Since 1990, the Bioneers Conference in California has gathered biological pioneers who focus on innovative biological and social strategies at the crossroads of ecology and social justice. The 19th annual “headwaters” conference will be held as always in California; Cleveland will join approximately twenty other Beaming Bioneers cities to receive the satellite downlinks of more than a dozen nationally known speakers for three half-days.

Cleveland will join other Great Lakes cities of Detroit and Traverse City as a Great Lakes Bioneers city. Cleveland will build on the excitement and energy of the Bioneers conference in California and the other sites to connect the environmental, social justice, health and spiritual networks in Northeast Ohio, communicate about and celebrate the work already taking place, and serve as inspiration and a catalyst for new relationships and collaborations to improve the communities of the region. This local conference will include the beamed national plenaries, local workshops and activities and will build capacity by combining structured networking to a nationally recognized forum for environmental innovation.