Our humane education program, Bridges of Respect, is moving the hearts and minds of young people with school presentations that shed light on the world of farmed animals. After a recent presentation at Blaine High School, students said, “It was an eye opener…very inspiring…I want to become vegan.”
This is the kind of feedback we love to hear. It reminds us that our efforts to speak out on behalf of farmed animals are actually making a difference. Young people are listening and then taking steps to live a more compassionate life.
Bridges of Respect provides interactive presentations for middle schools, high schools, after-school programs, colleges, and community groups. It’s one aspect of our work that focuses on outreach, sharing our message of compassion with the general public.
Our outreach methods also include leafleting and pay-per-view.
Leafleting with literature such as Compassionate Choices allows us to reach thousands of people every year and initiates conversations about how our everyday choices can affect the lives of animals.
With pay-per-view outreach, we offer passersby one dollar to watch a five-minute video that reveals the horrors of animal agriculture. Throughout the past year, we’ve reached hundreds of people with this powerful form of outreach at college tabling events, the May Day Festival, the Twin Cities Pride Festival, and Twin Cities Veg Fest.
When you support Compassionate Action for Animals, you support our capacity to get our message out there. Our year-end campaign continues through December 31, and we’re halfway to our goal of $7,500. Can you give something today to help us make it the rest of the way?
Please consider making a contribution and helping us reach our fundraising goal, allowing us to teach others about the power of making kind choices and supporting a truly compassionate community for the Twin Cities and beyond.
For the animals,
Unny Nambudiripad
A meme recently shared on our Facebook page perhaps says it all. Above, it reads, “The Best Way to Have Pig for Dinner,” and below you see the image of a smiling pig sitting at the table alongside a human being, both enjoying a candlelit meal. While the cartoon image is perhaps a little over-the-top, the sentiment is not. We are all compassionate beings. None of us wants to see an animal hurt or abused. Wouldn’t we all rather see joy on a pig’s face instead of pain and suffering?
At Compassionate Action for Animals, we strive to see that justice is extended to all sentient creatures. That’s our vision for the world, and all of our events and activities throughout the year are designed to support this mission.
In case you haven’t heard, our most recent Twin Cities Veg Fest was truly amazing. Our latest issue of the Compassionate Times takes a look at the festival, our biggest annual event, reflecting on where it’s been, where it’s at, and where it’s going.
We’ve also recently published our research findings on the extensive survey that we conducted soon after the 2014 Twin Cities Veg Fest. How effective is the festival for animal advocacy? Though the survey was limited in how well it could answer this question, this study marks the beginning of our efforts to more comprehensively investigate how we are fulfilling our mission.
We thank you for supporting Twin Cities Veg Fest and all that we do at CAA for the animals. Please continue your support and make a year-end donation today. All gifts, no matter how big or small, will help us to climb closer to our goal of $7,500 by December 31. And your contribution will be tripled with a 2-for-1 match, thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor. Please help us cultivate a kinder world in which there there’s only one way to have a pig for dinner: as a most welcome guest!
For the animals,
Unny Nambudiripad
Compassionate Action for Animals has had a fantastic year. Not only is our local community growing, but we are also seeing huge strides in the global movement to help farmed animals. You are a part of that success, and we thank you.
We believe that each person’s contribution, no matter how big or small, adds up to make a difference for animals. If you’ve done something for animals this year, whether it’s been to move toward a plant-based diet, to participate in some outreach activity such as leafleting or pay-per-view, to attend one or more of our community events, or to volunteer in any capacity to support our mission, you have surely had an impact.
Here’s another very crucial way that you can help:
Make a gift of any amount in the month of December to CAA and triple your impact for the animals. We have a goal of raising $7,500 by December 31, and, thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, your contributions will be matched 2-for-1. That means we can raise an additional $15,000 to help farmed animals!
Truly, no gift is too small (or too large!). Your tax-deductible donation will help us to continue providing our community with the resources necessary to continue on the path to compassionate living. Give today! We have a vision for a nonviolent world where respect and compassion are extended to all creatures, and with your continued support we can move further toward making that vision a reality.
