By Peace Intern Sofia Bashynska.

The Sacred Bubbles Peace Learning Journey Conference, held on March 1, 2025, brought people together  from diverse backgrounds and cultures for a thought-provoking journey of discovering peace in the modern world. During the event, put on by the Center for Dialogue and Conflict Transformation at LCC International University,  participants engaged in reflections, artistic expressions, and discussions about how faith, art, and peace shape fragmented societies today. They collectively explored how these thematic  ‘bubbles’  intersect to create meaningful pathways toward peace in the public spheres in a world that is boiling.  

The conference opened with Dr. Gilija Žukauskienė and the Peace and Movement LCC Group. Their performance “Ripples” set the stage for a meaningful dialogue. Later, professionals presented their research in the fields of faith, art, and peacebuilding. Participants then shared a time of collective and creative inquiry together and new networks were built towards social healing- as we looked at ways in which these areas can envision and create  a just and interdependent future that works for all of us. .

 After Douglas Enns’ presentation “How Can the ‘Sound of Silence’ Reverberate Healing Peace in a Noisy & Traumatized World?” one of the participants noted, “In such a noisy world that never stops, we need to relearn to enjoy the silence”.  A professor  in LCC’s communication department , Oleksandra Smoliar,  shared her tattooing journey, highlighting that body art is also a tool for personal storytelling. Dr. Yelyzaveta Glybenchenko from Ukraine introduced her research on augmented reality design in guerrilla peacebuilding, demonstrating how digital tools can challenge traditional narratives of peace. 

 At the end, participants were invited to a Harvesting Time, where they shared final reflections about the day. Many expressed a sense of connection and inspiration during the event. “This was not just an event-it was an experience of shared hope,” one sophomore student participating summarized. 

Sacred Bubbles created a collaborative space where diverse voices, ideas, and creative expressions came together on a learning journey to pursue peace.