Have you tried some of the awesome dishes competing for your highest rating in the Twin Cities Vegan Comfort Food Challenge? Thanks to all the local restaurants that are participating. Also, thanks are due in part to volunteers like Brita Bengtson and Sarah Matanah who contribute their time and talents. They’re part of the Vegan Comfort Food Challenge Committee, a group of volunteers who are skillfully coordinating this monthlong dining challenge.
Compassionate Action for Animals
Looking for fun and connection? Attend our Annual Banquet, March 20
Feeling stuck at home? We understand! Join us for a chance to “breathe free.”
We know it can be hard to meet people and share interests with others during these trying times — but at CAA’s upcoming banquet, it will be a breeze! We have a variety of activities planned to help you get on your feet, have fun, and connect with CAA’s growing community.
Postcard volunteers share why they’re writing for animals
By Julie Knopp, CAA Volunteer
In the months preceding the general election, I wrote more than 200 postcards to encourage voter turnout. It was a wonderful experience to feel like I was taking part in something bigger than myself during a time of isolation. When the election came to a close, I wondered if there might be other fun ways to volunteer from home.
New CAA chapter approved at Macalester College
By Brody Fuller
A new branch of Compassionate Action for Animals has been approved by the Student Organization Board at Macalester College (St. Paul, MN). The branch will begin activities starting in February 2021. The organization plans to conduct meetings twice a month with a focus on teaching students about healthy, affordable plant-based options. Additional plans include collaboration with other Macalester student organizations, as well as the University of Minnesota CAA branch. This collaborative effort will focus on finding relevant and educational speakers to discuss plant-based diets and animal rights efforts with the students.
Free Vegan Meal Delivery in North Minneapolis
Compassionate Action for Animals (CAA) is excited to announce our latest collaboration.
Over 4,000 plant-based meals will be delivered free of charge to North Minneapolis residents between now and the end of 2020. Heather Klein, founder and chef at Root to Rise Kitchen, conceived of the project and got funding from a CARES act grant to pay for the food and her administration of the project. If you live in the Northside Green Zone, you can sign up to receive free meal delivery here.
Sanctuary owners face biases in vet care
by Cassie Douglas, CAA Volunteer
Owning a sanctuary for farm animals comes with struggles beyond having the means to feed and house the residents. What happens when an animal becomes injured or ill and vets refuse to help because the animal is considered food? Though this idea may seem silly, it is sadly something many sanctuary owners and staff have experienced.
Helping Farmers Go Plant-Based
By Cassie Douglas, CAA volunteer
It’s no secret that small, family-owned farms are struggling to stay afloat, especially in recent years. This is especially true for smaller farms with business models that rely on animals and depend on the market for animals or animal products. Factory farms now account for 99% of the farmed animals in the United States.1 That means intense pricing pressures for farmers who attempt to compete in this space.
Volunteer Shout-Out: Piper Gartner
Meet Piper Gartner, one of our 2020 summer interns! She started interning with us this June and has been supporting the Twin Cities Vegan Chef Challenge and Wholesome Minnesota.
Read more about what she’s been up to with CAA this summer and her other interests below!
Flushing the Toilet Assumption
For my job, I travel to Guatemala a few times per year. I’m often struck by the visibility of animal suffering there. I see cow carcasses hanging off the side of a truck barreling down the road. I see pigs tied up in the back of live transport trucks. I see street dogs, missing large swaths of fur from mange, limping along the side of the road.
It’s not that this immense animal suffering doesn’t happen in the US. It’s that we make it less visible.
Meet Terrell Woods, aka Carnage the Executioner
Meet the special guest and presenter of this year’s annual banquet, Terrell Woods, aka Carnage the Executioner! Woods is an instructor, producer, musician, and rapper based in Minneapolis and leading a plant-based lifestyle. Read on to learn about what inspired him to go plant-based, how that decision has impacted his music, and more!