Crazy-busy. You know the feeling - projects stacked on the desk,
calendar booked to the limit. Squeezing your time out by the minute.

That pretty well describes the team of professionals, entrepreneurs, artists
and urban planners who are planning the Baltimore
Bioneers Conference, scheduled November 7-9, 2008 at the Maryland Institute
College of Art.

So what in heaven's name are they doing, passionately dedicating untold pro
bono hours not only to host the second annual Bioneers conference in our city,
but also to establish an supportive, ongoing community that will address the
environmental, social and economic issues of our city, country, and world?

For most, there's something powerfully inspiring about the practical,
holistic approach offered by this national educational organization.

As the national Bioneers website
describes it:

The Bioneers are engaged citizens from all backgrounds and fields who
focus on solving our world’s most urgent problems within a framework of
interdependence: It's all connected. Just as the web of life is intricately
interconnected, so too are all environmental and social issues. We take a
"solve-the-whole-problem" approach that is holistic, systemic and
multidisciplinary.

For example, if you look at the national and international experts
who will be speaking at the Baltimore conference and preconference events over the coming months, you'll
notice one thing: while these men and women have a profound knowledge and
passion for the natural world and human society, they aren't theoretical
ideologues.

They're hands-on achievers, whether as entrepreneurs, philanthropists, or scientific
researchers in the field, stream, or high seas. And rather than spending their
time bemoaning or resisting problems, they focus on solutions.

And they're offering real-world answers to local issues in their presentations
and breakout sessions on a wide selection of topics ranging from green business
and health care to art and spirituality.

But a Bioneers conference isn’t just a passive experience of listening to
speakers…it’s a crucible of creativity for everyone present. Attenders may
include students and scouts, entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders, urban
planners, physicians and administrators, members of local community
associations and churches. Out of their diverse perspectives on today’s
challenges arise new solutions. And it’s these connections, many
conference-goers say, that make the event unforgettable.

As conference planning team member Rebecca Ruggles said of her first
Bioneers experience, “I came away from the conference knowing that I wasn’t
alone. There were people who felt as I did and who shared my concerns.”

Over the next few months, I’ll be looking at the speakers and topics to be
featured at the Baltimore Bioneers conference and preliminary events. If you’d
like to get involved, please visit our website, http://www.cultivatingchange.org or our FaceBook page: Baltimore Bioneers: Cultivating Change, Inspiring Solutions. 
 

Share