Fall Newsletter 2025
October 3, 2025
Read the newsletter in its original format here.
Born in the wake of a storm, Burners Without Borders has spent 20 years evolving into a worldwide network of action—still asking the same question: how can creativity and community meet the challenges of our time? If there’s one truth the last two decades have taught us, it’s this: no matter what the world throws our way, community is the answer.
As we continue celebrating our 20th anniversary, we’re not just looking back—we’re looking forward. This fall, we invite you to carry this spirit with us: start something small in your neighborhood, join forces with a chapter, or show up for a project that matters to you. The future of BWB is co-created, together.
And because this story belongs to all of us, we’d love to hear from you. Share your photos, videos, and memories from BWB projects past and present—whether big or small. Your stories help us honor our shared history and inspire what’s next. Send them to bwb@burningman.org.
In this issue, we share highlights from across the BWB ecosystem: local chapters taking action, playa projects pushing sustainability forward, gatherings sparking new collaborations, and resources you can use to get started where you are.
As always, we invite you to join us for upcoming events, stay connected with our community, and consider supporting BWB with a donation. Let’s continue to inspire and support one another in building a more beautiful world together.
Civic Ignition Grant Matching Program: BWB Detroit
Now through November 15th, every dollar donated to BWB Detroit will be matched up to $1,500—doubling the funds available to support the unhoused in Detroit during the cold months ahead.
As we celebrate 20 years, this milestone year reminds us of the power of chapters like BWB Detroit. Established in 2007, this community has been devoted to serving the unhoused since the start. From handing out blankets to distributing hygiene-filled backpacks to transforming a church into a winter shelter. Now is the time to support BWB Detroit; let’s celebrate their work and fuel their future with funding.
Donate today to see your tax-deductible donation doubled.
Venmo: @NPV373 (Note: MatchMeBWB)
PayPal: newpathvillages@gmail.com (Note: MatchMeBWB)
Watch the Replay: “Creative Interventions: Response, Resilience, Regeneration”
The last BWB Worldwide Call brought our global community together to celebrate 20 years of creative action at the intersection of art and civic life. From youth-led street theatre in Guatemala to shopping carts racing for food justice in Chicago, to festivals that double as forest restoration projects, we’ve seen how creativity sparks lasting change.
Never miss an online or in person event: 👉 [Subscribe to our Community Activation Calendar]
Report Back: BWB–BRC 2025
At Burning Man 2025, Burners Without Borders continued its anniversary celebration. Serving as a hub for connection—bringing together chapter leaders, Indigenous voices, nonprofits, and civic allies. Highlights included our three-day speaker series, a dinner for 150 community leaders, and our anniversary celebration, The Give a Damn a Jam. The camp also anchored key sustainability efforts—BLAST, RAT, a new solar donation station, composting, and the Green Corridor.
Report Back: BWB at Resilience Fest 2025
BWB joined Footprint Project and partners in Black Mountain, NC—just 9 months after Hurricane Helene—for Resilience Fest, a gathering focused on community-powered recovery, renewable energy, and disaster response. We spoke on a panel about how festivals can be testbeds for resilience infrastructure, and connected with orgs doing aligned, on-the-ground work.
👉 [Read the full report here] and learn how you can plug in.
BWB at Decompression 2025: Oakland Edition!
Join us at The Loom, Decompression’s exciting new home in the SF East Bay, as we bring some of our favorite pieces of BWB-BRC into an Activation Space!
- Hands-on learning with mesh network systems
- Live screen printing with images from BRC 2025
- Info about BWB, Fly Ranch, and sustainability projects
At 5 PM, we’re hosting a Mixer for local Bay Area nonprofits run or supported by Burners—a chance to connect, cross-pollinate, and spark new collaborations.
👉 [Sign up here to join the mixer] 👉 [Get Tickets to BM Decompression]
Interested in volunteering, partnering, or sharing your project?
Reach out to us at bwb@burningman.org.
NEW: Regional Event Civic Ignition Grant
While we don’t have all of the information finalized, we wanted to give our newsletter subscribers a first look at a (hopeful) upcoming collaboration with the Burn After Meeting (BAM) conference for Regional Event Organizers. The Regional Event Civic Ignition Grant!
