On September 3 at the Minnesota State Fair Twin Cities Veg Fest did a take over of the Cambria Kitchen in the Creative Activities Building for a full day of plant-based cooking demos and tastings. These first of a kind demos were from 9:30-6 pm and featured Twin Cities Veg Fest vendors. The cooking demonstrations were by Reverie Cafe +Bar and Coconut Whisk.
Mistress Ginger joined us as an emcee and made the day even more glamorous and fun! CAA hosted the event and shared information on the festival. Of course we also shared some tasty samples!
Hundreds were reached with our eight demonstrations. Many additional passers-by were also exposed. This was a key opportunity to share our message about plant-based eating with a new audience. All while attracting these fair goers to our festival!
This summer CAA was thrilled to have two summer interns from South High School: Stephanie Osornio Orduna and Muniratu Shaibu . They worked with our Community Organizer Tamuno Imbu to assist with a variety of projects over their two months with us. Their salaries were paid by the Earn While You Learn Summer Program.
On August 24 on Kali Terry from Life Juices was interviewed on Healthin’ it Up with Coco and Lala on KMOJ The Ice. Kali is one of our cooking demo presenters at Twin Cities Veg Fest MN State Fair Cooking Demos on Sept 3 and a vendor at Twin Cities Veg Fest on September 18 at Harriet Island Park. You can hear the complete interview by clicking on the play button above.
During the interview Kali talked about his history with Life Juices and his vision for his company and the community. He and the co-hosts, Coco and Lala also promoted the festival and the Minnesota State Fair Cooking demos and lauded CAA’s work. All three of them have common cause in promotion of healthy eating in communities of color and spoke to this issue.
Kali shares: “ We believe everyone should have access to organic, healthful, flavorful beverages…I want to make it convenient for people, to raise the level of consciousness where it comes to health, and to prove that [black neighborhoods] are a viable market for juicing.”
Coco and Lala state: “As healthy living advocates on a mission, we aim to promote cleaner eating habits among communities of color that have long been plagued by deep-rooted stigmas. Our goal is to make healthy eating fun, quick, easy and relatable for those who have been led to believe clean eating equates lack of flavor. It’s no secret heart disease disproportionately affects black men and women. Shocked by these alarming statistics, we’ve united forces to launch our healthy eating platform.”
Coco and Lala have several platforms including: Keeping Up With Coco & Lala, their Facebook cooking show as well as this radio show, Healthin’ It Up with Coco & Lala.
Kali shares their commitment to bringing better health to the African-American community and is doing so through his business, Life Juices. You can find the juices in select retail locations or on the streets in their MobileJuicery. And at Twin Cities Veg Fest and the State Fair cooking demos!
If you are curious about vegan cooking, this club is for you! Each month participants make three recipes from popular cookbooks then share their reflections with the group. Novice to expert cooks are welcome, as are interested non-cooks. Registration not required.
You may download the recipes using the link below or pick them up at East Lake Library, 2727 E. Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN 55406. Printed recipe packets are available at the library’s Safe Pick-Up Station. Simply check in with the greeter and ask for the Vegan Recipe Club packet. If you would like contactless pick-up, please call the library during open hours and request curbside service.
The cookbook selection for September is The Good Berry Cookbook by Tashia Hart
Over the last several months we have done blogs on some of our Twin Cities Veg Fest volunteers. Now that the time is coming close to the big day (September 18!) we want to recognize a few more of this hard working team:
Nathan Gaut
Nathan Gaut is currently assisting the Chairs of the Festival. After 5 years of festival planning and as a past chair for several years (and a current board member), Nathan is perfectly suited to help support the two Chairs for this year: Breanna Knutson and Katelyn Maddox.
When asked about what he loved about volunteering with CAA he cites the CAA community with its many “cool people who are just as passionate about animal welfare as me.” Planning the festival is a lot of work but he states that “To be together working towards a common goal of inspiring people and building a sense of community makes all the work worth it.”
On August 14 ten CAA friends were given a personalized tour of Farmaste Animal Sanctuary. We got to meet their 22 residents and see first hand their special personalities! Their residents include goats, cows, sheep and pigs. Our guide Shannon told us their personal stories. We were also among the first to get to see their new location in Lindstrom, MN.
We appreciate Farmaste for setting up this tour and all the other great support and partnership. Including their support of our Explore Veg 21 Day Veg Challenge program and Silver level sponsorship of Twin Cities Veg Fest this year!
Farmaste rescues abused, neglected and unwanted farm animals and brings them to their 30-acre farm. There they are allowed to roam in the pastures, and live out their days free from cruelty. Farmaste is the only Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries verified sanctuary in Minnesota. They are a federally registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization fully funded through donations.
Thanks for the great tour and all the support, Farmaste!
