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USA Today has published a powerful essay by Sera Koulabdara (USJLP 2025, 2026), CEO of Legacies of War. Published in honor of the International Day of Peace, her piece draws from a profound visit to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and a deeply moving conversation with survivor and peace activist Koko Kondo.
Koulabdara weaves together Hiroshima's enduring legacy with the ongoing impact of war in Southeast Asia and contemporary global conflicts, highlighting Japan's vital role in international peacebuilding and disarmament efforts. Writing from her perspective as a Laotian American, she powerfully argues that genuine peace extends far beyond diplomatic treaties—it demands humanitarian recovery, environmental restoration, and an unwavering moral commitment to preventing future harm.
“This piece was born from a moment that changed me forever—listening to Koko-san share her story in Hiroshima, standing where history still echoes with both pain and hope. That experience, and the deep conversations that followed with my fellow USJLP Delegates, shaped not only this article but my sense of purpose. As a Lao-American and CEO of Legacies of War, I carry with me the stories of those still living in the shadow of conflict. I am deeply honored to be part of USJLP, where we don’t just talk about peace—we build it, together. I look forward to working alongside Japanese and American leaders to confront the legacies of war and shape a future rooted in healing, justice, and lasting peace.”
Her essay serves as both poignant remembrance and urgent call to action, challenging readers to understand peace not as mere silence after conflict, but as an active choice we must make—again and again.
Read the full article in USA Today →
