Bioneers Local Programming: Spokane, WA

A goal of the Bioneers conference is to link solutions-based plenary speakers with creative local experts in communities such as ours. The workshop sessions being offered at the Spokane conference are reflective of the issues and interests of our region. Over the course of the weekend you will have the opportunity to choose from sessions such as the ones listed below. For a detailed description of each workshop click on the session title.

Friday, Session One: 2:45-4:15    

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1. Envisioning Spokane

   This workshop will examine how a new form of community activism which has emerged in Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Virginia, and other States is taking hold in Spokane through a project called “Envision Spokane.” Presenters will speak about how more than twenty community groups, neighborhood councils, and labor union locals within the City of Spokane have joined together for a unique project aimed at driving the rights of nature, workers, and communities into the Spokane City Charter. Presenters will talk about their personal experiences with conventional, traditional activism, how their view of that activism has changed, and how these groups are joining together to rewrite parts of the Spokane City Charter that protect and preserve the rights of neighborhoods, the natural environment, and workers. The workshop will feature a short presentation, with the majority of the workshop dedicated to a discussion about Envision Spokane and how participants can become involved in the project.

   Presenter Bios:
   Thomas Linzey: Thomas has been a presenter at two past Bioneers Conferences in San Rafael, California, is the Executive Director of the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, which is currently serving as an advisor to Envision Spokane, a group of neighborhood councils, labor union locals, and community groups focused on amending the Spokane City Home Rule Charter. Thomas is a frequent lecturer and co-founder of the Democracy Schools, three day trainings aimed at creating new models for community organizing. Thomas graduated cum laude from Widener University School of Law, and is admitted to practice to the United States Supreme Court, and the Third, Fourth, and Tenth Circuit Courts.
   
   Lois Irwin: Lois graduated from Univ. of Calif, Berzerkley with graduate degrees in regional planning and public health. She served in the Peace Corps in both Turkey and the West Indies. After working as a long-range land use planner for 10 years, she was employed for 26 years as a citizen participation facilitator. Now retired, she serves on the East Central Neighborhood Council in Spokane and is enjoying renewal through Envision Spokane.
   
   Brad Read: Brad is a high school English teacher by day, and a part-time community organizer by night. The community organizing is rights-based, coming out of the work of the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF), based in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. CELDF has worked with small communities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, and also with communities in New Hampshire, Virginia, Ohio, and other states, to help them fight off corporate assaults and challenge the existing structure of law, which prohibits people and communities from making local governing decisions about the future of the places where they live. Brad is also a trained instructor for the Democracy School, an intensive weekend training which explores the limits of conventional organizing and offers a new organizing model that helps citizens confront the usurpation by corporations of the rights of communities, people, and the earth. The schools offer participants the tools to analyze the history of this country, to deconstruct our structure of law, and empower them to imagine a new way of governing in their local communities. This model of organizing is in its most nascent stages, but it imagines a broad-based community effort to drive the rights of people, communities, and nature into binding law.

2. Green Collar Jobs & Solution Based Politics Grow Local Opportunities

   The promise of green collar industries is both a Spokane and global effort. Our task is to grow sustainable occupations which will restore and improve products and services that reflect social concerns about future life on earth. Green collar employment presents timely opportunities for under-employed low income people, incumbent workers facing new challenges, and our sons and daughters entering the economy for the first time. There is a great deal of uncertainty surrounding the concept of green collar work and how communities and institutions will be able to help provide markets, education and skills for emerging businesses and employees. This discussion will update participants on the fast moving local and national efforts addressing this critical new pathway for meaningful employment for all citizens.

   Presenter Bios:
   Terry Lawhead: Terry works in business and project development for the Department of Community Trade and Economic Development in Eastern Washington. He has worked with many local partners to develop educational programs which help both young and incumbent workers be qualified to participate in emerging green industries.
   
   Patrick Malone: For nearly three decades Patrick has served a wide variety of North American governmental, nonprofit and faith-based organizations as a business, community and economic development professional, adjunct professor, public policy analyst, and executive leader. In 2002, Patrick was presented with the "Peacemaker of the Year" award by the Presbyterian Church USA (Alaska/Pacific NW Synod.)
   
   Juliet Sinisterra: Juliet’s background includes professional degrees in Architecture and Urban Design with over fourteen years of professional design experience including institutional design and planning, project management and low-income housing development. Juliet currently serves as the President for the Inland Northwest Chapter of the Northwest Ecobuilding Guild, sits on the City of Spokane’s Mayor's Sustainability Task Force and works as a community developer and organizer for Community-Minded Enterprises—a non-profit dedicated to the development of sustainable community. Juliet’s interest in sustainability grew out of her passion for healthy urban environments. Her work at Community-Minded Enterprises most recently has involved leading a community Green Collar Jobs Task Force and working toward the development of Youth Community Sustainability Guilds related to training in Green Construction and Building.

3. Growing Farms: Creating Healthy Food Communities

   What does it take to farm? What skills and information does an individual or family need to succeed in farming? This workshop is an overview of the Cultivating Success program and an opportunity to learn how you can become an active participant in developing our local food and farming community. The panel will feature farmers who have participated in Cultivating Success and will use several of the Sustainable Small Acreage Farming and Ranching course assignments to assess our individual and community goals. Participants will be given a simple take home assignment at the end of the workshop.

   Presenter Bios:
   Lora Lea Misterly: Lora Lea farms with her husband Rick in rural Stevens County. Since 1987 they have sold farmstead cheese to restaurants and stores in Washington State under the name Quillisascut Cheese Company. In 2002 The Misterlys' vision for the farm soon encompassed the larger community of farmers, chefs, restaurateurs, and others who have a place in the farm-to-table continuum as they began a series of weeklong workshops to teach people about farming and food. Lora Lea and Rick want to show us the intricate web that links producers and consumers with the land.
   
   Kristen Koenig: Kristen was introduced to farming and gardening in 2006 at the Washington State University Organic Farm. After taking the course at WSU she decided to focus her efforts on sustainable agriculture. Koenig is passionate about food systems and the alternatives to industrial agriculture. She recently earned her Cultivating Success™ Sustainable Small Farms Education certificate. Koenig is an AmeriCorps volunteer at the Moscow Community Garden and working towards becoming a Master Gardener. She now works for Rural Roots, a non-profit organization, in Moscow, Idaho that supports sustainable and organic agriculture and community-based food systems in the Inland Northwest.
   