This grant is about igniting civic imagination and giving Regional Events a platform to try bold, creative approaches. Projects should draw inspiration from the 10 Principles, encourage collaboration, and ideally be designed in a way that others in our global community can learn from.
The Regional Event Civic Ignition Grant is designed to spark innovative projects within Regional Events.
We’re looking for projects that:
- Prototype infrastructure innovations
- Experiment with sustainability practices
- Create civic projects tied to the event
- Share ideas that can inspire other Events
If this is something you’re interested in email us: bwb@burningman.org and we’ll make sure you get the application information as soon as it’s published. SUBJECT: Regional Event Civic Ignition Grant
October 10–12, we’re returning to the sandy shores of North Padre Island for our seasonal cleanup and burn.
After a successful summer event, the group is continuing a tradition of more than 10 years—picking up trash and giving back to this beloved coastline.
On October 10 (International Homeless Day), BWB-Detroit is teaming up with Empowerment Plan.
They will be distributing 1,000 EMPWR Coats—the innovative coats that transform into sleeping bags—in 10 cities across the U.S.
BWB Detroit will create 100 hygiene kits to accompany the coats bound for Detroit, and are asking for your support.
WE NEED: 80 Band-Aid kits 80 Masks 10 Lotion 10 Rain ponchos 100 each of: Shampoo, Conditioner, and Wipes
BONUS: Heading to Detroit Art Rising on Oct 4?
Bring any hygiene items with you — they’ll be collecting on site
Want to help? Ship supplies to: 4350 Yorkshire Rd, Detroit, MI 48224
“Christmas Isn’t Over” starts their season on October 4 at Oppenheimer Park. Join the first Saturday of every month until Summer 2026
👉[Event Details]
👉 Join BWB Vancouver on FB
New Resource: BWB Activation Space Toolkit
Want to bring Burners Without Borders to your local event? Whether you’re attending or organizing a Decompression, a Regional Burn, or even a neighborhood festival, The Activation Space Toolkit is here to support you.
It’s a flexible guide to help you set up a BWB presence at local events and is a great way to create community and spark conversations.
👉 [Check out the toolkit here] — Planning to host a space? Let us know!
Black Rock City Temple Grant Program Open
Temple of the Heart by Ela Madej and Reed Finlay, 2023 (Photo by Rand Larson)
Submit your proposal for the 2026 Temple from October 1 through October 31, 2025!
If you are interested in applying to build the Temple, learn How to Submit a Temple Grant Proposal.
Jessica Wallach, Accessibility Lead of Majestic Collaborations, hosts a panel that focuses on the intersection of accessibility and safety in mass gatherings, including Burning Man.
The speakers highlight the importance of acknowledging the labor of emergency frontline workers and making emergency management accessible to all.
The Art of Mass Gathering
👉 [Listen to the discussion here]
Webinar Spotlight: RISE & Tales of Turning
Join RISE (Resilience In Shared Endeavour) a branch of AfrikaBurn, and Tales of Turning in this webinar to learn more about using music, art and social media to unleash your creativity and co-create healing spaces. They explore how to come together to build a world where everyone feels seen, heard and belongs.
The 2019 Feast at Burning Man
The Feast brought together BWB, IDEATE, Heart Tribe, Abraxas, and others to serve a communal meal for 1,000 to support people facing food insecurity around the world.
For every meal served on playa, a meal was donated to FoodShift, Oakland, CA.
👉 [Watch the Feast @ Burning Man: A Dinner for 1000 in service to a hunger-free world ]
Never miss a video by subscribing to the BWB YouTube Channel
BWB exists because of YOU
Over the years, your participation and generous support have enabled this creative community to accomplish so much around the world.
BWB is known for helping real people solve real problems. The unique gifts this community brings to the international stage are quickly transforming what people think is possible.
To continue doing this important work, we need your help. Consider donating to the continued success of BWB. Any amount that you can give will go a long way in helping us to reach our goals.
Stay Connected: Explore the The BWB Ecosystem: Current News, Social Media Channels, & Get Involved.