For the animals,
Unny Nambudiripad
I hope this email finds you well, preparing to celebrate Thanksgiving with loved ones in the most compassionate way possible. We had an awesome Vegan Thanksgiving Potluck for our community last weekend. We hope you were able to join us for that, and we thank all the volunteers who helped to make the event a big success.
December will be here before we know it, and we’ve got an array of upcoming events to tell you about. First and foremost, our year-end fundraising campaign will begin on December 1 and continue through December 31. We’ll have lots of exciting news about that in next week’s update. Be on the lookout and please consider including Compassionate Action for Animals in your holiday giving.
Here are some other events to bring you together with the CAA community through the end of the year:
Also, if you’re looking for something fun and in line with our message to do, consider attending Sust Tunes, an evening of music organized by Sustainability Education at the University of Minnesota on Friday, December 4 at 6:00pm. We’ll be there! Check out their Facebook event page for more details.
For the animals,
Unny Nambudiripad
The holidays are approaching, and you may be wondering what plant-based entree you can enjoy at your celebrations. How about a vegan Beef Wellington? This dish was served at our last Annual Banquet and was a big hit. It’s a flavorful, hearty dish that looks gourmet though it’s relatively easy to prepare. Scroll down for the recipe and enjoy!
If you’d like to explore some other veganized holiday dishes, join us for our Vegan Thanksgiving Potluck this coming Saturday, November 21, from 1pm to 3:30pm at Matthews Park Recreation Center. Bring a vegan dish to share and join in the fun. It’s not only an opportunity to enjoy an abundance of vegan food, but it’s also a chance to celebrate the holiday with the compassionate community. All are welcome!
For the animals,
Unny Nambudiripad
Yields 4 servings
This recipe was served at our 2015 Annual Banquet. For the “beef” in the recipe, we used The Herbivorous Butcher’s vegan ribs without the usual sauce. You can use a mock meat of your choice, but depending on what type of mock beef you are using, you may want marinate it first to add flavor.
- 1 package of pre-made puff pastry dough, thawed (Pepperidge Farm puff pastry is vegan)
- 1 small box of crimini mushrooms, chopped
- 1 large shallot, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon
- 4 pieces of mock beef, 3 ounces each (See note)
- 4 strips of mock bacon
- Salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
In a dry skillet over medium heat, cook the shallot and mushrooms until tender and all liquid has evaporated. Stir in the dried tarragon and add the salt and black pepper to taste. Set aside to cool.
Carefully unfold a single sheet of the puff pastry. Place the four pieces of mock beef on the pastry, leaving at least 3/4 inch around each piece. (For each serving of mock meat, 3 inches x 4 inches x 1 inch works well.) Cover the mock beef with a piece of mock bacon and a small spoonful of the mushroom mixture.
Top with a second sheet of the puff pastry. Press down gently between the pieces of beef so that the two sheets come together. Cut the dough into individual servings and then gently crimp the edges with a fork to seal.
Place the pastries on a baking sheet and bake about 20 minutes, or until the puff pastry is golden brown.
If you enjoyed Twin Cities Veg Fest, you’ll love our Vegan Thanksgiving Potluck. You’re invited to share this afternoon of fun with us on Saturday, November 21, from 1:00 to 3:30pm at Matthews Park Recreation Center in the Seward neighborhood of Minneapolis. There will be no turkey on the table – only Tofurky and other delicious, plant-based dishes. It’s a great time to feel gratitude for our thriving community of individuals who care about animals. Please bring a vegan dish to share and join us for this unparalleled vegan feast.
We have many reasons to be grateful. The world is changing, little by little. Undercover investigations of animal agriculture are getting more and more exposure, while huge restaurant chains and grocery stores are introducing more vegan options. Meanwhile, our local community of animal advocates continues to grow.
Tomorrow, Thursday, November 12, is Give to the Max Day in Minnesota. It’s a great time to show your appreciation for the charitable work that reflects your vision for what the world could be. On this day, you can make a contribution to Compassionate Action for Animals and help us continue to nurture a nonviolent community where respect and compassion are extended to all creatures. With your help, we can keep this movement thriving in the Twin Cities region.
