Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit

Bioneers conference. Over 400 people attended the two day environmental justice conference, with 230 of those being Middle and High School students. Of those students, 125 of them came from Southwest Detroit schools: Detroit Cristo Rey, Holy Redeemer, and Academy of the Americas.
2025 GLBD Conference

October 2-3
 

The 20th Annual Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit Conference:
A Bioneers Pollinators Event

McNichols Campus
4001 W. McNichols Road, Detroit, MI 48221

Revolution from the Heart of Nature: Embracing Our Interdependence

Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit logo

Be a positive force in our earth community

The Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit (GLBD) conference is a platform for community members to network and highlight innovative approaches to environmental and social challenges. The conference is for people of all ages who are interested in exploring topics, developing skills and motivating action for the betterment of our One Earth Community.

This is an opportunity for you to to share experiences and learn strategies to ensure that humans are a positive force in our earth community while addressing the critical issues of public health and wellness; racial and environmental justice; indigenous (Traditional Ecological Knowledge, TEK) resource protection and sustainability; fresh water resource and Great Lakes protection; and recycling, food waste reduction and management.

Register today

Use the links below to register to attend, support or exhibit at the GLBD Conference.

Attendees

Attendees will learn about environmental challenges, share with us the joy of community and join with others for positive change. Attendees should use one of the following registration forms. (See forms for fees.)

Registration:

Schedule:

  • Find the complete complete program schedule (2025 schedule coming soon), which includes panels, tours, sessions and session descriptions.

Exhibitors, vendors and sponsors

Area businesses and organizations that share our commitment to sustainability can directly reach more than four hundred participants who share your interests! Please submit one of the following forms.

Donors

Whether you're passionate about conservation or social justice, your support helps create a brighter, more sustainable future.

Committee

Theroi Riggins is serving as the Chairperson for the GLBD 2025 conference.

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    Conference Schedule

    Coming soon.
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    General Registration

    Coming soon.
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    School/Class Registration

    Coming soon.
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    Exhibitor/Vendor

    As an area business/organization that shares our commitment to sustainability, we invite you to support the 20th Annual GLBD Conference, a Bioneers Pollinators Event, Revolution from the Heart of Nature: Embracing Our Interdependence. Join us as an exhibitor/vendor and directly reach over four hundred participants who share your interests. University of Detroit Mercy is continuing to provide the planning and hosting of the conference. Your contribution will help support the conference and the scholarship fund

    EXHIBITOR/VENDOR SPACE
    Level Benefits

    $25
    • Two-day Exhibitor/Vendor table (table provided)
    • Table set-up by 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 2 thru 5 p.m., Friday, Oct. 3
    • Includes one (1) full two-day registration

    $10
    • Shared table space for brochures and fliers
    • Materials must be dropped off at the conference by 9 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 2, and pick up what’s not distributed by 5 p.m., Friday, Oct. 3

    Conference Registration

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    Become a Sponsor

    As an area business/organization that shares our commitment to sustainability, we invite you to support the 20th Annual GLBD Conference, a Bioneers Pollinators Event, Revolution from the Heart of Nature: Embracing Our Interdependence. Join us as a sponsor and directly reach over four hundred participants who share your interests. University of Detroit Mercy is continuing to provide the planning and hosting of the conference. Your sponsorship will help support the conference and the scholarship fund.

    SPONSORSHIP LEVELS
    Level Benefits

    $100
    • Signage at event and on webpage
    • One (1) one-day registration OR Exhibitor table.

    $250
    • Signage at event and on webpage
    • One (1) full two-day registration AND Exhibitor table

    $500
    • Signage at event and on webpage
    • Two (2) full two-day registrations AND Exhibitor table.

    $1,000
    • Signage at event and on webpage
    • Three (3) full two-day registrations AND Exhibitor table

    $2,000
    • Signage at event and on webpage
    • Five (5) full two-day registrations AND Exhibitor table

    Conference Registration

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    Make a Donation

    Our conference is a platform for sustainability, social justice, and community resilience, bringing together activists, innovators, and change-makers to inspire positive change. Your generous contributions directly support our efforts to bring our area an affordable conference promoting environmental stewardship, equity, and empowerment. Whether you're passionate about conservation or social justice, your support helps create a brighter, more sustainable future. Thank you for considering a donation to the Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit 2024 Conference, where together, we can make a meaningful impact.