   Dr. Marcia Ostrom: Marcy is the Director of the Small Farms Program and an Associate Professor in Community and Rural Sociology at Washington State University. The Small Farms Program is a statewide program created by the Washington State Legislature in 2001 to provide research and extension specifically for small and mid-sized, family-owned farms. Areas of focus include farmer education on profitable farming and marketing strategies, research and demonstration projects on innovative, ecologically-based farming techniques, and community food system development. The WSU Small Farms Program works closely with many partners including county extension agents, farmer associations and non-profits, other universities and colleges, and various government agencies to help small, immigrant, and other limited-resource farmers be successful. Dr. Ostrom holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Studies from the University of Wisconsin, a M.S. from the College of Agriculture at Cornell University, and a B.S. from Harvard University.

4. Education Connecting to Culture & Tradition

   For many tribal people, cultural and traditional ways are the essence of being and the educational process is part and parcel of becoming. These ways are not an addendum to the process, rather education is an addendum to the individual's mental, emotional, physical, social and spiritual experience. The workshop will include discussion, oral tradition in the forms of creation stories, song, drumming, question and answer, and power point. Open to all for we all have the connection.

   Presenter Bio:
   David Browneagle: David has a Master's Degree in Ed. Administration with 33 years in education. He presently teaches high school at the Medicine Wheel Academy, Havermale High School, Spokane School District. He is a grandfather and father who believes strongly in Native American culture, tradition and education as well as formal and life experiences. David will be accompanied by 4 of his students.

5. Getting to Zero: What will it take for our community to become a zero waste society?

   In a culture of disparate social and economic classes, how do we promote sweeping social attitude and behavior changes as we move toward a zero waste society? The likely ecological and technical challenges as well as the regulatory and structural requirements needed for such changes will be explored in this workshop. The panel will welcome an open dialogue with attendees.

   Presenter Bios:
   Jay Shepard: Jay has worked in public service for over 28years, 25 years with the Washington State Department of Ecology. Shepard is the Department of Ecology’s Sustainability Policy Advisor in support of many of the agency’s initiatives. He has served on the National Product Stewardship Institute’s Steering Council as a charter member. Shepard also participated in the National Electronics Product Stewardship Initiative and chaired the Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials (ASTSWMO) Product Stewardship Task Force. He now chairs ASTSWMO’s new Sustainability Task Force. Shepard wrote Ecology’s sustainability plan in response to the Governor’s Executive Order 02-03 in 2003 and has provided guidance to state government as a member of the State Agency Sustainability Steering Committee. He also served on the technical team supporting the Governor’s Washington Sustainability Panel. Shepard led the development of the state’s first recycling rate survey and solid waste composition studies in the early 1980’s. The model, the longest standing measurement tool used by the agency for performance indicators, has been replicated extensively throughout the country. Data from these studies supported landmark reform in the state’s solid waste management laws in 1988 and 1989, bringing recycling and waste reduction into the mainstream of solid waste management in the state. He also provided staff support to the legislative process that developed the Waste not-Washington Act of 1989. Shepard served as the first supervisor of the Office of Waste Reduction and helped start the agency’s pollution prevention programs. Jay served on the Washington State Recycling Association board of directors, being the first public employee ever elected to that board. He has managed the department’s Shorelands and Coastal Zone Management Program. He represented the department on the Governor's Rural Community Assistance Team and the Washington Community Economic Revitalization Team as Ecology's Small Community Assistance Project Director. Shepard managed the study that recommended the electronic products recycling program for the state of Washington and wrote the framework language that was the basis for the law that was adopted into legislation last year. He is now managing the implementation of the new law. Shepard currently co-chairs the Beyond Waste Implementation Working Group tasked with developing waste reduction and recycling strategies associated with products, materials and wastes for the state of Washington.
   
   Geoffrey Glenn: Geoffrey is the Moderate Risk/Infectious Waste Coordinator for the City of Spokane, Department of Solid Waste Management and has been involved in hazardous waste remediation for the last sixteen years. Mr. Glenn is currently involved in the 2008 Climate Action Team (CAT) Implementation Working Group, and is a subcommittee member of the Northwest Product Stewardship Council (NWPSC), the North American Hazardous Materials Management Association (NAHMMA) and the Product Stewardship Institute (PSI) in regard to waste reduction and sustainability. Additionally, Mr. Glenn serves as a "Green Team" member and Procurement Subcommittee co-chair to the Mayor Verner's Sustainability Project Citizen Task Force.
   
   Dr. William A. Hayes: Dr. Hayes teaches sociology at Gonzaga University. While finishing his Ph.D. at the University of California-Berkeley, he worked two years at San Francisco State University. His research interests center on social theory, global culture and comparative political economy. For the past three years, he has worked with the Korean-American Association of Greater Spokane to help promote better community relations and awareness.

6. Hands on the River: Spokane River Field Tour

   Join River Attorney Rick Eichstaedt and other experts for an afternoon field trip to learn about current events impacting our Spokane River. Stops include the City of Spokane wastewater treatment plant, Spokane River dams, an urban spring, and the location of the proposed whitewater park. The focus of the tour will be the most current issues impacting river management. Tour is limited to 20 people.

   Presenter Bio:
   Rick Eichstaedt: Rick serves as the Spokane River attorney for the Center for Justice representing organizations that work to protect and restore the Spokane River watershed, including the Spokane-Rathdrum Aquifer, Coeur d’Alene Lake, and Lake Roosevelt. Prior to joining the Center, Rick had the honor of representing the Nez Perce Tribe in Idaho for seven years on a variety of environmental, natural resource, cultural resource, and treaty-right protection cases. Originally from Minnesota, Rick has always loved lakes and rivers. Rick serves on the board of Idaho Rivers United, as well as on the board of the Environmental and Natural Resource Section of the Idaho State Bar. He is an avid whitewater rafter, as well as hiker and backpacker. Lately, Rick’s attention has been focused on his son, Noah.

