National Bioneers Conference 2018 - October 18-22, 2018

Call it the “new normal” or the “long emergency,” but there’s no question we’re living in an unstable climate-changed world. The increased frequency and scale of natural disasters pose one of the greatest challenges we face. Leaders from three different communities currently in the process of responding to different types of natural disasters will share their stories and their strategies to build communities that are both resilient and socially just. Hosted by Trathen Heckman, Executive Director of Petaluma’s Daily Acts. With Sigrid Wright, Executive Director of Santa Barbara’s Community Environmental Council; Estrella Santiago Perez, Environmental Affairs Manager of Puerto Rico’s ENLACE. 

Co-sponsored with the Global Greengrants Fund
We’re living at a critical moment for global climate change action, and women at the grassroots are increasingly leading efforts for real solutions all over the globe. Join Terry Odendahl, Ph.D., President/CEO of the Global Greengrants Fund; and Cristi Nozawa, a highly experienced Asia-based conservation activist and researcher, Executive Director of the Samdhana Institute, as they share stories of diverse women around the world who are leading a wide range of innovative grassroots climate solution initiatives while also fighting for human rights and positive social and environmental change.

Despite the ever growing tsunami of TV shows, films, books, podcasts, blogs/vlogs, etc. being loosed on the world daily, it is still possible to create work that has a profound impact, sometimes even a game-changing influence, on public opinion, if one knows how to penetrate to the core of an issue and to communicate that essence by highlighting compelling real-life stories. Some of our nation's most exemplary, effective engaged media-makers share their experiences and tips. With: Ellen Schneider, Director/Founder of Active Voice; Amy Korngiebel, Director of Distribution for the progressive documentary company, Brave New Films, and an Emmy and Peabody award-winning producer; Andrew Revkin, Strategic Adviser for Environmental and Science Journalism at the National Geographic Society. Hosted by Jeremy Kagan, award-winning director/producer, USC film professor, founder of the Change-Making Media Lab, former Artistic Director at the Sundance Institute.

The pace, scale and impact of plastic pollution have exploded. Half of all plastic ever created has come into existence in the past decade. The impacts on ocean life, human health and the entire biosphere are vast and growing. Solutions need to be surfaced, rapidly researched and scaled. Join representatives from three of the world’s leading groups actively engaged in mounting a response equal to the size of the challenge. With: Conrad MacKerron, Senior Vice President of As You Sow; Shilpi Chhotray, Senior Communications Officer for the global #BreakFreeFromPlastic movement. Hosted by: Anna Cummins, co-founder and Global Strategy Director of 5 Gyres. 

Legendary educator David Orr says that all education is environmental education by what it includes or excludes. If we’re to surmount the daunting challenges facing us and build a thriving “green,” fairer and more compassionate civilization, transforming how we educate our youth may well be the single most important task facing us. Luckily, there are at all levels of the educational system a growing number of heartening, inspiring initiatives working to incorporate ecological literacy, sustainability, justice and equity in both curricula and in the governance of pedagogic institutions. Hosted by Karen Cowe, CEO of Ten Strands, which works to teach environmental literacy to all California K12 students. With: Cynthia Selin, Associate Professor at ASU’s School of Sustainability; Shakti Butler, founder and President of World Trust.
Location: Manzanita Room