Fourth Annual Bioneers by the Bay Conference Tackles Environmental Sustainability Crisis with Global and Local Solutions
- Northeast's Premier Environmental Conference Grows into New Location, Larger Venue
- "Green Collar" Job Advocate Van Jones and Other Leading Eco-Experts Connect for Change
New Bedford, Mass. – In a season where politicians, leading scientists and average citizens are discussing the impending urgency of our climate crisis, an important conference is bringing together speakers from multiple disciplines to showcase and discuss global and local solutions to inspire change.
The Fourth Annual Bioneers by the Bay: Connecting for Change, hosted and produced by the Marion Institute, will be held in historic Downtown New Bedford, MA from October 23-26. The conference uses the ideas of international and national environment and social justice experts to inspire individuals and groups in local communities into action. Featured speakers include Van Jones and Majora Carter of Green For All and many others listed below.
Explains Marion Institute Executive Director Desa Van Laarhoven, "A lot of the rhetoric this election season about a planet in peril, not to mention a bleeding economy, can leave people feeling overwhelmed or helpless. Bioneers by the Bay seeks to inspire and remind folks that innovators – or the environmental and social justice super stars, as we like to call them – are developing and implementing real solutions to address climate change." She continues, "The conference also emphasizes the importance of our actions which matter not only individually in practical ways but, collectively, in shaping a powerful and earth saving social movement."
Due to the growing demand from an audience attracted to its rich and cutting edge programming, the event has moved from Dartmouth, MA to the Zeiterion Theatre, a larger 1,200 seat venue in New Bedford, MA with various events happening city-wide. Over the course of the three day conference, Bioneers by the Bay expects to have 2,500 people converse and cross pollinate ideas from a broad range of topics to build a healthier world.
In addition to keynote speakers, the event will also include workshops, a youth initiative, films, music, exhibits by sustainable businesses and organizations and a farmer's market with local and organic food. The event's appeal and success hinges upon its diversity. Speakers include a cross section of innovators such as environmentalists, scientists, grassroots activists, physicians, scholars, farmers and entrepreneurs tackling eco-topics ranging from green business to food to farming to diversity.
Van Jones, Majora Carter and Simran Sethi will present at the FREE open to the public Bioneers by the Bay kick-off event at 7:30pm on Thursday, October 23rd, at New Bedford's Zeiterion Theatre at 684 Purchase Street. They will present their pioneering ideas for green collar job training and our collective imperative for environmental justice, made all the more critical in today's economic climate.
Attendees, from individuals to youth groups and other organizations, leave the event empowered to fight for local, city and state commitments to climate change, build carbon-neutral homes, institutionalize composting and food purchasing programs, develop projects to support indigenous populations, secure funding for school gardens or donate time to progressive nonprofits.
Featured presenters at the 2008 Bioneers by the Bay conference include:
