Linda Seeley of SLO Mothers for Peace speaking at the first Central Coast Bioneers conference. Photo by Michael Costa
Environmentalists and social justice advocates can explore practical and visionary approaches to restoring the planet and people both globally and here at home during the 12th annual Central Coast Bioneers Conference, a Bioneers Pollinator event, on October 4 – 5 at the Octagon Barn in San Luis Obispo.
The event features six speakers from the 2024 National Bioneers conference in Berkely, California on video, mixed in with nine local speakers on topics of local interest that mostly tie in with what the Bioneers speakers talked about. Friday, Oct. 4 is an environment/climate day. Saturday, Oct. 5 is social justice/environmental justice focused day.
“We call this conference our ‘annual inoculation of hope,’” Stacey Hunt, CEO of event producers Ecologistics, told Estero Bay News. “For people who are tired of talking about the world’s issues and are ready to take action, Central Coast Bioneers is the place to be. For people who are weary of the doom and gloom reporting in the news, and feel our world’s problems are too big, Central Coast Bioneers is the place to hear good news, news about people taking positive action and having success.”
Ecologistics is a nonprofit organization based in Los Osos that is run by an all-volunteer board dedicated to creating strategies, tools and templates for organizations that support environmental and economic sustainability, and social justice.
“We learned about Bioneers’ license program in 2009,” Hunt said. “In 2010 we formed Ecologistics with the sole purpose of entering into a license agreement with Bioneers to bring the conference to the Central Coast. We have been doing it ever since, except in 2016 and 2021.
“Our conference is a place to get re-energized and excited about solutions that actually work, a place to hear that actions they take can and do make a difference.”
The event is a combo of live in-person and video presentation as well as exhibitors and a free repair cafe. On film, view keynote speakers recorded at the National Bioneers Conference in Berkely: Stacy Mitchell, Corinna Gould, Sage Lenier, Dolores Huerta, Merlin Sheldrake, and Erica Gies.
The 12th annual Central Coast Bioneers Revolution from the Heart of Nature takes place in San Luis Obispo Oct. 4 – 5 at the Octagon Barn. Photo by Michael Costa
In-person presenters include Susan Callery, Climate Change from space; Kara Woodruff, Reaching 30×30 on the Central Coast; Esha Chhabra, Working to Restore: Harnessing the Power of Regenerative Business to Heal the World; Gwen Loeb, Using Entertainment to Speed the Pace of Progress; Emma Lee Daniel, Nature-Based Solutions for Urban Injustice; Don Marsuka, Enjoy Being a Climate Solver, Bella Rosales and Julio Rodriguez, Empowering Latino Voices; Mona Olives Tucker and Wendy Lucas, Returning Land to San Luis Obispo‘s Indigenous People: A Story spanning 250 Years.
“It was inspiring to learn how many different approaches are underway in the battle against climate change,” an attendee of a previous conference wrote on a comment sheet. “I’m very inspired and feel reinvigorated to participate in environmental work. It was reassuring to find how many organizations and people are working on electrification. Makes me want to go all the way to converting my life.”
Although the conference is predominately attended by like-minded people, sought solutions can come from different viewpoints on the same stage.
“There are sometimes disagreements,” Hunt said, “between environmentalist i.e., solar plants vs protecting endangered species; get rid of all nuclear energy vs. do anything to reduce carbon emissions; wind power vs. no wind power. Space is made for discussion about these issues when they come up.”
Additionally, Five Cities Repair Café will be on-site to fix your broken stuff for free at the Central Coast Bioneers Conference, Saturday, October 5, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the Milking Parlor. The TnT Project will drum each morning, and a few short documentaries will be shown each day. The mistress of ceremonies is Denise Dudley, founder of SkillPath Seminars.
For folks who want to be involved but are limited on time there is a preconference tour of all-electric buildings, one commercial building and three residential projects in San Luis Obispo. Ecologistics and the SLO Beaver Brigade also present the Upper Salinas River Center Fundraising Event, dedicated to supporting the development of our much-anticipated new River Center. It features a sensory tasting by Chef Katie Prescott of 805 Coastal Kitchen pared with local wines.
Lunch by Bear City Social and breakfast by Coastal Peaks Coffee are available for purchase at the two-day event. Attendees are also welcome to bring their own picnic lunch. Los Osos’ Volumes of Pleasure is the official bookshop for the event.
For more information, a schedule of events or to purchase tickets, go to ecologistics.org/ccb-conference-2024. Central Coast Bioneers is a local, self-organized Bioneers Pollinator Event. To learn more about Bioneers visit www.bioneers.org. Check out Ecologistics at Ecologistics.org or call them at 805-543-0597.
