Bioneers is excited to highlight an upcoming partner event, the Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit conference, which will be held on October 14-15, 2022 at University of Detroit Mercy. The 17th annual regional conference is a Pollinators event in partnership with the national Bioneers organization.

The Great Lakes Detroit Bioneers Conference has been a longtime feature of the progressive community in Detroit. This year the conference features twenty sponsors and partners organizations, suggesting a truly community supported event. The lead organizers have announced that the conference theme this year is: “Earth is our Mentor, Measure and Model.”

Nick Schroeck, Detroit Mercy associate dean of Experiential Education, associate professor of Law and conference co-chair, said that Earth, “is our model, measure and mentor as we work toward a sustainable, racially equitable, inclusive community that fosters life-giving relationships, nurtures connections, and celebrates solutions for restoring and healing. We hope this conference offers an opportunity for the community to share experiences and strategies to ensure that humans are a positive force in our earth community while addressing the critical issues of environmental degradation, systemic racism and health disparities.”

This year’s conference is particularly noteworthy, given the dramatic changes in the environment taking place throughout the world. Features and speakers of this year’s conference include leading figures from the region like Naim Edwards, the director of Michigan State University’s first urban agriculture center, the Detroit Partnership for Food, Learning and Innovation. Other speakers of note include Nina Ignaczak, the founder and editor of Planet Detroit, and Luther Keith, executive director of ARISE Detroit!, and former GLBD conference Co-Chair Sr. Gloria Rivera.

“This conference is a great way for the University community to collaborate with community organizations in line with our Jesuit and Mercy mission to care for the Earth, our common home,” explained Gail Presbey, professor of Philosophy, director of the Carney Latin American Solidarity Archive and one of the conference co-chairs, “Thanks to generous grants from the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, the Congregation of St. Joseph and the Fund for Equal Justice, we’re able to lower registration prices. Youth aged 12-18 can attend for a day for just $5 when accompanied by a parent or their teacher. Seniors and activists also receive discounts. No one is turned away, because volunteers can attend for free, if they offer two hours of service for each day of the conference,”

In addition to an opportunity to view the 2022 national Bioneers keynote addresses in community with other attendees, the conference offers extensive and inspiring tours, learnshops and panels. Tours cover community urban garden projects in southeast and northwest Detroit, wastewater recycling, solar projects, as well as an environmental justice tour of key sites of pollution and environmental regeneration in Detroit..

To learn more about Great Lakes Bioneers and to register for this local event please click here or download the conference program here.