Bioregion Rising: Strategies and Financing for Regenerating the Northeast

We are at capacity. Join our waitlist

Exploring Bioregional Regeneration in the Northeast

What would it look like if communities across the Northeast came together to care for our shared land, water, food systems, and economies—guided by Indigenous leadership and local knowledge?

Join the Northeast Bioregioning Collective for a day of learning, connection, and conversation about building a more resilient, just, and thriving region. Over the past nine months, the Collective—made up of people from different communities, cultures, and sectors—has been exploring how we can better collaborate across differences to meet our basic needs in ways that restore both people and planet.

Together, we’ll share a vision for how we might pool resources, support community-led solutions, and build long-term partnerships that strengthen the places we call home. You’ll hear about early ideas and projects taking shape, and we’ll invite your input, questions, and imagination through interactive discussions.

This event is for anyone who cares about the future of our region—whether you work in food, energy, housing, climate, culture, finance, or simply want to be part of something rooted in care and cooperation.

We imagine a future where:

• Everyone can belong and thrive in healthy, connected communities.

• Food, energy, and materials come from sources that care for the Earth.

• Local economies reflect our values and honor every culture’s unique gifts.

• Collaboration becomes our greatest strength.

  
  

We hope you’ll join us in shaping this future together.

Featured Speakers*

• Mike Thomas, Inter-Tribal Alliance, Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center

• Zbigniew Grabowski, Executive Director, Alliance for the Mystic River Watershed

• Will Szal, Board President, Regen Foundation

• Julie Davenson, Director of Program Integration and Financial Services, Soil & Climate Initiative; Phd Fellow with Leadership for the Ecozoic at University of Vermont; Board President of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Hampshire

• Keetu Winter, Executive Director, Wellspring Commons

• Tom Murtha, Portfolio Manager; Philanthropy & Non-Profit Board Member

• Richard Zimmerman, Executive Director, Foundation House

  
  

* subject to update

Program at a Glance* 

9:00 AM – Arrivals & Light Breakfast

9:30 AM – Program start

• Opening Remarks

• Connecting to Place

• Introduction to the Northeast Bioregion, and the Collective's Vision, Mission and Approach

• Indigenous Perspectives on What Regeneration Means

• Basics of Bioregional Financing Facilities (BFFs)

• Seed Portfolio Showcase: Bioregional Projects in Motion

11:45 AM – Closing Remarks

12:00 PM – Optional Light Lunch and Networking

1:15 PM – Event concludes

Opening Remarks

Foundation House & the Northeast Bioregioning Collective

Connecting to Place

Introduction to the Northeast Bioregion: Vision, Mission & Approach

Keetu Winter & Zbigniew Grabowski

Indigenous Perspectives on What Regeneration Means

Michael Thomas & Kaleb Garrett

Basics of Bioregional Finance Facilities (BFFs)

Tom Murtha

Seed Portfolio Showcase: Bioregional Projects in Motion

Julie Davenson & Will Szal

*subject to update.

Who's in the Room*

We are at capacity. Please join our waitlist

• Alberto Cota, Triangle Digital

• Ali Ghiorse, The Foodshed Network

• Andrea Panaritis, Christopher Reynolds Foundation

• Bill Baue, r3.0 (Redesign for Resilience & Regeneration) / Northeast Woodlands Bioregioning Collective

• Bob Dandrew, Partners for Climate Action

• Caitlin Taylor, Midcourse Design & Development

• Chez Liley, Wellspring Commons

• Chris Maher, Samaritan Partners

• Daniel Russo, Greenwich Public Schools

• David Barber, Blue Hill

• Erik Mass, Environmental Finance Consultant

• Ernie Zahn, Tse'Nato'

• Howard Fischer, Gratitude Railroad

• Howard Rosenfeld, The Farmer's Table

• Jesse Marksohn, Yellowbud Farm

• Johanna Lovecchio, Climate School, Columbia University

• Josie Watson, Mycelial Law PLLC

• Julie Davenson, Soil & Climate Initiative

• Kaleb Garrett, Native American Culture

• Keetu Winter, Wellspring Commons

• Lisa Miniter, LAM Consulting

• Lisa Roberts, Lisa Roberts FOOD

• Magenta Light, Bloom Network

• Manoj Panjwani, Enable Impact

• Marc Tannous, Silver Leaf Partners

• Matthew Stinchcomb, Partners for Climate Action

• Mike Thomas, Inter-Tribal Alliance, Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center

• Minot Weld, North Woods Mass Timber

• Otto Muller, First Light

• Rahoul Mehra, Live! From Tomorrow / Sincosa

• Renee Giroux, NWCT Regional Food Hub

• Richard Zimmerman, Foundation House

• Robert Zulkoski, Conduit Capital

• Roberta Hill, Center for an Ecology-Based Economy; Northeast Bioregioning Collective

• Sara Farley, The Rockefeller Foundation

• Stefan Martinovic, Circular Enterprises LLC

• Stephen Filler, Regenerative Strategies

• Stephen Posner, Garrison Institute

• Susanna Choe, Bioregional Embassy

• Sydney Bolger, The ImPact

• Sydney Griffith, Kinship Earth

• Tom Murtha, Portfolio Manager; Philanthropy & Non-Profit Board Member

• Will Szal, Regen Foundation

• Zbigniew Grabowski, Alliance for the Mystic River Watershed

  
  

*The RSVP list will be updated on an ongoing basis. If you prefer to keep your name private, contact Jaclyn at jaclynl@foundationhousect.org

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