We were lucky to catch up with Brian Peterson-Roest recently and have shared our conversation below.

Brian, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

“I would like to see Detroit become a national leader in the conservation of pollinators and promotion of urban beekeeping. Since 2010, I have been a hobbyist beekeeper and have come to realize that they are one of the most amazing creatures on this Earth. Sadly, if we don’t act now they will be on the brink of extinction. People do not realize the devastation this will cause globally.”

“I used to think, that honey bees only belong in the country. My eyes were opened one day while walking in Battery Park in New York City. I watched as thousands of people walked by the BeeVillage: The Battery which is an apiary located at The Battery Conservancy. This caused me to do some research and I discovered that honeybees are extremely productive in cities, especially cities like Detroit, that have large amounts of green space.”

– Brian Peterson-Roest, Founder

Brian, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Bees in the D is a trusted group of educators focused on pollinators, specifically honeybees, and provides a model for beekeeping nationally. Through global education and our nationally recognized urban beekeeping model, we increase knowledge around pollinators and are a recognized advocate for honeybees. Our nonprofit provides honeybee hives and beekeeping training for schools, businesses, and local municipalities.

Brian Peterson-Roest has been a 5th grade teacher in Rochester Community Schools for 23 years. He has a masters and specialist degree in Educational Leadership/Administration from Oakland University and is an Adjunct Professor. Brian was personally honored by President Barack Obama for receiving the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (2012). He was also a recipient of the Michigan Science Teacher of the Year Award (2011), the Humanex Excellence in Teaching Award (2015), the Justice, Equity Diversity, Inclusion Award (2021) and was chosen as one of Crain’s Notable LGBTQ in Business Leaders (2021). Brian founded the non-profit organization Bees in the D. Bees in the D is devoted to the education and conservation of Honey Bees and other pollinators in the Detroit area. The organization has over 200 hives at 63 different locations in Southeast Michigan and offers many workshops and classes throughout the Detroit area that share about the importance and misconceptions of Honey Bees and pollinators.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Social media has been an important part of sharing our passion and mission. Individuals love quick facts, videos that give them a taste of the world of bees. We love to share what we are doing with those videos and facts. Included in that are live videos when out on location or my weekly “Forage Friday” videos. Social media has also helped with fundraising and donations which furthers our mission.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

As an educator I know the importance of connecting with others. I also know that individuals connect in various ways so I want to diversify the delivery of our message. Unfortunately not everyone is always supportive or want to see you succeed. That is where I remind people that our mission is not about me as the founder but rather about the mission the organization has set. When times of not feeling supported appear I try to keep the phrase in the back of my mind that my father would share with me as a kid, “kill them with kindness”.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://beesinthed.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beesinthed/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeesInTheD/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/35677612
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/beesinthed

Image Credits
Darrel Ellis Bees in the D