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    2025 Chair

    The Chair and the conference planning committee are working on the annual fall conference which will be held Oct. 2-3 in the Student Union Ballroom on UDM’s McNichols Campus.

    Theroi Riggins headshotTheroi Riggins '09 is a professional nursing leader with over 20 years of experience in clinical care, healthcare administration and community outreach. She is a DNP candidate and adjunct faculty member at the University of Detroit Mercy and leads Universal Hospice Care with a focus on compassionate, culturally sensitive end-of-life care. She is also the CEO of Grab Community Outreach Inc., a nonprofit serving Detroit’s underserved communities through health education and prevention programs.

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    Call for Proposals

    The Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit Conference is thrilled to announce its call for proposals for presentations and workshops aimed at both youth and adults. We invite passionate individuals, experts, activists, and educators to join us in exploring the theme "Revolution from the Heart of Nature: Embracing Our Interdependence" in the context of environmental sustainability, social justice, and community resilience.

    The Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit Conference serves as a platform for thought-provoking discussions, innovative ideas, and actionable solutions. This year, we aim to delve deep into the interconnectedness between humanity and nature, recognizing that our well-being is intricately linked to the health of the planet.

    We are seeking proposals that address the following key areas: 

    1. Environmental Stewardship: Presentations and workshops that explore sustainable practices, conservation efforts, biodiversity conservation, and regenerative agriculture.
    2. Social Justice: Sessions that examine the intersectionality between environmental issues and social justice, including topics such as environmental racism, indigenous rights, and equitable access to resources.
    3. Community Resilience: Workshops focused on building resilient communities through grassroots initiatives, sustainable urban development, climate adaptation strategies, and disaster preparedness.
    4. Youth Empowerment: Engaging and interactive sessions designed specifically for youth, empowering them to become environmental stewards, changemakers, and leaders in their communities.
    5. Arts and Culture: Presentations that utilize art, music, storytelling, and other creative mediums to inspire environmental activism, foster connections with nature, and promote cultural appreciation.

    Submission Guidelines:

    • Proposals should clearly align with the conference theme and one or more of the key areas outlined above.
    • Presentations and workshops should be interactive, engaging, and inclusive, fostering dialogue and collaboration among participants.
    • Preference will be given to proposals that offer innovative approaches, practical solutions, and diverse perspectives.
    • Proposals must include a title, abstract (100 words or less), outline of activities or topics to be covered, target audience, and brief bio(s) of the presenter(s).
    • Proposals should indicate whether they are intended for youth (ages 12-18), adults, or both.

    Submission Deadline: Aug. 16, 2025

    Please submit your proposals online at https://bit.ly/GLBDProposals

     All submissions will be reviewed by our organizing committee, and selected presenters will be notified by June 30. Accepted presenters will receive complimentary registration for the conference.

    Join us in catalyzing positive change and embracing our interconnectedness with nature at the Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit Conference. Together, let's ignite a revolution from the heart of nature!

    For inquiries or more information, please contact Yvonne King at glbd@udmercy.edu or 313-993-1762.

 

attendees of 2022 bioneers conference outside activityThe GLBD Mission

Our mission is to promote a sustainable community that fosters life-giving relationships, nurtures connections and celebrates solutions for restoring and healing Earth's communities.

The GLBD Vision

Our vision is expressed in the preamble of the Earth Charter: "in the midst of a magnificent diversity of cultures and life forms, we are one human family and one Earth community with a common destiny. We must join together to bring forth a sustainable global society founded on respect for nature, universal human rights, economic justice and a culture of peace."

bioneers pollinators logo Bioneers Pollinator gatherings/events are independently organized and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or positions of the Bioneers organization. For more information, visit: www.bioneers.org or https://www.glbd.org

Past GLBD Conferences

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