Bioneers

“We don’t wake up on Monday and experience climate change, right, and then on Tuesday we experience lack of affordable housing, Wednesday, lack of affordable healthcare,” says Eveline Shen of Foreward Together. “No one lives like that. Right? And so we need comprehensive solutions that address how these issues intersect.” At this discouraging moment, it’s heartening to listen to four powerful activists engage in a discussion about their innovative work to counter the effects of abortion bans but also the much larger lack of access to reproductive health care, even before the Dobbs decision. Shen, along with Mariko Miki, J.D., Co-Executive Director at If/When/How; Elisa Batista, Content Director and a Campaign Director with We Are UltraViolet; and Cynthia Gutierrez, award winning first-generation Indigenous Nicaraguan/Salvadoran reproductive justice organizer and abortion storyteller with We Testify, each share their unique perspective and their organizations’ work, ranging from exciting and effective campaigns to change misogynistic corporate culture, to radically inclusive community health care, to pioneering legal strategies to protect women and expand their reproductive health care options. 🎧 Tune in to the Bioneers podcast episode “Advancing Reproductive Rights: Defending Abortion, Bodily Autonomy & Democracy:” https://lnkd.in/gpexCAnT

For students from low income or marginalized communities, entering college (often as the first in their family to do so) can be a source of pride and expanded opportunity; but for those who don’t have the finances to pay for increasing tuition, housing and food costs, it can be, according to Tim Galarneau, “a gauntlet and a crisis rather than a rite of passage.” One critical way that students suffer from lack of funds is going without meals or eating cheap, empty-calorie, junk food. Food insecurity among college students is alarmingly high even at some of the most prestigious universities. At its worst in some community colleges, it can be as astronomical — as high as 70%. Lack of resources leading to hunger can result in feelings of shame and social stigma, making some students reluctant to seek assistance. When Galarneau was a student at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC), he advocated for equity, justice and sustainability within the university food purchasing system. He now serves as a Specialist with the UC Santa Cruz Center for Agroecology and serves as the Co-Director for Education and Training at the Center for Economic Justice and Action. When student hunger was brought to his attention some 10  years ago, he helped set up an informal crisis response on one campus to help mitigate the problem, and since then he has been at the center of creating structural change to feed food insecure students without stigma, an effort that has grown in scope to include over 100 campuses of public universities and community colleges throughout California. Read a conversation between Galarneau and Arty Mangan of Bioneers 👇🏽

Have you ever asked a mosquito its purpose? How about a thistle, a snake or poison ivy? 🦟 In her book “Love, Nature, Magic,” author, activist and garden expert Maria Rodale communes with some of the most misunderstood beings in nature, reflecting on her surprising conversations with the spirits of the familiar plants and animals around us — and the knowledge they share with us. In this excerpt, Rodale reflects on her encounters with one of nature’s most disliked insects, the mosquito, and what they taught her about the balance of life 📖 https://buff.ly/3UdYFaN

There will never be another Peter Warshall. Peter’s legacy spans pioneering research on watersheds, wildlife conservation, Indigenous land rights, and his work with the Whole Earth Catalog. This collection of essays, lectures, and materials from his archive highlights his extraordinary brilliance and dedication across many fields. We’re honored to share excerpts from the newly released publication “Peter Warshall: Squirrels on Earth and Stars Above,” capturing just a glimpse of the genius of such a great friend and ally of Bioneers. 🐿️ Take a look at the passages selected by Bioneers Senior Producer J.P. Harpignies: https://buff.ly/4dNA97u

Educators and all who are interested in learning about Indigenous books and topics: We encourage you to join the November 2 online 2024 Native Knowledge 360֯ Teach-In, hosted in partnership with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. Since it's also Thanksgiving month, check out a presentation sharing resources for teaching about "the first Thanksgiving" featuring Co-Director of the Indigeneity Program Alexis Bunten's book, Keepunumuk: Weeâchumun’s Thanksgiving Story:

🧵By sourcing all fiber, dye, and labor from within Northern California, Fibershed Producers are creating a system that not only reduces the carbon footprint of their goods but also strengthens the local economy and fosters a deeper connection between communities and the land. Their collective efforts are a testament to the power of collaboration and the potential for regenerative practices to transform entire industries. McCormack Ranch, a Fibershed Producer Member, is a historic operation in Rio Vista, California, where time-honored practices meet forward-thinking stewardship. “McCormack Ranch has always been a very holistic system,” says Ranch Manager Kelsey Nichols. “Small grain farming and sheep fit really well together.” McCormack Ranch is not only preserving its legacy of sustainable farming but also pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in regenerative agriculture. 🐑🌾 Read McCormack’s story, originally published by Fibershed and written by Stephany Wilkes: https://buff.ly/4h1CYoh

🎨 Calling All Artists! 🎨 Bioneers is seeking captivating outdoor performances and indoor installations for our 2025 conference in Berkeley, CA. Join us in creating art that inspires, transforms, and connects! 🗓 Apply by Nov 1st for a chance to showcase your work to over 2,000 attendees and 260,000+ social media followers. Stipends range from $50-$5,000! 🌍 Help us shape a regenerative future through art. Apply now! 🔗

Emotions are possibly our greatest source of instincts, intelligence and energy — and they’re vital for thinking, healing, decision-making, learning, loving and understanding others. In the four-week Bioneers Learning course “Honoring Your Emotional Ecosystem,” you can join author, researcher and emotions-and-empathy expert Karla McLaren, M.Ed., for a grounded and surprising exploration of the healing genius in your emotional realm. We hope you join us! 🌈 Learn more and register: https://lnkd.in/gH26p9Bs

Bay Area friends: Join us November 9th for an event celebrating the intersection of art and activism! An immersive art experience featuring musical and circus performances, socially engaged art, tarot readings, a cacao lounge and an epic DJ dance party by the B-Side Brujas. Enter a raffle with valuable prizes, including a 3-day pass to the Bioneers Conference and more! Learn more: