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The 2018 Annual Report
Read all about what Compassionate Action for Animals accomplished this past year in our 2018 Annual Report!
The annual report gives you a broader view of our 2018 programs, events, activities, and impact. Through a combination of outreach, education, and community building we encourage people to embrace their empathy and move toward a plant-based diet, and we achieved remarkable success in 2018. The annual report also includes a financial statement, showing our income and expenses for the year, and an acknowledgment of all of our top donors.
Thanks to all of you who support our work through donating, volunteering, and participating in our events. We truly could not do so much without our community of dedicated animal advocates.
The movement made explosive progress in 2018 and this year is being called the “Year of the Vegan,” but there is still work to be done. The animals need us to raise our voices and do what we can together so that their stories are heard. Together, let’s continue to live more compassionately and grow our movement in 2019 and beyond!
Volunteer Shoutout: Meet the U of M CAA Chapter Co-Presidents!
Meet Jessica and Maya, co-presidents of the University of Minnesota CAA Student Group. Between studying for classes, leading CAA student group meetings and events, and more, these two are working toward making their dreams for themselves and the animals happen! Get to know a little bit more about both of them below.
Jessica Burks
What are you studying at the U? I am majoring in Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies.
What drew you personally to veganism? I was a vegetarian for many years, and I was drawn to veganism when I learned that cows, like all mammals, only produce milk in response to pregnancy. (I grew up thinking that cows just made milk—because that’s what cows were “for.”) As a very passionate feminist, I was motivated to go from vegetarian to vegan because of my strong belief in body autonomy—I don’t believe that animals bodies exist to produce dairy and egg products, and I believe that it is a gross violation of animals’ rights to have their bodies used and exploited for profit.
How did you get involved with CAA? I first learned about CAA when I saw the painting on the Washington Ave bridge! I attended my first meeting as a freshman and loved the sense of community that the student group provided.
What are three tips you would share with a friend transitioning to a plant-based diet?
- Start slow—in my experience, a slower transition is more sustainable long term than an overnight switch (although all ways of transitioning to veganism are valid and commendable)! I recommend giving yourself some time to explore vegan options and find out what you like so that you’re prepared to make the transition in a healthy and manageable way.
- Don’t be afraid to try new things! While vegan substitutes are great (vegan burgers, anyone??) I encourage people to step out of their comfort zones and discover the huge and delicious world of vegan cuisine! A few of my favorite vegan cooking channels on YouTube are The Happy Pear, Sweet Potato Soul, and Caitlin Shoemaker/frommybowl.
- Know why you’re doing it. For me, my dedication to reducing animal suffering has kept me strong and devoted to my vegan lifestyle.
Do you have a favorite CAA event? I love the bake sales! We have such a good time getting together to bake vegan goodies (and of course taste testing to inspect quality). Maya and I love being creative with icing and decorating cookies and cupcakes.
What are your plans for the next year? Next year will be my senior year since I’m graduating a year early. I’m hoping to have a career in the nonprofit field after graduation, specifically within advocacy and anti-oppression based work. As for the student group, I hope that we continue to grow, recruit new members, and spread the vegan love on campus!
Maya Ulrich
What are you studying at the U?I am majoring in psychology and art and minoring in sociology and social justice.
What drew you personally to veganism? I was drawn to veganism because of its environmental sustainability. I knew I wanted to do as much as I could to reduce my carbon footprint, and I love animals!
How did you get involved with CAA? I had a friend who was in CAA and invited me to join. My first actual event was the May Day parade that we marched in.
What are three tips you would share with a friend transitioning to a plant-based diet?
- Don’t quit if you cheat or accidentally eat something that isn’t within the parameters of your plant-based diet.
- If you’re ever struggling with maintaining your plant-based diet, make a list of why you chose to do it in the first place.
- Find your community! It makes it so much easier to maintain if you have friends who are plant-based too.
Do you have a favorite CAA event? My favorite event by far was the Vegan Chili Cookoff. It was so much fun and the turn out was really great. I also love the weekly meetings.
What are your plans for the next year? I’m just going to continue to stay active on campus, and I hope to continue to grow our student group through both activities and people.
Are you a University of Minnesota or Augsburg student? We have CAA chapters at both schools and you’re welcome to join! Visit our student group page to learn more about meeting times or our volunteer page to get involved.
Your Sneak Peek at the 2019 Annual Banquet Silent Auction!