7. Polar Bears & Green Living: Consequences & Opportunities of Climate Change & the Built Environment

   When you review the data you will be surprised at the impact buildings have on greenhouse gas emissions. Kelly Lerner, (author of Natural Remodeling for the Not-So-Green House, winner of the World Habitat Award and a Top 10 Green Architect) has teamed up with Alli Gray (Green Building Specialist for the Department of Ecology and a presenter for Nobel Lauriat Al Gore’s Climate Project) to present you with an in-depth review of both the impacts the built environment has on climate change as well as leading you through a review of various green building standards. They will also touch on what other local and state governments are doing around the country to help address the energy and carbon impacts buildings have in their jurisdictions. In the interactive session you will be led through an exciting charrette exercise focused on energy issues.

   Presenter Bios:
   Kelly Lerner: Kelly is co-author of “Natural Remodeling for the Not-So-Green House” (www.naturalremodeling.com) and principle architect of One World Design Architecture in Spokane, WA (www.one-world-design.com). Natural Home Magazine named her one of the Top Ten US Eco-Architects and she has also received the United Nations’ World Habitat Award for her international development work in China building over 600 strawbale homes. She dedicates her practice to the design of healthy, beautiful, energy efficient, carbon-neutral homes throughout the northwest. Kelly is a Certified Sustainable Building Advisor, on the board of the Inland Northwest Eco-Building Guild and co-directs the Spokane Sustainability Task Force Workgroup on the Built and Un-built Environment.
   
   Allison Gray: Alli is the Green Building and Sustainability Specialist for the Washington State Department of Ecology’s Eastern Region. She serves on the local steering committees of the Northwest EcoBuilding Guild and the Cascadia Green Building Council. In 2007 Alli became a certified presenter of The Climate Project – an outreach effort of Nobel Lauriat Al Gore. In her former lives, she worked for the Jamaica 4-H Clubs, the Technical University of Liberec (Czech Republic) and the National Geographic Society. Alli is both a LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Accredited Professional and a Certified Sustainable Building Advisor.

8. Film: TBA

   More information will be provided as it becomes available.

Friday, Session Two 4:30-6:00    

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1. Sources of Life: Nature’s Tools for Sustainability

   How can something as simple as awareness be the source for powerful transformation in our world today? How can we harness its power, rooted in the heart of nature itself, to create subtle and obvious revolutionary changes for ourselves, our families, our communities and our earth? Be prepared for an interactive, mind opening, challenging experience as we open the doors of perception to the natural world. In this workshop participants will look to reclaim a deep awareness of nature, on the level that our earth based ancestors had, as the source for awakening and holding a sustainable, regenerative, brighter pathway to walk for ourselves and future generations.

   Presenter Bios:
   Tim Corcoran and Jeannine Tidwell founded Twin Eagles Wilderness School in pristine Sandpoint, Idaho in the Autumn of 2005. As co-directors of the school, they are committed to the mission of Rekindling relationships with nature, community, family and self through nature awareness, earth based mentoring and wilderness skills. This husband and wife team has been mentoring youth and adults in the ways of the wilderness for over 18 years combined. They are longtime students of the Earth, having studied at Tom Brown’s internationally recognized Tracker School and Jon Young’s Wilderness Awareness School, where Tim completed the 2000 hour Kamana Naturalist Training Program. They both completed a Four-Year Apprenticeship in the Art of Mentoring and Naturalist Studies with the Vermont Wilderness School. They have studied closely with Lakota teachers Tony Ten Fingers, elder Gilbert Walking Bull and other native teachers across the country. As well, they are interwoven into a larger national wilderness school network. Jeannine has completed a Bachelor’s degree at Prescott College in Earth-based Living Skills and Mentoring and both are certified Wilderness First Responders – an industry standard, rigorous first aid and safety training. Most of all, Tim and Jeannine share a deep passion and commitment for learning and caretaking of the natural world and all of its inhabitants, and passing this on so that we leave this world a better place for future generations.

2. Preparing for a Green Spokane

   The times, they are a changing – but we’re getting ready for those changes. The City of Spokane is the first city in the U.S. to tackle peak oil, climate mitigation and climate adaptation together in one strategic planning initiative! The Mayor’s Sustainability Task Force and the four topic work groups have been working hard this year to create a plan for how city government can do our part to respond to these issues, leading by example, and helping the community to “go green.” We’d like to share with you what we’ve come up with so far, and get your feedback. Come tell us what you think, what we’ve missed, and how we can move this plan to action together.

   Presenter Bio:
   Susanne Croft: Susanne has worked for the City of Spokane for about 10 years. She has a Masters degree in Urban and Regional Planning, and worked in Long Range Planning for 7 years. The last 3 years she has focused on economic development, serving as the City’s Incentives Specialist last year. This year she is the Mayor’s Sustainability Coordinator, staff to a sustainability strategic planning process funded by a one-year state grant to identify ways in which city government can address and prepare for rising energy prices and climate change. Susanne will be joined by 3 members of the Mayor's Sustainability Task Force, Roger Woodworth, Mary Carr and Larry Luton.

3. Energy & Water Wise Living: Practical Solutions

   How we use energy and water, two vitally important resources, has become critically important in the face of climate change and increasing water shortages. Crissy Trask shows how easy it can be to reduce energy and water use both on the road and at home with practical and meaningful suggestions. This workshop is geared toward an introductory audience and will include small group discussion. Participants can share their personal successes and frustrations in adopting a greener lifestyle and get ideas and encouragement from others. No handouts will be provided, so bring recycled or scrap paper for taking notes.

   Presenter Bio:
   Crissy Trask: Ms. Trask created one of the first websites dedicated to everyday green living—greenmatters.com—in 1999. She is the author of It’s Easy Being Green: A Handbook for Earth-Friendly Living, offering extensive suggestions on ways to live greener, as well as an eco-advisor specializing in simple and accessible ways to create greener spaces and adopt a greener lifestyle. Crissy has written several articles on sustainable living; been quoted in dozens of publications including Money magazine, Renovation Style magazine, the Los Angeles Times and the New York Daily News; and has delivered presentations to audiences in Washington, California, Texas and Arizona.

