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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)

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:
- Urban peacebuilding: Addressing violence through contemplative practices
- Economic recovery: Connecting mindfulness with job creation in underserved areas
- 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.