Roots & Shoots members were among the 13,000 in-person and virtual attendees at the 19th Annual Bioneers Conference in San Rafael, California, in October. Several outstanding members and Youth Leaders even gave presentations and hosted panels.

The Bioneers, a partner of Roots & Shoots-California, put on the three-day event, at which speakers, panels, workshops and forums dealt with sustainable living issues, including the Seven Generation philosophy of Native Americans, the use of fungi on land oil-spills and slam poetry in inner-city schools.

"It's a conference that functions as a brainstorming session for how we're all going to save the world," said Karen Oxrider, Roots & Shoots-California Regional Director.

Erica Fernandez, an attendee of the 2008 Jane Goodall Global Youth Summit, kicked off the conference with her "Si, Se Puede!" ("Yes, We Can!") speech—and received a standing ovation.

Roots & Shoots California Youth Leadership Council (CAYLC) member Kai N., 19, gave a presentation entitled "Education is Empowerment! Youth Empowering Youth to Stop Climate Change."

"The whole event was life-changing," Kai said. "Being with thousands of other people fighting for a better future, for the next generation is very inspiring, and many of the workshops were very educational and enlightening."

Throughout the conference, Roots & Shoots members found themselves hanging out, connecting and networking with other organizations. Roots & Shoots-California staff and CAYLC members closed the conference with a youth unity workshop, during which they interacted through icebreakers and shared what parts of the Bioneers event inspired them the most.

"We met different youth groups from all over the country who are doing environmental and social projects in their communities too," said Joana L., 17, a CAYLC member and the leader of Urban Empowerment Roots & Shoots group in Los Angeles. "It was uplifting hearing them talk about what they've done and what they will do next."

High Tech High in San Diego has an active Roots & Shoots group, and students there blogged about Bioneers.

"My favorite part of the event was seeing the change in the Youth Leaders' faces," said Megan Nangle, Roots & Shoots-California Program Coordinator. "When we were leaving Bioneers, they could not stop talking and smiling."

Interested in more events like the Bioneers Conference? Check out the Roots & Shoots events calendar.