4. Changing the Face of Communities: Women in Leadership

   How do women make decisions and how does the process impact their leadership style? What factors do women consider? Should a new paradigm be created - one that doesn't evaluate women's leadership in terms of the traditional male model? This discussion will focus on the female approach to leadership which incorporates multiple factors, values relationships, and is often more flexible and practical. With increasing participation of women in the workforce and in management, the strong and insightful leadership style of women is changing the face of our community, businesses, and global interactions.

   Presenter Bios:
   Genevieve Mann: Genevieve currently practices in the areas of labor and employment law, civil rights, discrimination and sexual harassment. She graduated from Gonzaga School of Law, magna cum laude, in 2003. Since law school she has practiced in a variety of areas including legal services, family law, and housing law. She has also served as Guardian Ad Litem in family law matters. Ms. Mann is an adjunct professor at Gonzaga School of Law where she teaches Public Benefits Law. Prior to law school, she received her MSW and worked as an adoption social worker and child welfare mediator in the Boston area. While she enjoys practicing law, her true passion is her family and chasing her three young children. Her goal is for all women to have the choice to find the balance of work and family that fulfills them.
   
   Terri Sloyer: Terri currently serves as a staff attorney at the Center for Justice. Terri’s area of practice is in civil rights specifically in the area of police use of force, and access to adequate healthcare in jails and prisons. Terri began her career at the Center for Justice as a legal intern. She is committed to holistic lawyering that creates long term sustainable solutions which involves individual and community transformation. Terri has hosted a women’s issues radio program on KYRS, served as a facilitator for the Jesuit Volunteer Corps and spends a tremendous amount of time researching and recommending policy changes that will result in win-win solutions for the community and individuals that she represents. In her spare time, Terri is a soccer fanatic and attends as many soccer games as possible.

5. Conserving Landscapes through Public & Private Partnerships

   How is land for wildlife and recreation conserved and how can you be involved? Learn how “it takes a village” to successfully conserve land. As development increases in the region, the amount of open space is reduced. Natural lands for wildlife and recreation are essential elements of our quality of life. Working forests contribute to our economy as well as preserve the clean air, clean water, and scenic beauty of our region. This workshop will outline some of the ways that people as well as government entities have permanently protected local lands. Join in a discussion about ways to get more people engaged with natural land and the landscape. This workshop is for those who appreciate the outdoors and who want to make sure that natural lands and waters, open spaces for nature viewing, and working forests are available now and for future generations.

   Presenter Bios:
   Chris DeForest: Chris has been Executive Director of Inland Northwest Land Trust (INLT) since 1997. The land trust has helped protect nearly 60 special places in the region through conservation easements as well as collaborative projects. Chris has an undergraduate degree in economics and masters degrees in management and in forestry from Yale University. Chris also worked on land-use policy and economics at the University of Georgia School of Forest Resources. He was a forester for Inland Empire Paper. He worked for the USFS on its Ecosystem Management project for the Columbia Basin and for its Pacific Northwest Research Station.
   
   John Bottelli: John is the Parks Special Projects Manager for Spokane County where he runs the Conservation Futures Program, including its 22 natural areas, and participates in park planning and other duties. He has a BS in Environmental Studies form the University of Vermont and a MS in Natural Resources Management from Central Washington University. He worked as a wildlife biologist doing endangered species monitoring and protection for Raedeke Associates, Inc., a historical geographer on an EPA-funded historical mapping project with the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, and as a GIS analyst for Spokane County.

6. Google Earth Forum: Learn the Basics about Google Earth and its Use for Web Advocacy

   Since its inception, Google Earth has truly changed the way we look at the world. While most people know they can use Google Earth to learn more about the planet we live on, few people are aware that Google Earth can be used by the general public to communicate geographic based information to the World Wide Web. This years national Bioneers Conference has a featured session by Rebecca Moore, the director of Google Earth's "Out Reach" Program. "Suddenly grassroots environmentalists have a tool that up until now only government agencies or commercial interests had," says Moore. "It levels the playing field." Mimicking the national event, this forum offers a hands-on look at Google Earth and other Google offerings and their potential for effecting change. Come see what the "Spokane River Project" looks like on Google Earth.

   Presenter Bio:
   Ron Hall: Ron is a local “evangelist” for Google’s “Google Earth” and “SketchUp” software. He has a firm belief that the World Wide Web, in general, and Google Earth, in particular, provide unprecedented opportunities for public education, advocacy, communication, and problem solving. Ron spent over 20 years as a general contractor building and renovating golf courses in the Pacific Northwest and Canada. Settling in Spokane after building The Creek at Qualchan Golf Course for the City of Spokane, he enjoys living “the country life” with his wife and daughter on a unique and historic homestead property just 15 minutes from downtown Spokane. Ron is an avid outdoorsman and ecologist. His field experience and expertise include building, managing, maintaining, and restoring large-scale natural settings. A University Scholar at Cornell University’s College of Agriculture, with degrees from Princeton (History), Wharton Business School (MBA), Penn State (Turf Management), he recently completed an interdisciplinary masters program (Computer Science/Urban Planning) at Eastern Washington University, with a certification in GIS (Geographic Information Science).

7. Film: TBA

   More information will be provided as it becomes available.

Saturday, Session One: 2:45-4:15    

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1. Indigenous Spirituality & the Environment

   Indigenous cultures traditionally relate to the earth as a living being. This encourages human societies to maintain balance with nature by allowing direct communication with plants, animals, and the elements. Inspired by ancient cultures, many people are beginning to recognize a spiritual connection to the earth as an essential aspect of healing the planet. In this regard, Native American cultures can serve as an important model. This session will explore local indigenous cultures as they relate to the environment and spirituality, and will include an interactive session for participants to explore their own connection to the natural world.

   Presenter Bio:
   Barry G. Moses: Barry is a member of the Spokane Tribe of Indians and a GED/High School Completion instructor at the Institute for Extended Learning. Barry is also a husband, father, counselor, photographer, and writer. The underlying thread of all of these roles is a passion for helping himself and others rediscover spiritual awareness. Because of this, Barry is dedicated to preserving and restoring indigenous cultures and tribal knowledge in both his public and personal lives. As an educator, he has helped redefine curricula to honor tribal traditions and offer a Native American perspective. In his personal life, Barry is deeply reflective and draws a meaningful connection to others by observing spirituality, indigenous cultures, nature, art, symbolism, and dreams.