For the animals,
Unny Nambudiripad
Twin Cities Veg Fest was a blast! We hope you were there to experience our biggest and best festival yet. Check out the slideshow of photos on our website. You might just see yourself in there.
Thanks to everyone who came out to share this day with us. We’re also grateful to our volunteers, exhibitors, sponsors, chefs, vendors, and speakers. Each one of you made this event great with your presence, contribution, and participation. Thank you for that!
We’re already thinking about next year’s festival. Let me know if you’d like to be a part of the planning committee. We could use additional members of the team to take Twin Cities Veg Fest to the next level.
Until next year’s festival, we’ve got a steady stream of events to keep you involved with the compassionate community. Here’s what’s coming up in November:
- Twin Cities Veg Fest Data Entry
- Saturday, November 7, 10:00am – 2:00pm, CAA Community Space
- Help us enter information from hundreds of Twin Cities Veg Fest sign-up sheets and raffle forms into our database. Free lunch included!
- If you’re interested in lending a hand, RSVP on Facebook or contact Unny Nambudiripad at unny@exploreveg.org.
- November Dine Out: Jasmine 26
- Wednesday, November 11, 6:30 – 8:30pm, Jasmine 26
- Join us for another fun dine out! This one is at Jasmine 26, a very veg-friendly family-owned restaurant specializing in fine Asian cuisine.
- RSVP on the Facebook event page or email Justin at justin@exploreveg.org.
- Vegan Thanksgiving Potluck
- Saturday, November 21, 1:00 – 3:30pm, Matthews Park
- Our Thanksgiving potluck is an opportunity to celebrate thankfulness, enjoying an abundant array of delicious vegan food. Please bring a vegan dish to share.
- If you’re interested in volunteering, contact Paula Huerkamp at paula.huerkamp@exploreveg.org.
- Invite your friends using the Facebook event page.
For the animals,
Unny Nambudiripad
Join us on this coming Sunday, November 1, for our biggest event of the year: Twin Cities Veg Fest. We’re very excited and hope that you plan to be there.
Need some convincing? Here’s how this festival is all the things:
- Cooking Demos
- Four different chefs are prepared to show you how to make easy, delicious plant-based food in Coffman’s 400-seat theater. Free samples included!
- Free Vegan Food Samples
- We’re giving away free vegan food to put in your belly. Need we say more?
- Food Vendors
- We now have a fancy food court for the food vendors on the 3rd floor. We have so many vendors that we had to put a few down in the Exhibitor Hall too. And, yes, there will be vegan donuts!
- Speaker Presentations
- In the President’s Room on the 3rd floor, we have a line-up of amazing, inspirational talks on topics covering everything from ethics to nutrition.
- Exhibitors
- In the Great Hall, we have dozens of exhibitors showing off their goods and services. The best of the best! And many free samples are included.
- And more!
- Swag bags for the first 250 to arrive!
- Pay-per-view outreach. We give you a dollar to watch a five-minute video.
- Kids Area. Fun for kids and their parents. (This is not a drop-off area; please stay with your children at all times.)
- A special gift for the first 2,500 attendees available on the 3rd floor. Did somebody say Chipotle?
- Photo Booth! Treasure the memory of your awesome day at Twin Cities Veg Fest.
A few other logistical details:
- The festival starts at 10am and closes at 4pm.
- The event is free to attend and open to everyone, whether they’re vegan, vegetarian, or omnivore. Invite your friends and family!
- The festival is located at Coffman Memorial Union on the campus of the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Here is a map, and here are some suggestions for how to get there.
- Daylight Saving Time ends the night before. Set your clocks back an hour before you go to sleep and use that extra hour to rest up for a day of fun at the festival!
One more thing:
If you can’t contain yourself until Sunday, then by all means join us for the Twin Cities Veg Fest Pre-Party at moto-i on Friday, October 30. For $20, you get dinner, entertainment, and good company. Reserve your tickets today and don’t miss out!
