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Newark Peace Summit: Dalai Lama & Cory Booker Unite

Newark Peace Education Summit brings Dalai Lama, Cory Booker, and activists to explore nonviolence and mindfulness in urban communities. May 13-15 event details.

BARRY BOYCE
Jul 21, 2025
2 min read(241 words)
Newark Peace Summit: Dalai Lama & Cory Booker Unite

On February 2, Newark Mayor Cory Booker announced the Newark Peace Education Summit: The Power of Nonviolence, set for May 13-15. This groundbreaking event will feature:

  • His Holiness the Dalai Lama as keynote speaker
  • 30+ peace activists and urban development experts
  • Focus on mindfulness-based solutions for inner-city challenges

Why This Summit Matters Now

This isn't just another conference—it's a potential turning point for:

  1. Urban peacebuilding: Addressing violence through contemplative practices
  2. Economic recovery: Connecting mindfulness with job creation in underserved areas
  3. Community transformation: Blending traditional activism with compassion-based approaches

Notable Participants

The summit, produced by Tibet House US and co-convened by The Drew A. Katz Foundation, includes:

  • Majora Carter (South Bronx green jobs pioneer)
  • Ismael Beah (former child soldier & trauma expert)
  • Wade Davis (cultural anthropologist)
  • Zainab Salbi (Women for Women International founder)

The Dalai Lama's Vision for Tangible Peace

The Tibetan spiritual leader has long advocated for:

  • Practical mindfulness: Applying meditation principles to social change
  • Interconnectedness: Recognizing how helping others transforms both giver and receiver
  • Local peacebuilding: Creating change in neighborhoods most affected by violence

How to Get Involved

This summit represents a unique opportunity to:

  • Learn cutting-edge approaches to urban peacebuilding
  • Network with leaders in mindfulness-based social change
  • Discover actionable strategies for your community

Final Thought: As economic disparities grow, events like this offer hope—proving peace isn't abstract but something we can cultivate block by block.

BARRY BOYCE