2. Creating and Sustaining Community Gardens

   This workshop will walk participants with and without gardening experience through the process of developing and establishing a sustainable community garden. Using the American Community Gardens methodologies, we will discuss developing a community of people to work on, in and around the garden, picking a site, designing the garden, acquiring water and other physical resources, establishing a governing committee, funding sources, daily garden management and the value of a garden in the community. The workshop will be as much about learning as networking so bring your ideas and sources of resources.

   Presenter Bio:
   Pat Munts: Pat has been working on community gardens and agriculture for the last 5 years first as garden coordinator for Second Harvest and now as the community gardens coordinator for the Spokane Regional Health District’s Health Communities project and as the small farms coordinator for WSU Spokane County Extension. She has helped establish a number of gardens in Spokane and uses her 40 years of vegetable gardening to teach others how to grow their own food. Pat is freelance garden writer and editor specializing in gardening and natural history in the Inland Northwest for the Spokesman-Review and Master Gardener Magazine. Pat will be joined by gardeners from the Northeast Community Center's Gardens.

3. Help for Veterans: Our Stories and Our Healing

   Veterans from three different wars will tell their stories about re-integration into civilian life after seeking help for that process. In addition, a professional outreach worker will be available to point any veteran or family member in the right direction, whether it be for medical care, voc rehab, claim for disability, education benefits, or counseling for war trauma. The veterans will share how the experience of war affected them, and how they got the help they needed. The interactive session will conclude with an overview of resources available to veterans and their families.

   Presenter Bios:
   James Funke, MSW: James has worked for the Veterans Outreach Center (VOC ) in Spokane for over 20 years. The VOC is part of the Veterans Administration, which offers a variety of resources for veterans and their families, including medical care, vocational rehabilitation, educational benefits, disability benefits, and counseling services. They sponsor specialty programs to address Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ( PTSD ), and sexual trauma counseling primarily for, but not limited to, female veterans. James did trauma counseling for veterans with PTSD, ran support groups, and did family counseling. The Spokane Vet Center won the highly coveted Vet Center of Excellence Award for 2003. In addition, James is a Veteran, and served in Vietnam from '69 to '70.
   
   Mike Ogle: Mike is retired military, and currently is the GWOT ( Global War on Terrorism ) outreach worker. He is the first contact the returning Iraqi veterans make with the Veterans Administration . He knows the community resources as well as VA resources. To ANY problem the veteran might have, to health concerns, to educational benefits, to filing a claim for disability, Mike has the answer!
   
   Suzanne R Williams, RN, MSW, LICSW: Suzanne was born and raised in Warren, Ohio, and completed her professional nursing education at Trumbull Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Warren, Ohio. After graduation and employment for a year as an emergency department nurse, she joined the USAF Nurse Corps in 1966, and volunteered for service in Vietnam. Suzanne was assigned as a 2nd Lt, to the 21st CSF, Ton Son Nhut AFB, Saigon, as part of the larger medical evacuation system for wounded troops during the Vietnam War. After her military service, Suzanne returned to different areas of critical care nursing in the emergency department, ICU , and finally, as an operating room nurse. After a disabling injury changed her career path, Suzanne returned to school at Eastern Wa. Univ, completing a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies, then a Master of Social Work. Today, Suzanne is a licensed independent clinical social worker, employed as a mental health therapist in the veterans trauma recovery program at the Spokane VAMC. In addition to that role, Suzanne is the co-advisor of the American Indian Veterans Advisory Committee, and a lifetime member of the Yakama Warriors Association. Suzanne is married to another Vietnam veteran, Dick, and is the mother of 2 adult children and the grandmother of two teenage girls. Suzanne enjoys singing, crafts, reading, camping , flyfishing, and attending cultural events in the area. She finds the work with the veterans that she treats to be a rewarding full circle completion of the work she began 42 years ago as a combat nurse in Vietnam.

   Seth Maier: Seth is the coordinator for Spokane Falls Community College's Veterans for Green Retraining Program. He served in the United States Navy and is an avid advocate for veterans.
4. River Restored: Returning the Lower Snake River to Salmon, Wildlife and People

   Local and regional interests are working to create a landscape plan involving the removal of the four lower Snake River dams and returning fish and wildlife habitat as well as recreation and economic opportunities to 30,000 acres of lands currently under water in eastern Washington and north Idaho. Restoring this important river landscape will benefit endangered salmon, steelhead, as well as other fish and wildlife; increase recreation including hunting, fishing, biking, bird-watching and river recreation, and improve the economic opportunities and quality of life for towns and rural communities in the region. This panel will discuss the creation of this plan as well as the challenges and opportunities involved in working collaboratively with local communities and diverse interests to move a large restoration effort forward in a manner that benefits all.

   Presenter Bios:
   Dustin Aherin, Citizens for Progress: Dustin is a third generation resident of the Lewiston/Clarkston Valley, an experienced river guide and outfitter, and sits on the board of the Valley Tourism Board. He is working with local business and community leaders to support appropriate local development that can benefit the Valley's economy and quality of life, including river restoration and re-development of the local waterfront if the lower Snake River dams are removed to restore wild salmon & steelhead.
   
   Sam Mace: Sam is the Inland Northwest Director for the Save Our Wild Salmon Coalition. Based in Spokane, Sam has been involved with Snake River salmon recovery for 10 years. Prior to joining SOS staff in 2004, she worked for the Idaho & Washington Wildlife Federations and Trout Unlimited.
   
   Jerry White, Jr.: Jerry is a long time resident of the Pacific Northwest. Born in Corvallis Oregon, he was raised in Eastern Washington and received his undergraduate degree in anthropology from Western Washington University. Jerry worked as an archaeologist for the US Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management for several years in Northeastern and Central Washington State where he was involved in evaluation and then the interpretation of federally administered cultural resources. In 1996, he went back to school and received a Masters in Teaching degree from Whitworth College. He taught history and English in middle school for 12 years and now works with Save Our Wild Salmon. Always passionate about salmon and trout and the habitats they occupy, he volunteers for Trout Unlimited and feels that healthy genetic populations of salmon and trout and the environments that support them are indicative of healthy environments for people to live and thrive in.

