Premier Solutions-based Conference Comes to Pittsburgh!

Pittsburgh collaborative hopes to create discussion and build community in a special 2 day event.

The annual Bioneers Conference held every fall in California is surely at the heart of efforts in this country to restore our earth and ensure a bright future for our children. Founded in 1990, Bioneers promotes “practical environmental solutions and innovative social strategies for restoring Earth’s imperiled ecosystems and healing our human communities”. The Bioneers believe in a systemic, solve-the-whole-problem approach. “Taking care of nature means taking care of people, and taking care of people means taking care of nature.” Bioneers connect the dots among most areas of human endeavors: environment, health, justice and spirit.

Sounds like great stuff right? The annual conference held every October has grown so large, and so popular, that 2 dozen cities throughout the country are now holding satellite conferences in tandem with the main conference in California. Members of the Urban Ecology Collaborative have been collaborating with a number of organizations and individuals to ensure that Pittsburgh becomes the next city to host our own satellite conference this coming fall.

And that collaboration is happening! Join the Urban Ecology Collaborative and other partnering organizations for the second Three Rivers Bioneers, October 22-23. The conference will take place at the Pittsburgh Project, one of Pittsburgh’s own gems. Located on the North Side, this organization has been building community, repairing homes, and instilling youth with values for 24 years, and is a true example of a “Bioneer”.

What will you experience during the conference? You will hear from local citizens who are part of the solution and doing work in your own communities. You will learn and be inspired from national and international leaders who are leading the ecological health, social justice, and human health movements. You will meet with your neighbors, get tools to create change in your communities, and be a part of the visioning process on how to make Pittsburgh the city that you want it to be.

To see a sneak preview of the event, stay tuned for a Bioneers Warm-Up event, a series of events that showcases local organizations and past Bioneer speakers, while engaging residents in discussion. These events are sponsored by a variety of local organizations that are working to help make Pittsburgh a more sustainable and just community, and are open to the public. Full details of these events are on the web at www.3riversbioneers.org.

For more information on the conference and specific elements of Three Rivers Bioneers, get ahold of the committee contacts, visit our website: www.3riversbioneers.org, check out the national Bioneers website: www.bioneers.org, or come to a future Bioneers Warm-Up event!

Committee Contacts:

Logistics Committee: Mark Dixon - mark@yert.com

Fundraising Committee: Shari Mastalski - Sharikarn@hotmail.com

Media, Outreach, and Communication: Rosemary McMullen - rosemarymcmullen@gmail.com

Venue and Speakers: Marc Virostek - ketsoriv@hotmail.com