黑料社区app

8–9 a.m.
Student Union - Ballroom

Registration (Ballroom Lobby - Student Union)

Opening Keynote Video (begins at 8:35 a.m.)

9-9:30 a.m.

Ballroom

Emcee: Theroi Riggins, GLBD Chairperson

Welcome 

Land acknowledgement

Tamika Thompson, D.D.S., M.S., School of Dentistry, 黑料社区app

Introducing Bioneers and Thanking our Sponsors

Tamika Thompson, D.D.S., M.S.,

9:30 – 11:45 a.m.

Tour 1

Creating a Sustainable School and Church Campus Through Student, Staff, and Green Team Advocacy
Gesu School and Parish (Walking Tour)

Stephanie Osborn

Tour 2

Visit a living, breathing, faith-filled Resilience Hub (“Laudato Si’ in Cody Rouge”)

Steven Wasko

Tour 3

Marygrove Civic Commons: A vibrant tour woven with memories of a community’s past and the promise of a brighter future.

Jay Meeks & Rachel Cappadona

Tour 4

Integrated Storm Water Management (黑料社区app - Walking Tour)

Dave Root & Demetri Lambrinos

Keynote video 9:35-9:55 a.m.

Ballroom

A1. 10-10:30 a.m. Youth Learnshop

Going Green With Simple Science

Kerry Williams
The School at Marygrove

A2. 9:35-10:35 a.m. Adult Panel

Panel Presentation: History of Environmental Determinants of Health in Detroit

D’Arcy Cook, Brendan O’Leary
Wayne State University Center for Leadership in Environmental and Awareness Research

A3. 10:40-11:40 a.m. Youth Learnshop

Generation Green: Junior Champions – Difference Makers of Today, Gamechangers of Tomorrow

Emma Belanger, Madison Gladney
Green Living Science

A4. 10:40-11:40 a.m. Adult Learnshop

Assessing and Planning to Achieve Environmental Justice: Good News

Fr. Charles Morris, Dr. Elaine Hockman
Madonna University    

Keynote Video 11:40-11:45 a.m.

11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.

(Ballroom)

Lunch

School Choir

12:50-4:30 p.m.

B1. 12:50-1:50 p.m. Youth Learnshop

One Sweet Thing

Reuben Gordon, Harlan Bivens
The Better Detroit Youth Movement

B2. 12:50-1:20 p.m. Youth Learnshop

From 15 to 1: Converting 15 bags of trash to one bag in a school cafeteria

Anita Sevier and Gesu students
Gesu Catholic School

Room TBD

B3. 12:50-1:20 p.m. Adult Learnshop

Healthy You

Cheryl Williams, Marie Washington, Dr. Theroi Riggins
Making a Difference

Room TBD

B4. 1:30-2 p.m. Youth and Adult Learnshop

Integrated Storm Water Management: How Detroit is Finding a Sustainable Route

David Root, Demetrios Lambrinos
Giffels Webster

Visit Vendors

B5. 2-3 p.m. Adult Learnshop - Panel Discussion

Social Justice & Eco-Spirituality

Mike Whitty, Rev. Charles Oduke, Rev. Dr. Blanton L. Banks

Ballroom

B6. 2-3 p.m. Youth and Adult Learn Shop

Water Unaffordability – The Water Drop Game

Norrel Hemphill
We the People of Detroit

Room TBD

B7. 2-3 p.m. Youth and Adult Learn Shop

Qigong: The Mind-Body Connection

Dr. Janet Joiner

Room TBD

B8. 3-4:30 p.m. Adult Learn Shop

Sips from the Farmacy: Handcrafted Herbal Mocktails

Jaquetta Lee
CWO Farms

4:40-5 p.m.

Closing Ceremony

Opening

Emcee: Dr. Theroi Riggins

Dr. Riggins serves as chairperson of GLBD. She is a professional nursing leader with over 20 years of experience in clinical care, healthcare administration and community outreach. She is a graduate of 黑料社区app 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.

Tour 1

Creating a Sustainable School and Church Campus Through Student, Staff and Green Team Advocacy (Walking Tour to Gesu School and Parish)

Stephanie Osborn

The tour will take place on the six-acre campus of Gesu Catholic Church. The walking tour from 黑料社区app highlights projects that have been completed to be better stewards of resources we use, including water, food and energy. The tour will include visiting the demonstration rain garden, native plant garden, bioswales, parking lot renovation for stormwater management, rain barrels and pollinator lawn as well as the cafeteria and onsite composter. Time will also be spent discussing how various groups have been successful in advocating for changes throughout the campus and general Q&A.

The tour will be co-led by Gesu students, staff and Green Team members. Gesu Elementary 5th through 8th graders are invited to join the Science Club. Club members meet regularly to work on science-related projects, many of which have a sustainability focus. Anita Sevier, who leads the Science Club and serves as the Director of Advancement, has experience advocating and planning for green stormwater management, solar panels and reduced waste throughout the school. Parish Green Team members have a wide range of sustainability experience including water stewardship, waste reduction and native plants.

Tour 2

Visit a living, breathing, faith-filled Resilience Hub (“Laudato Si’ in Cody Rouge”)

Steven Wasko

Our Catholic Community Resource Center is integrally interdependent with the Earth and its inhabitants in its mission and all of its actions. The Center espouses power sharing in economics, programming and decision-making. It also demonstrates the true sense of resilience in its recent national designation as a hub that not only makes substantial capital improvements at energy efficiency and remaining vibrant during times of disaster, floods and power outages, but aims to empower the entire community's resilience by way of directly involving young and adult residents in education, workforce development and economic responses to environmental stewardship.

Steve Wasko is the founding director of the St. Suzanne Cody Rouge Community Resource Center. He has 38 years of experience in public education administration, having served as an assistant superintendent of one private and two public school systems, with his most lengthy tenure at Detroit Public Schools, where among other responsibilities he convened teams to develop innovative new program designs and enrollment stabilization efforts.

He is a longtime neighborhood and community leader and holds a master’s degree in Educational Administration from the University of Michigan and the Certificate in Advanced Educational Leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Tour 3

Marygrove Civic Commons: A vibrant tour woven with memories of a community’s past and the promise of a brighter future

Jay Meeks, Rachel Cappadona

The Marygrove Civic Commons tour will be an engaging and interactive walking tour through the five green infrastructure improvements in the Marygrove/Fitzgerald neighborhood, highlighting the environmental stewardship/climate justice steps taken at each location and the nature-based solutions that have been implemented or are in the planning phase. Three community-driven murals will be landmarks on the tour, as we discuss the local artists and the meaning behind the art. The tour will wrap up discussing food systems, nature, culture and spirit, including the highs and lows of a community garden and free composting access in the neighborhood.

Jay Meeks was born in Detroit and lives in the Fitzgerald neighborhood where he grew up. With extensive experience in nonprofit management, Jay has helped to secure funding for the Marygrove Civic Commons. Passionate about CBS (Climate, Beauty over Blight, and Safety), Jay works tirelessly to provide opportunities for education and implementation to uplift these pillars in the Marygrove Civic Commons.

Rachel Cappadona grew up in Rochester, N.Y., but has lived in the Fitzgerald/Marygrove neighborhood for over five years. With two young children and a passion for creating a 15-minute city atmosphere in her life, Rachel is always collaborating with organizations to bring them to the neighborhood for community members to enjoy.

Tour 4

Integrated Storm Water Management (Walking Tour – 黑料社区app Campus)

Dave Root, Demetri Lambrinos

Peak Volume Mitigation: Designed to capture, slow and filter peak runoff, stormwater practices buffer against intense rain events. This directly addresses urban climate challenges by mitigating combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and protecting local waterways like the Detroit River.

Public Health and Neighborhood Equity: Chronic urban flooding and basement backups disproportionately impact legacy cities and vulnerable neighborhoods. Engineered practices incorporate native landscaping and ecological design. The project transforms critical utility infrastructure into community resilience assets that safeguard public health and restore environmental equity.

Ecological Integration and Land Restoration: Utilizing vegetated, nature-based edges around the detention basin helps filter pollutants naturally while reducing heat island in an urban context. 

Dave Root, PE, is a licensed professional engineer as a partner at Giffels Webster and 黑料社区app alumnus with 16 years post-graduation experience in civil engineering, rooted in both municipal and private development.  His enthusiasm for stormwater management and universal design for urban redevelopment and commercial construction is the perfect way to focus on places for people.

Demetri Lambrinos is a Canadian civil engineering professional based in Windsor with experience spanning infrastructure, land development and municipal engineering projects across Ontario and Michigan. A graduate of the University of Windsor, who has contributed to the revitalization of Detroit over the last three years, Lambrinos' passion is urban development and storm water infrastructure design

A1

Youth Learnshop. Going Green with Simple Science

Kerry Williams

Everyday choices and home designs hold hidden scientific principles that can heal the planet. This 30-minute session explores the basic physics and biology behind sustainable living by focusing on five core areas: why windows are double-hung, how vines can cool the house, growing your own food, shifting to vegetarian diets and the value of white roofs. Attendees will discover how simple adjustments lower energy use, reduce carbon footprints and reconnect households with nature.

A2

Adult Panel. History of Environmental Determinants of Health in Detroit

D’Arcy Cook; Brendan O’Leary

Panelists will discuss the history of environmental and public health in the city. They will focus on air and water quality and impacts on respiratory and reproductive health. The presentations will relate to themes of environmental racism and climate justice, detailing disproportionate impacts to Detroit’s Black community and residents’ stories of resistance and reclamation of power. The panel will engage participants by teaching them how to test for and mitigate VOCs in their homes, or join CLEAR’s community engagement activities, like community forums or home visits. Panelists will bring home visit VOC testing equipment for a demonstration of the technology.

D’Arcy Cook is a Ph.D. candidate at Wayne State University, studying environmental history. Her dissertation is on the Detroit incinerator, from its inception in 1974 to demolition in 2022. She has her master’s degree in History from WSU, and a dual bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering and Arts and Ideas in the Humanities from University of Michigan. This background makes her a perfect bridge between the scientific world and non-scientific audiences. She is on CLEAR’s Research Translation team, where she makes CLEAR’s exciting work accessible to Detroit residents using online and printed resources, as well as presentations like this one.

A3

Youth Learnshop. Generation Green: Junior Champions – Difference Makers of Today, Gamechangers of Tomorrow  

Emma Belanger, Madison Gladney

We will highlight the development and implementation of a summer-long paid program for youth in Detroit. A youth-centric and community-connected weekly program that focused on greenspace stewardship, career readiness, skill-building, social-emotional awareness, mentor bonding, partnerships and equitable resources was created around one common bond--empowering students to bridge gaps in their lives and neighborhoods. We will discuss how their input and feedback allows them to make change within themselves and for the world.

Green Living Science (GLS) was founded to bring education about recycling and natural resource conservation to students. During our fifteen years, we’ve expanded our programming to not only serve schools, but also businesses and community members. GLS is dedicated to educating Detroiters about the impact waste has on our planet. 

Our Backyard Detroit (OBD) is a community-centered project designed to empower residents to take ownership of Detroit’s public green spaces. The program’s name reflects the vision of parks and green spaces as extensions of residents’ homes—a “backyard” for all to enjoy.

A4

Adult Learnshop. Assessing and Planning to Achieve Environmental Justice: Good News

Fr. Charles Morris, Dr. Elaine Hockman

Using data we have accrued over 30 years, we will demonstrate through multivariate statistics and mapping the positive impact that the introduction of renewable energy has had on the health of Michigan’s residents. Next, we will outline the relationship between concentrations of PFAS and public health stress, especially for people of color. The final part of our presentation will be interactive. We will invite attendees to partner with us in onsite statistical/mapping analysis of their own area – incorporating measures of race, class, pollution and measure of public health, including pollution related cancers, asthma, low birthweight, etc.

Fr. Charles Morris is a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit. He has served as a faculty member of Madonna University since 2010. Fr. Charles is the founder of Michigan Interfaith Power & Light. He is active with the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association and has served on the Board of the Green Burial Council. His work on sustainability has been acknowledged in The New York Times, CBS Sunday Morning News, the Free Press and many Catholic publications such as The National Catholic Register. He has served in the past as an advisor to GLBD.