For the animals,
Unny Nambudiripad
You’re invited to join us for the first-ever Twin Cities Veg Fest Pre-Party next Friday, October 30, from 7 to 10pm at moto-i in Minneapolis. Tickets are $20 each and include an array of vegan bites from the moto-i menu plus entertainment from a pink-haired musical guest. Space is limited; reserve your tickets today!
This is your chance to mingle with the compassionate community and ramp up the excitement for the festival, which will happen just a couple days later on November 1. Twin Cities Veg Fest is our biggest event of the year, and thousands will come from far and wide to enjoy this day-long festival featuring vegan food, cooking demos, special presentations, exhibitors, and more.
We hope you’ll join us for the pre-party and the festival. Both of these events are sure to be fun, fun, fun, and we would love to have you there!
For the animals,
Unny Nambudiripad
Of course, you’ll find the delicious vegan food inspiring, and that’s a major feature of this festival celebrating compassion. But we’ve also got a line-up of incredible speakers, both local and national, to inspire you with their presentations. Here’s a glimpse of what each of them will be sharing at Twin Cities Veg Fest on November 1 at Coffman Memorial Union:
- The Ethics of Eating Animals at 10:30am
- Jeff Johnson, Associate Professor of Philosophy at St. Catherine University
- In this talk we will critically examine some of the common defenses offered in favor of eating animals. We will discuss a few of the prominent positions and arguments philosophers have offered on both sides of the ethical issue of eating animals. And we will explore ways our ordinary ethical concepts can be brought to bear on the issue.
- How We Can Combat Factory Farm Abuses at 11:30am
- Christine Coughlin, Minnesota State Director for The Humane Society of the United States
- The political muscle of Big Ag and the factory farming industry may seem impossible to combat, but our movement is achieving victories and more are on the horizon. Learn about winning strategies and how we can work together to build our power for change.
- Going Vegan Made Easy at 12:30pm
- Toni Okamoto, Founder of the highly successful blog, Plant Based on a Budget
- Toni will be sharing ideas to challenge misconceptions of the general public regarding veganism, including: not sacrificing time, taste, money or culture in the pursuit of healthier and more compassionate eating. Be ready to learn tips on meal planning, money saving, and time-efficient cooking that are perfect for those with families and busy schedules!
- Inspiring Compassion: Putting Our Ethics on the Table at 1:30pm
- Mikael Nielsen, National Volunteer Coordinator for Mercy For Animals
- Mikael will give a brief overview of Mercy For Animals, as well as a quick history of factory farming in the United States. He will discuss the current situations facing farmed animals today and how MFA’s work is helping to improve those conditions and reduce suffering. He will touch on recent investigations and the changes to animal welfare that have resulted. He will conclude the presentation with things we can all do to prevent cruelty to farmed animals through our daily actions. This will be followed by a Q&A session.
- Easy Vegan Nutrition at 2:30pm
- Suzy Sorenson, Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator, and founder of Move2Veg Nutrition Counseling
- Compassionate eating is as easy as 1-2-3! If you’re ready to move to plant-based eating, this is your opportunity to gather tips and tools to plan simple, balanced vegan meals. We’ll also touch on nutrition recommendations, health benefits of plant based eating, reliable nutrition references, and how to get the fuel you need to feel your best without breaking the bank. Whether amateur chef or heat-and-eat master, you can be a great example of compassionate living.
We hope you can catch one or more of these motivational presentations at the festival. If you haven’t already, RSVP to the Twin Cities Veg Fest Facebook event page. It’s a good way to stay tuned in to what’s happening with the festival and to show your support. The countdown has begun!
Also, the location of October Potluck: I Can’t Believe It’s Vegan has been moved to the home of Bill and Jackie Van Susteren at 1929 James Avenue South in the Kenwood neighborhood of Minneapolis. Join us for this fun potluck on Sunday, October 25 from 12:30 to 2:30pm and bring a vegan dish to share. If you plan to attend, please RSVP on the Facebook event page or email Justin Leaf at justin@exploreveg.org.
For the animals,
Unny Nambudiripad
