Center founder Daisaku Ikeda writes, “The relationships we have with people are a direct reflection of our inner state of life. To extend and deepen our human relationships is to expand our state of life.”&nbsp; Join us at our next Dialogue Nights* on Friday, April 5, for a discussion on the theme: “Navigating Relationships: Can I Really Be My True Self With Others?”&nbsp; Doors open at 6:30pm for a pre-event reception with free mini burritos and Union Square donuts.&nbsp; Free Admission &amp; Free Food RSVP here: <a href="https://forms.gle/dcPcHt2j6t5RXeic9" target="_blank">https://forms.gle/dcPcHt2j6t5RXeic9</a> *Dialogue Nights brings Boston-area college students and people in their 20s &amp; 30s together for heart-to-heart dialogue. Through a combination of icebreakers, small group discussions, and open reflection, participants explore a range of issues concerning young people today.

S22: conversations

Wondering what to do in Boston? Places to eat? Free activities? Good for a group? Date night spot? Girls night out? The best things to do? Ask Joyraft!

Best places to go in Boston? Things to do? Places to eat?

Questions & answers about things to do in Boston

Recs 💬

Community recs 💬

S4: top picks

The most fun, cool and unique things to do in Boston. Can’t miss events, shows and experiences. Concerts, restaurants, bars, free things in Boston and beyond.

The most fun and cool events happening around Boston

Hot and new things to do in Boston

Hot & new

Hot & new 🔥

S11: happening this weekend

What to do in Boston this weekend? From festivals, concerts, performances, free events, screenings and more, Joyraft has the best things to do in Boston.

25+ things to do in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville this weekend

Things to do in Boston this weekend

This wknd

This weekend for you

S21: roundups

Our top picks: outdoor dining, free events, spring festivals, best bars, upcoming concerts, museum parties - the latest in and around Boston.  Slug: joyraft-top-picks-best-things-to-do-boston-ma

Top picks of the best things to do in and around Boston

Joyraft picks: Boston’s best things to do

Roundups ⭐️

Curated by Joyraft ⭐️

S28: calendar experiences

This week in Boston

This week in Boston 📆

This week 📆

S20: c+d experiences

Discover new, unique events and experiences happening in and around Boston. Perfect for date night, good for a group or with a friend. Be the first to know.

The newest events happening in and around Boston

The newest events on Joyraft

Just added

Just added to Joyraft

S16: editor picks

The most unique and can’t miss things coming up in Boston / Cambridge / Somerville and beyond. Festivals, food, drinks, fairs, concerts, art and free activities.

Unique and Can’t Miss Things to Do in Boston

Can’t-miss things to do in Boston 🚨

Can't-miss things to do 🚨

S2 (A): top experiences

The most popular things to do on Joyraft. Concerts, restaurants, bars, events, parties, openings, kid friendly, date ideas, free things in Boston and beyond.

Top 20 things to do in Boston

Top 20: Joyraft’s most popular

Top 20

Top 20 on Joyraft

S3 (A): trending experiences

Discover can’t miss events and things to do in Boston. The most fun, unique and cool events coming to the Boston area this spring and summer.

The hottest events happening in Boston

Trending events on Joyraft

Trending 📈

S17: interest based

Your guide to everything free in and around Boston. From events, to fairs, to festivals, to outdoors. Joyraft has all the free events happening near you.

100+ free things to do in Boston and beyond

Free things to do in Boston

Free things to do

S19: interest based

Kid-friendly events in Boston

S18: interest based

Where to eat and drink in Boston? Joyraft has Boston’s newest bars, restaurants and specials. Drinks and pre fixe dinner menus. Cambridge & Somerville too.

ikedacenter

Experiences

[Ikeda Forum] Engaging Difference in an Age of Division: The Power of Dialogue and Human Revolution in Restoring Our Shared Humanity

[Dialogue Nights] Strength Through Peace: Learning From Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 80 Years Later

Dialogue Nights Lite

Educating for Peace: Shaping a Future Free of Nuclear Weapons

[Dialogue Nights] A Dialogue Workshop with the Constructive Dialogue Institute (CDI)

Dialogue Nights Lite

[Dialogue Nights] Dialogue Nights 2025 Kickoff!

[Ikeda Forum] Imagining A World Where Peace Is Possible: Engaging Daisaku Ikeda’s Ideas on Dialogue, Youth Empowerment, and Nuclear Disarmament

Dialogue Nights Lite

[Dialogue Nights] Are We Living In An Era of Anxiety? Let’s Talk About It…

Dialogue Nights Lite

[Dialogue Nights] Are We Really More Connected in a Digital Age?

[Dialogue Nights] Navigating Relationships: Can I Really Be My True Self with Others?