Detroit Mercy will host the 16th annual Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit Conference Oct. 15-16 on the McNichols Campus. The theme of this year’s conference is “One Earth Community.”
The conference returns to the University, which hosted it in 2018 and 2019, following a one-year hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic. Organizers are excited to address vital issues of climate and community.
The focus of “One Earth Community” is promoting a sustainable, racially-equitable, inclusive community that fosters life-giving relationships, nurtures connections and celebrates solutions for restoring and healing Earth. “One Earth Community” is an intentionally broad theme as organizers seek diverse voices and participation in a conference that considers solutions to the many challenges facing our Earth community. Organizers see this conference as an opportunity for the community to share experiences and strategies to ensure that humans are a positive force for the Earth community by addressing critical issues, such as environmental degradation, systemic racism and health disparities.
Organizers of the Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit Conference are seeking proposals, encouraging members of the University community to consider offering a “learnshop” or tour to share their expertise. Proposals can address a variety of topics, including COVID-19 and public health; racial and environmental justice; indigenous resource protection and sustainability; fresh water resource and Great Lakes protection; sustainable landscaping and species diversity in urban and suburban areas; recycling, waste reduction and management; and housing construction and zoning requirements.
Later this summer, organizers will distribute information on the registration process.
For questions, please contact conference co-chairs Gail Presbey at presbegm@udmercy.edu or Nicholas Schroeck at schroenj@udmercy.edu.