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Meet Alysia: Passionate Volunteer Making a Difference for Animals

November 25, 2024

Discovering CAA and a Passion for Service

Alysia Nelson has been volunteering with Compassionate Action for Animals (CAA) for the past year and a half, combining her passion for plant-based living with her commitment to serving others. She discovered CAA through MeetUp while searching for programs that served plant-based meals. Alysia was drawn to CAA’s work preparing and serving meals for those in transitional housing at Simpson Housing Services.

Why CAA?

“CAA does A LOT to improve the lives and well-being of animals,” Alysia shared, explaining what initially impressed her about the organization and inspired her to get involved.

A Range of Volunteer Roles

Since joining CAA, Alysia has contributed in various ways, including as a photographer for this year’s Twin Cities Veg Fest. She described the experience as “a blast and really well-organized.” With her enthusiasm for photography, the role was a natural fit, and she appreciated how accessible CAA makes it to volunteer.

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ThanksLiving Potluck 2024: A Celebration of Community, Compassion, and Delicious Vegan Food

November 25, 2024

On November 23, 2024, Matthews Park in Minneapolis was filled with the amazing smells of vegan dishes as over 100 people came together for Compassionate Action for Animals’ (CAA) annual ThanksLiving potluck. This special event featured a feast of plant-based foods, including highlights like vegan turkey and gluten-free meatloaf donated by The Herbivorous Butcher. These favorites, along with a variety of sides, drinks, and desserts, showed off the creativity and passion of the CAA community.

Building Connections

The ThanksLiving potluck wasn’t just about the food — it was also about connecting with others. Guests filled out forms with fun questions like “What can you teach others?” and “What would you like to learn?” These conversation starters led to great discussions and helped people at each table bond, even if they already knew each other.

Fun Prizes and Generous Donors

To make the event even more exciting, completed forms were entered into a prize drawing. Thanks to donations, five lucky winners received gifts like a Tabitha Brown cookbook and gift cards to NE Wellness. The grand prize — a $100 gift card to NE Wellness — went to Breanna Knutson. She plans to use it for a relaxing massage (well deserved after leading the Twin Cities Veg Fest Planning Committee!).

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Vegan holiday specials: Where to find holiday meals and treats in the Twin Cities and beyond

November 18, 2024

One of the tasty pies from Reverie Cafe + Bar

The Twin Cities have some amazing vegan holiday offerings this year! From pies and meal kits to full dinners, local businesses are providing a wide range of plant-based options to help you create a compassionate and delicious celebration.  This is especially timely as recent research shows that 29% of all Americans plan to have plant-based options on their Thanksgiving table!

Our guide provides ideas for some of this season’s best vegan holiday specials. This page is a work in progress requiring group input to make it as complete and accurate as possible. We captured as much information as we could but may have missed some special offerings. Help out and email us with any additional vegan holiday options or to add further details: [email protected]. Information on options in Greater Minnesota are particularly helpful. Please note that some deadlines may have passed or items may be sold out — check with each business for more details. 

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Hope and Asher’s Journey: A Story of Rescue and Love at Spring Farm Sanctuary

November 11, 2024

Spring Farm Sanctuary Welcomes Hope and Asher

Spring Farm Sanctuary recently welcomed two very special sheep, Hope and Asher, who have quickly become part of the sanctuary family. Their journey to safety began when the sanctuary received a call about two lambs in desperate need. These lambs had been neglected and were about to be killed. It was clear they needed immediate help, so Spring Farm rushed to save them, hoping to give them a second chance at life.

Rescue and Recovery

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CAA’s Next Chapter: A New Space at the Grain Belt Keg House

November 11, 2024

Exciting news — Compassionate Action for Animals (CAA) has moved! After many great years at 2100 1st Ave in Minneapolis, we’re thrilled to start fresh in a new space in the historic Grain Belt Brewing Keg House at 13th Avenue NE, Suite 108, in Northeast Minneapolis. The recent rent increase at our old office pushed us to find a new home, and the Grain Belt Keg House checked all our boxes. This unique, accessible location comes with added perks: nearby transit, access to outdoor areas, and even a coffee shop with vegan options!

A Look at Our New Space

We’re now sharing our office space with the local nonprofit DEMO, a group preserving and promoting Minnesota’s music legacy. This connection was made possible by DEMO’s Mitch Thompson, a past CAA board member and current volunteer. Laura Matanah, CAA Executive Director shares why she’s enthusiastic about the space: ”We’ve been lucky to find a new space for below-market rates with everything we wanted: ADA accessible, close to transit, easy access to an outdoor space to gather, and kitchen access for events. We’re right by the Mississippi River. We look forward to welcoming volunteers and donors there!”

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Celebrating Compassion and Creativity: The Story of Catherine Krummey and Her Veg Out Blog

October 11, 2024

Catherine Krummey, a passionate advocate for plant-based living, launched her blog Veg Out in 2022 to combine her love for vegan comfort food and film. Pairing delicious vegan recipes with her favorite movies and TV shows, Veg Out has become a space where food lovers and movie buffs connect.