5. Art as a Solution

   How does visual art, a primary right and language for knowing, learning and expressing, help solve underlying social issues? This workshop will explore the social impact of a culture whose arts are declining as well as the relationship between pluralism, diversity, and compassion as taught through the arts. We will also review studies that have looked at the relationship of early aesthetic and cognitive development and experiences with the arts. Time will also be allowed for observations, questions, an attempt for answers, audience participation, and reflection.

   Presenter Bios:
   Megan Murphy, Artocracy and Saranac Art Projects Founder: Megan received a Bachelor of Fine Art degree from Oregon's Marylhurst University in 1992, and later went on to study theology at Mt. Angel Abbey with Benedictine Monks for three years. Ms. Murphy completed her Master of Art in Theology in 1995. Her professional work includes variety of roles as an artist and a facilitator of the arts. From 1997 Megan worked in the Arts Department at the Sun Valley Center for the Arts. As a professional artist, Ms. Murphy has had over fifteen solo exhibitions in Seattle, Portland, and New York while participating in numerous group exhibitions, and is represented by PDX Contemporary Art in Portland, Oregon, and Gilman Contemporary in Sun Valley, Idaho. Her work is represented in the collections of the Tacoma Art Museum, The Lemelson Foundation, The Yale Collection, and the Portland Art Museum. She lives in Spokane, Washington with her daughter Murphy Kendall in order to be closer to the empty space that is her content in her paintings and drawings. Murphy founded Artocracy.org in 2004 in her quest to support the further development of the arts and to help make the joy of living with art more accessible and educational for all.
   
   Anita Morgan: A lifetime observer and advocate for young children and the significance of early learning, Anita has worked with young children in a variety of settings for over 35 years. She is currently the director of Blue Prints for Learning and the Community Building Children’s Center. The Children’s Center is inspired by the work of educators in the public early learning programs of Reggio Emilia, Italy. The Reggio approach has inspired the world with their recognition of all forms of art as languages children use to construct and express their understanding of the world. This approach to early learning has re-ignited Anita’s passion for learning alongside young children.
   
   Charles Gurche: Charley has worked for 22 years in 4x5 format. His images have appeared in the publications of Audubon, National Geographic, Sierra Club, Smithsonian and many others. Gurche often works with the Wilderness Society, the Nature Conservancy, Conservation Northwest, and other environmental organizations. He has 15 books in print including Washington, Oregon, Mt. Rainier, Spokane, The San Juan Islands and Thoughts from Walden Pond. Gurche has received awards from the Roger Tory Peterson Institute, the Society of Professional Journalists, Nature’s Best International Photography, and the Washington State Governor.

6. Eco-Nomics: The Current Economic Situation: Crisis and Opportunity

   The current meltdown in the housing sector and the subsequent credit crunch has created the most significant economic crisis in the US since the 1930s. But just like the 1930s, it also has created the opportunity for significant policy and regulatory changes that can benefit the majority of the population, if there is sufficient grassroots movement for that change. This presentation looks at the roots of the current crisis and suggests ways we can use it to make positive change.

   Presenter Bio:
   Doug Orr: Doug is a Professor of Economics at Eastern Washington University. He received his undergraduate degree from Columbia University and his Ph.D. from the University of Colorado. His areas of specialization are Urban and Regional economics and Labor Economics. Almost all of his research has focused on various aspects of the causes and consequences of poverty. For the past nine years, he has been doing research on the changing structure of pensions in the public and private sectors, including the analysis of the changing nature of the regulation of the US financial sector. He has published papers in national and international journals. He has also published papers of the causes of low wage employment and the effects of discrimination in the labor market.

7. Google Earth Forum: Learn the Basics about Google Earth and its Use for Web Advocacy

   Since its inception, Google Earth has truly changed the way we look at the world. While most people know they can use Google Earth to learn more about the planet we live on, few people are aware that Google Earth can be used by the general public to communicate geographic based information to the World Wide Web. This years national Bioneers Conference has a featured session by Rebecca Moore, the director of Google Earth's "Out Reach" Program. "Suddenly grassroots environmentalists have a tool that up until now only government agencies or commercial interests had," says Moore. "It levels the playing field." Mimicking the national event, this forum offers a hands-on look at Google Earth and other Google offerings and their potential for effecting change. Come see what the "Spokane River Project" looks like on Google Earth.

   Presenter Bio:
   Ron Hall: Ron is a local “evangelist” for Google’s “Google Earth” and “SketchUp” software. He has a firm belief that the World Wide Web, in general, and Google Earth, in particular, provide unprecedented opportunities for public education, advocacy, communication, and problem solving. Ron spent over 20 years as a general contractor building and renovating golf courses in the Pacific Northwest and Canada. Settling in Spokane after building The Creek at Qualchan Golf Course for the City of Spokane, he enjoys living “the country life” with his wife and daughter on a unique and historic homestead property just 15 minutes from downtown Spokane. Ron is an avid outdoorsman and ecologist. His field experience and expertise include building, managing, maintaining, and restoring large-scale natural settings. A University Scholar at Cornell University’s College of Agriculture, with degrees from Princeton (History), Wharton Business School (MBA), Penn State (Turf Management), he recently completed an interdisciplinary masters program (Computer Science/Urban Planning) at Eastern Washington University, with a certification in GIS (Geographic Information Science).

8. Film: TBA

   More information will be provided as it becomes available.

Saturday, Session Two 4:30-6:00    

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1. Alternative Transportation Forum: Leveraging Global Warming and High Gas Prices in Order to Build a Viable Transportation Infrastructure

   The goal of this workshop is to engage participants in a vision for the transportation future of Spokane. Many of our community members make a personal hobby of innovative transportation alternatives; from determined cyclists with innovative bikes, to grease car aficionados, to entrepreneurs like Zap Car and Tango. There are also many disparate groups advocating for part of the bigger transportation picture. This workshop will create an opportunity for people to bring these efforts into a larger and more powerful platform. Come and help us create a course for transportation that will help us all succeed, and be presented to decision makers to our area and at the state legislature. Connect with groups you may not be working with, identify overlapping goals, and create some recommendations about how we can better integrate everyone’s issues. Please bring your ideas, your optimism, and come prepared to prioritize them against feasibility, effectiveness, and political realities to come up with a great vision for success!

