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BIONEERS: SALON OF IDEAS
THE LIVING CITY
CELEBRATING RESILIENCE

Resilient and Sustainable
EJC believes that we can make the deep changes required to address the most serious social, economic, and environmental challenges of modern history. But in order to be successful, and make our communities more resilient, we will need to:

  • Embrace the the fact that our consumer-based economies and reliance on fossil fuels are not sustainable (nor just) on a finite planet.
  • Move quickly toward agendas and policies that not only adapt to our changing world, but also work to heal and restore our planet.
  • Blend new ideas with proven ones that are in harmony with nature.
  • Rebuild community so that we are once again in relationship with one another, and no one is left behind.

That's why we think Bioneers, a salon of ideas focused on natural solutions and socio-economic and environmental justice is so powerful. We'd like to build and organize a Bioneers event in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. If you are interested, please contact us!

National Bionees - Breakthrough solutions for people and planet
What is Bioneers?
Bioneers = Biological + Pioneers
National Bioneers founder Kenny Ausubel coined the term Bioneers in 1990 to describe an emerging culture:

Bioneers are social and scientific innovators from all walks of life and disciplines who have peered deep into the heart of living systems to understand how nature operates, and to mimic "nature's operating instructions" to serve human ends without harming the web of life. Nature's principles—kinship, cooperation, diversity, symbiosis and cycles of continuous creation absent of waste—can also serve as metaphoric guideposts for organizing an equitable, compassionate and democratic society.

A celebration of the genius of nature and human ingenuity, Bioneers connects people with solutions and each other.  Their dynamic programs and initiatives focus on game-changing initiatives related to Restorative Food Systems, Biomimicry, Rights of Nature, Indigeneity, Women’s Leadership and Youth Leadership. Click here for more.

Great Lakes Bioneers Chicago
In 2012 and 2013, Eco-Justice Collaborative brought together social and scientific innovators in two events to highlight and engage attendees in breakthrough solutions to today's environmental and socio-economic challenges that are inspired by nature and human ingenuity.  We did this under the auspices of Great Lakes Bioneers Chicago (GLBC), which we founded in 2011 along with other volunteers.  Our board included representation from Beyond Today, Tai Chi Center of Chicago, Transition Rogers Park, and Global Citizenship Experience Lab School , in addition to Eco-Justice Collaborative.  Our events were planned and implemented by the Board and other volunteers bringing expertise in the areas of food, water, education, biomimicry, music and arts and more.GLBC was a a local self-organized group affiliated with National Bioneers, a national organization that has been hosting annual leading-edge forums for over 25 years.

Take some time to explore the event guides and videos for The Living City and Celebrating Community Resilience to see how visionaries already are creating the healthy, diverse, equitable and beautiful world we want to live in – our legacy for future generations and the web of life on which our lives depend.