The theme of this year's Bioneers conference was "We Make Our Future."  Sunday morning's keynote speaker, Dorothy Cotton, began her talk by challenging the audience to consider whether we really believe that to be true.

Photo by Danielle KlockGay Nicholson, of Sustainable Tompkins, welcomes conference attendees

Dorothy Cotton has a background as a community organizer in the civil rights movement and had the opportunity to work closely with Dr. Martin Luther King.  While the challenges of that era were distinct, Dorothy was able to draw several connections to the challenges we face today with climate change and global warming.  As she explains, the solutions to both problems lie in our ability to realize our own individual and collective power.

Recounting several memories as anaolgies, Dorothy explained how as a culture, we are "programmed" into patterns of thinking.  She told the story of her sister's father-in-law, Mr Buck, who was unsure whether he could sit down at a restaurant even after it had been  desegregated.  Patterns of thought can be difficult to change - especially those that are fundamental to the way society functions.

Photo by Danielle KlockDorothy Cotton engages the audience with a story

She made the point that although many remember the civil rights movement for the marches and race riots, there was actually much deeper work being done to transform individuals.  They were waging a battle against a system - a pattern of behaviors and thoughts that were entrenched in the culture.  In order to change the system, they needed to use their own collective power to be the change they wanted to see.

Dorothy told stories of boycotts at Woolworths, wade-ins at white beaches, and sleep-ins in hotel lobbies.  Through her work with the Citizen's Education Program, Dorothy taught individuals to discover their own power as "citizens" and inspire a transformation in people to decide "We're not going to take it anymore."

Photo by Danielle KlockCal Walker introduces Dorothy Cotton

Dorothy urged us to realize was that although we have progressive leaders, it is not someone else's responsibility to solve our problems.  We must all become conscious citizens and take personal responsibility for our future.  We have the creative abilty as an empowered community to solve our problems.  There is no blueprint for the future and we make the road by walking it.

Dorothy was introduced by Cal Walker, executive director of Village at Ithaca, who gave an heartfelt introduction of a woman we he so clearly respected and admired. Cal's organization works with children and the schools to ensure equity and access to Ithaca's diverse resources.

TAGGED WITH: change, civil rights, dorothy cotton, transformation