September 28, 2023

Hannah Milos started volunteering with CAA in 2022, helping with events like Twin Cities VegFest, the Annual Vegan Chili Cook-Off, and the Twin Cities Plant-Based Bike Crawl. In the summer of 2023, she attended the Animal and Vegan Advocacy Summit with CAA, where she learned valuable skills and resources for being a better activist. This inspired her to join the board in August 2023.

Hannah appreciated her year of volunteering with CAA, finding events like VegFest, the Vegan Chili Cookoff, and the Plant-Based Bike Crawl both creative and fun. She enjoyed meeting fellow vegans, volunteers, and CAA staff. Her participation in the Animal and Vegan Advocacy Summit exposed her to passionate activists and organizations, fueling her desire to be a more active activist.

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September 28, 2023

Andrew Hamilton joins the board of CAA with a big heart for animals. He’s been a dedicated volunteer and board member at the Animal Rights Coalition for over fifteen years, where he’s led vegan cooking classes, hosted waffle parties, and organized nearly one hundred Meetups at all-vegan restaurants. 

By day, Andrew is a public school teacher in the city, and during his winter, spring, and summer breaks, he loves exploring museums, visiting gay bars, and trying out all-vegan eateries. He shares his home with a happy senior rescue dog and lives in Minnetonka.

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September 28, 2023

Meet Mitch Bermel, a new CAA board member who’s passionate about our mission to promote empathy for animals and encourage plant-based diets. Mitch, a dedicated volunteer and donor, believes CAA holds untapped potential and is eager to shape its future, especially through strategic planning.

Mitch brings nonprofit experience from his work at Legal Assistance of Dakota County. He began volunteering with CAA in January 2021 and was active on the Development Committee. He appreciates CAA’s community focus and aims to help expand its outreach efforts, such as we did with the cornhole tournament in Summer 2022, which he helped organize.

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September 21, 2023

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The reviews are pouring in, and they are filled with positivity! With over 5,000 attendees, Twin Cities Veg Fest 2023 was a huge hit. Survey responses are overflowing with praise for the wide array of activities and booths. People loved everything – from the fantastic vendors with delicious food to the fun activities, tasty food demonstrations, and exciting giveaways. The music and speakers were a hit too, making sure there was something enjoyable for everyone. And who could forget the excitement of our surprise celebrity guest, Ms. Tabitha Brown, who generously took time to visit with vendors and attendees and even posted a reel about it on her Instagram account!

But it’s not just about the fun; the event also made a significant impact for the animals. Over 50% of attendees were not yet vegan. We were excited to see that the vast majority of them expressed their commitment to taking steps toward a more compassionate lifestyle. Many said they would cut down on dairy and/or eggs, while others pledged to reduce their purchases of products made from animals. Almost everyone indicated their intention to share this newfound information with others.

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September 21, 2023

Jesse has been a dedicated Twin Cities Veg Fest volunteer for over four years. This year, his role was coordinator of our Zero Waste efforts. He also helped plan the first Twin Cities Plant-Based Bike Crawl on August 12th. At the event he was a lead biker to guide folks on the route! In addition, he helps the Tech Team maintain CAA’s websites.

Twin Cities Veg Fest started in 2012 and was held at the University of Minnesota. This is when Jesse discovered and started attending Veg Fest. He enjoys volunteering and wants to continue inspiring folks to try plant-based eating. He views it as a great way to benefit the planet, animals, and our health.

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September 20, 2023

This August, as part of the Twin Cities Vegan Chef Challenge, nineteen local restaurants competed to make the best new vegan dish in the Cities. For a month, they added a new vegan dish to their menus, and diners at the restaurant tried it and cast their votes. Over a thousand diners, of varying diets, participated in trying and giving feedback on new dishes. 

Social media posts about the dishes, including both restaurant offerings and facts about the benefits of vegan eating, reached over 20k Minnesotans, and media coverage further extended the challenge’s reach. 

Restaurants, offering a variety of cuisines, and ranging from vegan restaurants to those with no vegan entrees, experimented with new dishes and benefited from new publicity and detailed diner feedback. Winners were determined based on restaurant ratings as well as other diner feedback on the dishes.

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September 12, 2023

Thanks to our sponsor, VegFund, we have an exciting day lined up for you at the VegFund Mainstage. Get ready for cooking demonstrations featuring talented chefs from two beloved local vegan restaurants: Hi! Flora and Reverie Cafe + Bar. You’ll discover the secrets to adding that extra flair to your home vegan cooking!

But that’s not all; we have some informative talks in store for you. Dr. Joanne Kong will delve into the social damage caused by factory farms, shedding light on the extensive harm they inflict beyond animal cruelty. Factory farm workers face physical injuries, psychological trauma, and harsh conditions that often lead to domestic violence, PTSD, and substance abuse, creating a widespread cycle of cruelty that affects society as a whole. She will explain how embracing veganism is a powerful step towards a kinder world.

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September 8, 2023

Are you ready for an amazing experience at the Twin Cities Veg Fest? While delicious vegan food and drinks are understandably big draws, there’s so much more to explore among our 100+ exhibitors. Whether you’re seeking compassionate products, intriguing organizations, or inspiring info, you’re in for a treat!

While we can’t list them all, here are some exhibitors to pique your curiosity.

Vegan Food/Drinks

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