Dr. Hockman specializes in research design, measurement and statistical analysis. She began the Research Support Laboratory at Wayne State University and was an adjunct professor in Environmental Justice at the School of Natural Resources and Environment (SNRE) at the University of Michigan. She is the co-editor of a book on environmental justice in Michigan. Since retiring from Wayne State, she remains active in environmental justice research, both collecting and analyzing data, as well as assisting individuals and organizations involved in social science endeavors.

B1

Youth Learnshop. One Sweet Thing

Reuben Gordon, Harlan Bivens

One Sweet Thing hopes to challenge youth to become changemakers in their community, city, regionally and beyond. Young people have the energy, potential and promise to the better the world. Our goal is to encourage them in this capacity, because we know when young people help others they feel better about themselves and the world.

The Better Detroit Brownie Company was the idea of a 17-year-old on the youth advisory board of The Better Detroit Youth Movement who thought it a good way to better our non-profit coalition and his community.

Today, we’re much more than a bakery — but a “for youth/by youth” social enterprise to empower general education, and special needs and autistic students. The Better Detroit Brownie Company students don’t just learn about business. They build and run a real social enterprise using brownies as the vehicle, and they learn to earn money for their pockets and/or great causes via "fun-raising" programs.

B2

Youth Learnshop. From 15 to 1: Converting 15 bags of trash to one bag in a school cafeteria

Anita Seiver and students of Gesu

This presentation, given by middle school students, will highlight what youth can do and shows sustainable practices. The students will explain how Gesu School has kept more than 58,000 pounds of food waste from landfills. There will be clear, concise directions to do this and Gesu can offer support to those who need it.

Gesu has been sorting and disposing of food waste in an ecological way for over three years, and the students are great ambassadors for this program. 

B3

Adult Learnshop. Healthy You

Cheryl Williams, Marie Washington, Dr. Theroi Riggins

This presentation will showcase products in the health and wellness industry, specifically featuring LifeVantage.

B4

Youth and Adult Learnshop. Integrated Storm Water Management: How Detroit is Finding a Sustainable Route

David Root, Demetrios Lambrinos

Peak Volume Mitigation: Designed to capture, slow and filter peak runoff, stormwater practices buffer against intense rain events. This directly addresses urban climate challenges by mitigating combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and protecting local waterways like the Detroit River.

Public Health and Neighborhood Equity: Chronic urban flooding and basement backups disproportionately impact legacy cities and vulnerable neighborhoods. Engineered practices incorporates native landscaping and ecological design. The project transforms critical utility infrastructure into community resilience assets that safeguard public health and restore environmental equity.

Ecological Integration and Land Restoration: Utilizing vegetated, nature-based edges around the detention basin helps filter pollutants naturally while reducing heat island in an urban context.

Dave Root, PE, is a licensed professional engineer as a Partner at Giffels Webster and 黑料社区app alumnus with 16 years post-graduation experience in civil engineering, rooted in both municipal and private development.  His enthusiasm for stormwater management and universal design for urban redevelopment and commercial construction is the perfect way to focus on places for people.

Demetri Lambrinos  is a Canadian civil engineering professional based in Windsor with experience spanning infrastructure, land development and municipal engineering projects across Ontario and Michigan. As a graduate of the University of Windsor, contributing to the revitalization of Detroit over the last three years, he has found a passion to focus on urban development and storm water infrastructure design.

B5

Adult Learnshop. Panel Presentation: Social Justice & Eco-Spirituality

Mike Whitty, Rev. Charles Oduke, Rev. Dr. Blanton L. Banks

This interfaith panel will engage participants in an exploration of social justice and the 黑料社区app mission. 

Mike Whitty taught 40 years in the 黑料社区app College of Business. He was the director of University of Detroit's Institute on Building Sustainable Communities and a civil rights campaigner in Mississippi and Selma, Alabama, in the 1960's.

B6

Youth and Adult Learnshop. Water Unaffordability – The Water Drop game

Norrel Hemphill

We, the Youth of Detroit and Water PEEPs, will host a game that simulates current water bills and systems of inequity. We will cover a few ways our youth demonstrate their commitment to interdependence and how our community members can do the same. Water PEEPs will share a brief history on water injustice and current solutions to codify and ensure all Michiganders have access to clean, safe and affordable water and sanitation.