   Presenter Bios:
   Kitty Klitzke, Eastern WA Field Organizer: Kitty is an environmental and social justice advocate from Spokane, WA. Her service in the US Army inspired her to seek out a better way to save her country and the planet. While majoring in Art in college, she got involved in the Fair Trade and Environmental movements working as a volunteer on several campaigns. She went on to work as the Program Outreach Director and campaign organizer for The Lands Council and went down to part time there in order to work for Futurewise as a Field Organizer. She now works full time for Futurewise.
   
   April Putney, Political Director, Futurewise: April coordinates state policy work in Olympia and field activities in Pierce and Thurston Counties for Futurewise. She joined the Futurewise team after working for the successful No on 933 Campaign. Previously, April worked with NJPIRG in New Jersey organizing students and community members around water quality issues at Rutgers and Princeton University. She has a B.A. from Syracuse University.
   
   Chris Marr, WA State Senator: For twenty years Chris was managing partner of Foothills Auto Group, and was elected to the State Senate in 2006. Chris chaired the Spokane Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Washington State Transportation Commission (the governing board of the WA State DOT). Chris is the vice chair of the Senate Transportation Committee and is Assistant Floor Leader . He has been a tireless champion of “Clean Cars” policy, was the prime Sponsor of Local Solutions to Global Warming and is the 2008 Washington Conservation Voters Legislator of the Year.

2. Local Farms, Healthy Kids

   Ever wonder how we can get our children to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables? Here’s a crazy idea- how about offering it to them in our schools? And while we’re at it, we can help local farmers find more markets for their food, too. Washington State has recently passed legislation that offers funding to schools which will make it possible to purchase locally-grown and locally prepared fruits and vegetables so that kids can eat better. Making these purchases is not something most local schools currently know how to do. This workshop will explain the new legislation and help parents, teachers and our community learn how to access these funds in order to ensure healthier food in schools- a universal win for our children’s health, our economy and our environment.

   Presenter Bios:
   Ellen Gray: Ellen is the Executive Director for the Washington Sustainable Food and Farming Network. Ellen has a MMA from the University of Washington, College of Oceanography and Fisheries and a BA in Geology from the University of Vermont. Prior to joining the Network, Ellen spent more than 20 years implementing growth management advocacy programs in Skagit, Snohomish and Whatcom Counties. Originally from Vermont, Ellen spent much of her childhood working on either dairy or horse farms. She has a deep appreciation for the challenges facing small local farms that are a vital element of a healthy agricultural landscape.
   
   Ellicia Milne, Local and Organic Store Employee and District 81 Public School Parent: Ellicia is a mother of two elementary school children, has volunteered in the public schools her children have attended for the last 5 years in the classrooms, lunchrooms, and other after school programs. Bringing organic, local, and homemade food to her family and community has been a large focus in Ellicia’s life over the last several years as she has also been a full time employee at a quickly growing local and organic grocery and delivery service dedicated to connecting the community with as many local producers as possible. Although Ellicia has recently resigned from the delivery service, she will continue to work part time at another local, organic and natural grocery and herb shop closer to home, allowing her to spend more time actively involved in the public school her children attend in their neighborhood. Ellicia is also a dharma school teacher to pre-school and elementary aged children at the Spokane Buddhist Temple, another part of her neighborhood’s community committed to becoming more educated and supportive of a healthier environment. Ellicia is thrilled to have the opportunity to learn about connecting local farms to public schools and be part of this conversation for the Bioneers conference.
   
   Nikki Eaton: Nikki and her husband are 5th generation beef cattle ranchers in Wawawai canyon about 20 min out of Pullman. The mission of their ranch is to raise healthy, natural grass-fed beef and to make it available locally. They also have a guest ranch where visitors can come and see where and how their food is grown. Nikki is the mother of 3 children and is working to make local, sustainable foods available in local schools.

3. Inspiring Women Leaders: A Conversation

   Join us for an emergent conversation with local women leaders as they share personal stories about their early dreams, role models, and the mentors who made a difference in their lives. Our conversation will explore “identity politics” including whether “qualities of women leaders” is a sexist designation. Panelists include: Mayor Mary Verner, Sandi Thompson-Royer, Rhosetta Rhodes and Jamie Borgan. Laurie Powers, facilitating.

   Presenter Bois:
   Mayor Mary Verner: Mayor Mary Verner is the City of Spokane’s Chief Executive Officer, directing the activities of the City's 2,000 employees and managing a $600 million annual budget. Before being elected to the top post at the City, Mayor Verner served on the Spokane City Council for four years, representing Council District 2, south of the Spokane River. Until taking the job of Mayor, Mayor Verner served as Executive Director of the Upper Columbia United Tribes, which serves the five federally recognized Indian Tribes with reservations in Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho. The Mayor has a broad range of experience in business, law, planning, policy development, program design, and management. She has a law degree from Gonzaga University, a master's in environmental studies from Yale University, and a bachelor's from Davidson College.
   
   Laurie Powers Laurie graduated from Gonzaga University in 1984 and the University of Washington School of Law in 1991. In between, she spent a life-changing year as a Jesuit Volunteer working at a battered women’s shelter in Kansas City. Currently she is Managing Attorney of the Spokane office of the Unemployment Law Project. She is proud to mentor the next generation of public interest lawyers as she trains Gonzaga University Law School students to represent unemployed workers in hearings and appeals. Prior to returning to Spokane in 2004, Laurie practiced law in Bellingham for 13 years. Her practice primarily focused on representing low-income women in family law domestic violence cases. She prepared King County’s first Domestic Violence Comprehensive Plan, served as the Chair of Whatcom County’s Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services Board, and was appointed a citizen representative to Whatcom County’s Law & Justice Council. She currently is the Chair of the Board of Trustees of Westminster Congregational Church in Spokane.Laurie and her husband, Breean Beggs, spend most of their free time in the delightful company of their 12 year old son, and twin 8 year old daughters.
   