Involvement With Compassionate Action for Animals

Since moving to the Twin Cities in 2021, Catherine has explored vegetarian and vegan organizations, eventually coming upon Compassionate Action for Animals (CAA). Discovering that her values match with CAA’s, she has gone on to participate in our events and campaigns. This year, she volunteered to use her social media skills on behalf of Twin Cities Veg Fest

Catherine’s Compassionate Food Journey

Catherine’s journey towards plant-based living began in 2009 when she became a vegetarian, and by 2023, she fully transitioned to a vegan diet. The abundance of vegan options in the Twin Cities helped her make the switch. When asked about her favorite restaurants she told us “I enjoyed everything I have eaten at J. Selby’s, Trio, Pizza Lucé and Reverie.”

Her love for cooking and baking fuels her creativity, often inspiring her to veganize comfort foods like pies, casseroles, and ice cream — many of which she shares on her blog.

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Meet Olivia: A Resilient Goat Living Her Best Life at Herbivorous Acres

October 3, 2024

Olivia, an 8-year-old Saanen goat, has found her forever home at Herbivorous Acres, a sanctuary devoted to giving farmed animals a second chance. She’s now known as the “mother” of the sanctuary, loved by all who meet her. 

Olivia’s journey to this peaceful place began in 2019 when she and her son, Lucky, were rescued from a Wisconsin dairy farm. In a rare and heartwarming outcome, both goats were surrendered together by the farmer, allowing them to stay side by side — something that doesn’t often happen in factory farming.

A Rare Bond: Olivia and Lucky’s Journey Together

Olivia with Lucky close behind her

In the world of industrial farming, baby animals are often separated from their mothers shortly after birth, treated as commodities rather than sentient beings. Olivia and Lucky’s story is a touching exception. Their bond has remained unbroken since their rescue, and now, they get to spend every day together in the serene environment of Herbivorous Acres. They’re often seen side by side, soaking up the sunshine or grazing in the fields, enjoying the simple pleasures of their new life.

Olivia’s Health Struggles and Triumphs

When Olivia arrived at the sanctuary, she was in very poor health. Severely malnourished and suffering from two incurable diseases: CAE (Caprine Arthritis and Encephalitis) and CL (Caseous Lymphadenitis), she faced challenges. These diseases, common in goats, are often a death sentence on factory farms, as infected animals are typically euthanized to prevent spreading to the rest of the herd. But at Herbivorous Acres, Olivia was given the care and attention she needed to survive and eventually thrive.

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VegWeek 2024: Encouraging Compassion and Community at the University of Minnesota

October 1, 2024

Some members of the University of Minnesota CAA chapter at the recent Twin Cities Veg Fest

The University of Minnesota’s chapter of Compassionate Action for Animals (CAA) is gearing up for an exciting VegWeek this October! VegWeek is all about raising awareness of compassionate living and inspiring new members to get involved with their activism efforts. So far this year, more students are actively participating in animal advocacy, making it one of their most impactful yet. They are hoping they can attract additional new members through VegWeek as well as their visit to Twin Cities Veg Fest and a potluck picnic.

What Is VegWeek? 

VegWeek is a week-long event the week of October 14. This week was chosen because of its proximity to World Animal Day and World Vegetarian Day. The goal is raising awareness about veganism and inviting students to take a pledge to go vegan for a week. 

Participants who sign up will receive a swag bag at one of the week’s events. These events are designed to build excitement on campus and provide support for those taking the pledge. Activities include cookie decorating, a bake sale, a career panel, movie screenings, grocery runs, and cooking demos — all designed to help students explore vegan eating.

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Twin Cities Veg Fest 2024: A Celebration of Community and Compassionate Living

October 1, 2024

Twin Cities Veg Fest 2024 took place on September 22 at Harriet Island Park, and it was a huge success! With over 5,000 attendees, this year’s event had everything from delicious food and live music to fun activities and engaging talks. Organized by Compassionate Action for Animals (CAA), this was the 12th annual festival, bringing together people of all ages and backgrounds to celebrate plant-based living and compassionate choices. 

If you missed out or want to relive the festival, be sure to check out our photo slideshow above! We’ve captured the highlights, from the American Vegetarian Association Main Stage with its awesome speakers to the Focus Health and Music Stage featuring live music and yoga and the games at the Farmaste Fun Zone. Not to mention all the fantastic folks at the festival and the tasty food. These photos showcase the energy and excitement of the day, bringing back memories of a great time.

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Volunteer Spotlight: Tom Hoch’s Passion for Animal Advocacy and Community Service

September 23, 2024

Tom Hoch has been volunteering with Compassionate Action for Animals (CAA) for just a few months, but his passion for animal rights runs deep. He became involved with CAA through his connections with other animal rights organizations and was drawn to our mission to create a more compassionate world for animals. 

Volunteer Roles and Goals

Currently, Tom is involved with the CAA Policy Work Group, where he’s working with others to plan how to advance legislation and policies that benefit farmed animals and promote plant-based diets. He believes in the importance of gradually changing societal norms surrounding animal agriculture, starting with better labeling to provide transparency for consumers. Tom also supports anti-confinement legislation and advocates for offering plant-based alternatives in school meals. 

His strategic mindset focuses on moving forward patiently to avoid resistance and foster long-term change in how people view animal consumption.

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