The organization is dedicated to developing the next generation of leaders. We educate and equip young people with the skills to advocate for themselves and their community, ensuring a future where all have access to clean and affordable water.

B7

Youth and Adult Learnshop. Qigong: The Mind-Body Connection

Dr. Janet Joiner

This movement-based session will feature an introduction to the ancient practice of Qigong and the contemporary practice of Tai Chi Easy™. Ancient, indigenous peoples of China and India used energy wellness practices, including Qigong, as traditional medicine to treat myriad conditions. This session will include demonstration of several Qigong practices used to improve cognition/memory (neuroplasticity), reduce inflammation in the body to address pain and improve strength and balance to reduce the likelihood of falls as we age. Workshop attendees will be encouraged to actively participate in Qigong demonstrations while seated or standing, based on ability. Qigong relates to the GLBD themes of Food Systems, Nature, Culture, and Spirit, as well as Intelligence in Nature.

Food Systems, Nature, Culture and Spirit

Qigong invites participants to experience the connection between personal well-being and the natural systems of which we are a part. Rooted in traditional Chinese healing practices, Qigong uses breath, mindful movement and awareness to cultivate balance and resilience. This experiential session expands the conference conversation about sustainability beyond the external environment, exploring how practices rooted in culture, nature and spirit can support healthier people and, ultimately, healthier communities.

Intelligence in Nature

The human body is nature, too. Through Qigong, participants explore the body's inherent capacity for balance, adaptation, restoration and resilience. The session offers an embodied way to consider one of the conference's larger questions: What becomes possible when we learn to work with natural systems rather than against them?

Dr. Janet M. Joiner has over 35 years of professional experience in higher education. She currently serves as associate professor and BSW program director in the Department of Social Work at 黑料社区app. Joiner teaches undergraduate courses in Social Welfare & Social Justice, Social Welfare Policy, Self Care & Spirituality, and Multicultural Diversity. She has served the social work profession as NASW-MI Delegate, completed a three-year term (2020-2023) with the Michigan Board of Social Work, holds membership on several human service/social work education committees, and regularly delivers professional training programs for human service organizations and community groups related to wellness practices and self-care. Joiner is a certified Qigong Practice Group Leader, certified Tai Chi Easy™ Group Leader, and is double-certified in Sound and Vibrational Energies

B8

Adult Learnshop. Sips from the Farmacy: Handcrafted Herbal Mocktails

Jaquetta Lee

“Sips from the Farmacy” is an interactive herbal mocktail workshop connecting urban agriculture, wellness and food sovereignty. Led by Detroit gardener, educator and woman in farming Jaquetta “Mama Jo” Lee, the presentation shows how locally grown herbs can become flavorful, refreshing drinks while strengthening our relationship with the land and reducing reliance on heavily processed ingredients. Participants will explore herbs’ value, learn simple garden-to-glass techniques and create their own mocktail combinations. The session reflects “Revolution from the Heart of Nature: Changemakers” by celebrating women’s leadership, community knowledge, environmental stewardship and everyday choices that support resilient communities.

Jaquetta “Mama Jo” Lee is a Detroit-based gardener, educator, chef and founder of Butterfly Gardens. With more than 15 years of gardening experience, she handcrafts flavorful, refreshing herbal mocktails with a focus on wellness. She serves as a parent facilitator and teacher with Engage Detroit, where she teaches children practical skills in cooking and farming. Mama Jo is also one of the resident chefs for CWO Farms in collaboration with Butterfly Gardens, and she serves on the board of the Wayne County Farm Bureau. Her work blends creativity, community and fresh garden-to-glass flavor.

$25

• Exhibitor/Vendor table (table provided)
• Table set-up by 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 15
• Includes one-day registration

$10

• Shared table space for brochures and fliers
• Materials must be dropped off at the conference by 9 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 15, and pick up what’s not distributed by 5 p.m.

$100

• Signage at event
• One (1) one-day registration OR Exhibitor table.

$250

• Signage at event
• One (1) full one-day registration AND Exhibitor table

$500

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

$1,000

• Signage at event and on webpage
• Three (3) full one-day registrations AND Exhibitor table

$2,000

• Signage at event and on webpage
• Five (5) full one-day registrations AND Exhibitor table