   Sandi Thompson-Royer: Sandi has worked in the Domestic Violence Movement for over 20 years beginning as a safe home volunteer. She has worked with the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Kalispel Tribe, Presbyterian Church USA and Faith Trust Institute as a trainer and consultant. Her passion continues to be working wtih women in Central America on a project she founded called Women Walking Together. She believes that if women around the globe share their stories of violence, together they can make change!
   
   Jamie Borgan: Jamie Borgan has an educational and travel background in Spanish and social work. She is engaged in volunteer work for numerous community organizations, including the Spokane Regional Health District. She currently works as an advocate for equal housing opportunity at the Northwest Fair Housing Alliance.
   
   Rhosetta Rhodes: Rhosetta currently serves as the Director of Service-Learning and Community Engagement, and the Center for Conflict Transformation at Whitworth University. She has eight years experience in human services management and has extensive experience in program development and implementation. For the past six years, she has collaborated with many agencies and organizations to improve the quality of life for Spokane's citizens and to work toward sustainable communities. Rhosetta also serves on the Board of Directors for the Center for Justice, an organization dedicated to the experience of justice for those with limited or no resources through compassion and an awareness of the sacredness of the earth.

4. Reclaim the Media

   Was it Ralph Nader or Jello Biafra who first said, “Become the Media!?” This workshop will give the average person a glimpse of ways to make positive change. The media democracy movement is one of the fastest growing citizen movements in the world. From the Indy Media Center in Chiapas, to community radio in Sandpoint, people are taking back the media for non-commercial use and building a better society. Learn how you can not just influence the media, but become the media. Democratic government and progressive social change cannot occur without people having access to the media, and diverse viewpoints being represented in the “mainstream” media. But today six corporations dominate the global network of media. They dominate what you see and hear in the media and they directly influence public policy. A burgeoning global movement of citizen action to take back the media includes bloggers, Internet activists, indy media centers, community radio, and more. Our workshop will explore the root causes of the problems with the media, and the local implications of the media democracy movement. We will explore media reform solutions that foster a more vibrant, sustainable society and the need for diverse sources of news, information and viewpoints.

   Presenter Bios:
   Lupito Flores: Lupito started KYRS-Thin Air Community Radio in 1999, organizing local activists to apply for a Low Power FM, non-profit, non-commercial community radio station. KYRS has been on the air since 2003 offering an eclectic mix of independent music from around the world and diverse news, views and culture heard nowhere else on the local radio dial.
   
   Paul Haeder: Paul is an English teacher at Spokane Falls Community College and coordinator of campus sustainability. He started as a journalist in 1977 photographing and writing about a hurricane that hit Southern Baja. Throughout his 30 years working for newspapers in Tucson, rural Arizona, El Paso, as freelancer for the Inlander, and for syndicates and magazines, he has compiled broad-based experience covering environmental issues, as well as the typical daily newspaper’s news beats. He’s seen journalism morph several times, taking a nosedive toward vapidity and the corporate bottom line since his college days in Arizona writing for the university daily.
   
   Jason Nix: the Spokane Falls Community College advisor for the college newspaper, The Communicator, has worked as a columnist, feature writer and education reporter, as well as a freelance travel writer in the Dominican Republic. He has won numerous Associated Press awards for his reporting and received a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship in 2004.
   
   Scott Daily: Since 2006, Scott has led a small group of committed Sandpoint, Idaho residents who have common interests in community service, independent media and journalism, local art, literature and music to create Sandpoint Community Radio. Sandpoint Community Radio (SCR) will be an independent, community-supported information resource for the greater Sandpoint area. SCR promotes community participation, collaboration, vitality and sustainability, while delivering alternative news, views, and educational programming that help cultivate an informed local citizenry. SCR is committed to being the hub of Sandpoint’s arts and information network.

5. Building Community at the Table

   What’s all the buzz about Main Market? Jennifer M. Hall, Pete Tobin and Co-op board members update the Spokane community on the development of what will be the only consumer food co-op in our area. With a downtown location, the co-op helps fill the void of everyday access to healthy, sustainable food, supports our region’s farmers and fisherman, provides central access to the full community and what a great place to grab a quick, delicious lunch! Co-ops are owned and directed by its members. We will share the many benefits common to a co-op member, and the exciting ones very unique to Main Market. “Member owned. Locally Driven.”

   Presenter Bios:
   Peter Tobin: Petergraduated from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY in 1980. A valued instructor here at Inland Northwest Culinary Academy for 18 years, he encourages students to put their educations to work for themselves and enjoys watching as they change the world. He is widely committed to Culinary Arts and is always on top of current standards and trends by staying active in industry. During his summers and down time, he works with past graduate Adam Hegsted at Brix restaurant, heads up Seahawks Spring Training Camp, and spends as much time at the hockey rink as he can. He also enjoys spending time with students in the INCA Dining Club. In 2004-2005, he coached the Knowledge Bowl team all the way to becoming Regional Champions. Peter is passionate about sustainability, and works closely with Slow Food Spokane River to encourage more local, organic foods in personal and professional kitchens around the Inland northwest.
   
   Jennifer Hall: Consistent work with both producers and the culinary community keep Jennifer well-versed in the full continuum of Farm to Table cuisine, forging a closer connection between the source of food and the consumer. As part of the national Slow Food Ark of Taste Committee and leadership of the local convivium, she organizes events that showcase local food producers and supporters and preserve biodiversity, with outings to area farmers' markets and u-pick farms, hosting educational movies and speakers and tasting, tasting, tasting sustainable, artisanal foods in a variety of settings. Jennifer continues this commitment in her professional pursuits, currently leading the charge to design and open retail food co-op in downtown Spokane, Washington. Other current sustainable food involvement includes serving as a consumer representative on the National Organic Standards Board and the planning team for the Western S.A.R.E. conference in 2009. Jennifer speaks nationwide, most recently at The Environmental Leadership Program's (ELP) "The Politics of Food," a national conference in Raleigh, NC on how America grows, distributes, buys, and eats its food.

6. Film: TBA

   More information will be provided as it becomes available.