Mark Your Calendar…Green Conference

(Picture to the left is conference speaker, Judy Wick)  I just came across information about a conference that I’m now making plans to attend.  It’s called the Bioneers Conference and it is an event featuring “biological pioneers who focus on innovative biological and social strategies at the crossroads of ecology and social justice.”

Translation…a gathering of folks who are as focused on protecting the environment and the people in it as many of you are.   The added bonus, at least from my perspective, is that this event provides an opportunity to learn from those who have developed an expertise on issues close to my heart….specifically sustainable development (green housing), best practices in green living and social justice.

Many of you who manage natural living businesses would be interested in quite a few of the speakers.  One of the plenary speakers, Judy Wicks, founder of Philadelphia’s 24-year-old White Dog Cafe, is a national leader in the local, living economies movement.  Judy will be telling her story of “moving beyond responsible business practices within her company to working cooperatively with other entrepreneurs and citizens to build whole economies based on love o fnature and community.”

The event was started in California 18 years ago and this year’s event will be held there as well.  But…you don’t have to go to California to participate.  Cleveland, Detroit, Traverse City and about 20 other “Beaming Bioneers” cities will receive the satellite downlinks of more than a dozen nationally known speakers for three half days from October 19 – 21, 2007.

I actually think this might be an excellent event for my teens to attend.  Protecting the environment and taking action to address social justice issues are key components of our faith and our school curriculum (we’re Catholic and our kids attend Catholic schools.)   

If you’d like to attend and wish to see which of the conference locations would work for you visit the Bioneers website.