Bioneers was founded in 1990 in California as an environmental movement that worked towards social justice as well. It has evolved into a hugely successful annual conference that now nurtures satellite sessions all over the country. Satellites beam in the national event's plenary speakers but each location spends the rest of its time dealing with local issues.
Detroit was chosen to be one of 18 satellite Bioneers sessions this year, and Marygrove College will serve as the host for the newly dubbed
Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit, which runs from October 19 to 21.
The national
plenary sessions happen each afternoon and include speeches from
Jay Harmon about green technologies; Paul Anastas, the "father of
green chemistry;" Majora Carter, founder of the renowned
Sustainable South Bronx;
Ocean Conservancy scientist Wallace Nichols and Ka Hsaw Wa and Katie Redford, co-founders of
EarthRights International.
Friday morning, the conference kicks off with
tours of local initiatives such as
WARM Training Center, urban gardens and farms and
Eden Organic Pasta Company. Friday evening there is an opening reception featuring locally-grown food.
There are
local workshops every day that run the gamut from "how to" sessions to informative lectures. Examples include guides to community organizing, several environmental justice sessions, locally-grown food and food security, sustainable energy, green building and retrofitting, recycling, rain barrels and building a solar greenhouse.
Lots more information, including registration, child care and food info and other logistics is available
here.
Source: Grealt Lakes Bioneers DetroitWriter: Kelli B. Kavanaugh
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