Over fifty people joined us at the July 31 Twin Cities Veg Fest FUNraiser. More than $500 was raised to help make this, the 10th Anniversary festival (September 18), the best one ever. This is a great start toward our goal of $10,000 to be raised by August 31. The festival costs over $60,000 each year and our sponsorships and exhibitor fees only cover a portion of that. To make up for the difference and enable us to keep the festival free for all we do fundraising events and campaigns such as this one.
The event was held on July 31 from 2-4 at Lake Monster Brewing. We had fabulous food from Vegan Byy Nature! And, of course beers and other brews by Lake Monster.
Entry level tickets were $35 for event admissions and a meal. A VIP $60 ticket scored a tote bag and a limited-edition 10th Anniversary festival t-shirt! For those who set up their donation to be recurring they got a special button “I helped make this possible!” – for extra bragging rights! And a free Fastmeal at the Festival!
There was a photo booth with animal themed items, a photo board and bags (cornhole) games to play. All in the lovely patio of Lake Monster. If you were there relive the experience with these photos. For others, get a taste of what you missed. And join us for the next FUNraiser!
Thanks to all who came and contributed and to Vegan Byy Nature and Lake Monster for their support. Special thanks to the volunteers who helped make this all possible.
If you would like to donate to help keep Twin Cities Veg Fest free for all go to https://www.givemn.org/story/1fc9ag. Take advantage of a match going on for August!
Commemorating the Kenny Feldman Animal Advocate Award and its winners
For the past eight years the Kenny Feldman Animal Advocate Award has recognized outstanding work in helping farmed animals. Stan and Carole Feldman established the award, in cooperation with CAA, to honor the memory of their son, Kenny, an animal lover and advocate.
Recently the Feldmans informed us that they would not be continuing the award. We appreciate their many years of support and laud the tremendous impact this award has made in helping spare farmed animals from lives of suffering. The impact will carry into the future through the continued work of the ten individuals who have been honored.
If you are curious about vegan cooking, this club is for you! Each month participants make three recipes from popular cookbooks then share their reflections with the group. Novice to expert cooks are welcome, as are interested non-cooks. Registration not required.
You may download the recipes using the link below or pick them up at East Lake Library, 2727 E. Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN 55406. Printed recipe packets are available at the library’s Safe Pick-Up Station. Simply check in with the greeter and ask for the Vegan Recipe Club packet. If you would like contactless pick-up, please call the library during open hours and request curbside service.
The cookbook selection for August is Weeknight One-Pot Vegan Cooking, 2019 by Nicole Malik
The publisher describes the book:
“Exciting Plant-Based Meals without the Mess. Plant-based cooking just got easier than ever. Cleanup is a snap when your dinner cooks in one dish, and getting more plants into your diet is downright delicious. With approachable yet inspired recipes…Perfect for vegans, vegetarians and veggie-loving omnivores alike, this book centers on whole food recipes for more nutritious, satisfying meals without sacrificing flavor. Even on your busiest weeknights, these simple yet delicious meals will please the whole family with time to spare.”
In the recipe club this month we will discuss these recipes:
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Julie with Luna on (left) and Kaia. Luna’s a rescue from Standing Rock and Kaia’s a rescue from Alabama.
We are pleased to welcome Julie Reiter to the CAA Board of Directors. Julie (she/her) has been involved in education and nonprofit work for over 15 years. She currently serves as the director of a program focused on nonprofits and volunteerism for students at the University of St. Thomas.
For her own activism, she was drawn to CAA because of its positive and inclusive approach to supporting folks on their journey toward plant-based eating. She started volunteering with CAA through the Vegan Chef Challenge, and joined the board in 2022.
We asked her some questions so that we can get to know her better. Below are her replies.
What about CAA appeals to you?
I’m excited to be involved in a grassroots nonprofit working in positive ways to reduce harmful factory farming practices. The Twin Cities Veg Fest is such a good example of that – it’s a fun celebration of delicious food where everyone is welcome, where the ultimate benefactors are the animals. (The focus on food is definitely a plus, since I really love to eat!)
I really appreciate that CAA supports people wherever they are in their plant-based journey, and doesn’t take an “all or nothing” approach to veganism. I think that approach is so productive and uplifting. I also especially appreciate the anti-racist stance the organization has taken.
What are your hopes for CAA and for the animal protection movement?
CAA has so many great programs that all support its ultimate goal of increasing empathy towards animals and moving people towards a plant-based lifestyle. I hope that the organization can continue to grow so it can reach more people through these programs, and create new innovative ways to meet its mission. I’m excited that it seems more and more people are being inspired to give up animal products. As it becomes more accessible and acceptable to be vegan, CAA is in a great position to help folks make the change.
Speaking of compassionate living, what are your favorite vegan foods?
It’s so amazing to me how many delicious vegan food options there are! I love the challenge of finding healthy plant-based food while traveling. At home, nothing is better than a big buddha bowl thrown together with some veggies, quinoa, air-fried tofu, roasted potatoes and a creamy vegan sauce.
How do you spend your time when you’re not advocating for animals?
I’ve got a really active family with two teenagers and two rescue pups, and they keep me busy!