If you’ haven’t heard yet, we’re throwing a party on March 23—Drake’s Drinks Celebrating 21 Years of Compassionate Action for Animals to be exact—which will include delicious food and drink, gorgeous views of the St. Paul skyline, and a silent auction benefiting our future work for the animals––to encourage others to embrace their empathy and move towards a plant-based diet.
From our Bridges of Respect humane education program (now in its 20th year!) to our annual Twin Cities Veg Fest, we reach tens of thousands of people every year with a message of compassion. As a result, more and more folks are making everyday choices that ultimately have a profound impact on the lives of farmed animals.
Photos from the 10th Annual Vegan Chili Cook-Off
The 10th Annual Vegan Chili Cook-Off was a blast! Over 250 attendees savored vegan chilis of bean and meatless meat varieties and were introduced to animal protection, environmental, and food waste issues.
Many thanks to all of the contestants (including those in our brand-new Professionals category) for providing amazing vegan chili for all to share while enjoying friendly competition. You showed how delicious, satisfying, and easy to prepare vegan food can be.
The three winners of this year’s Cook-Off by category are:
Bean Based : Jenny Newgard aka Contestant 9- Meatless Meat: Marina and Liberty Kirkeide aka Contestant 13
- Professional: Reverie Mobile Kitchen aka Contestant 6
This event would not have been the success it was without the support of our stellar volunteers and Chili Cook-Off planning team. Thank you for your support with planning, setting up, cleaning up, making extra chili, and more––THANK YOU!
Thank you to Reverie Mobile Kitchen and Farmaste, who generously donated to the evaluation gift basket. We’d like to extend an additional thank you to Farmaste, Spring Farm Sanctuary, SoulSpace, Little Acorn, Fur Free Minneapolis, Mighty Earth, and the Food Recovery Network for their support of the event and information they provided to guests!
Finally, thank you to everyone who came to join in the fun. Whether you are new to vegan food or have been a part of the local vegan community for a long time, we hope you found inspiration and support in moving further down the path of compassionate living.
We hope you’ll join us at our Annual Banquet, otherwise known as Drake’s Drinks Celebrating 21 Years of Compassionate Action for Animals at the Clarence W. Wigington Pavilion at Harriet Island Park on Saturday, March 23. With a gourmet vegan dinner catered by Gorkha Palace, delicious certified-vegan cocktails by Drake’s Organic Spirits, and cupcakes from Vegan East (it wouldn’t be a party without cake!), you won’t want to miss this. Get your tickets today!
Grow Baby Grow! – Growing Up Vegan Part 1
Written by Suzy Sorensen, RD, LD, CDE
Are plant-based diets ok for babies? You bet they are! The AND says “Appropriately planned…vegan diets…are appropriate for all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, adolescence, older adulthood and for athletes.” (1)
But, remember that infants are not just little grown-ups! During the first year of life, babies have unique nutrition needs to support accelerated growth and development.
A parent’s milk (breast milk) is the best food for infants and it’s the only food needed from birth until 4-6 months. Balanced vegan diets can meet the needs of older babies.
If baby is not able to breastfeed, commercial iron-fortified formulas should be used. Currently, soy formula is the only reliable, safe vegan option.
At 4-6 months old, babies start to show they are ready to try solid foods! They can keep their heads upright and sit with little support.
The first food is typically baby cereal fortified with iron and zinc diluted with breast milk or formula to a thin consistency. As baby grows, it can be thicker. Often soft fruits and vegetables are added next. These can be pureed or fork mashed at home, and store-bought baby food can be a convenient option.
For safety, add in just one new food every 3-4 days to identify any food sensitivities.
As baby gets better at chewing, pasta and soft-cooked grains, soft bread, sweet potatoes, cereal, and crackers can be added. At 7-8 months, add in cooked and mashed or pureed beans, lentils, tofu, and non-dairy yogurt if desired.
Babies need enough calories and fat to support normal growth. Items like hummus, avocado, tofu, and cooked dried fruits can offer a boost. Calcium can come from calcium set tofu, fortified juice or yogurt, and dark leafy greens like kale and broccoli.
To avoid choking risk, foods like nuts, nut butters, grapes, chunks of veggie dogs, whole beans, and popcorn should not be given to babies.
Infants often need to be fed every hour or 2. After starting on solids, babies will need at least 3 small meals and 2-3 small snacks daily to meet their needs.
Ideally, baby will sit at the table with a parent who can model healthy eating at meal time!
Sample menu for 10 month old vegan baby:
Breakfast: ¼ cup fortified baby cereal with 4 oz breast milk/formula & 2 TBS mashed banana
Snack: ¼ slice soft bread & 4 oz breast milk/formula
Lunch: ¼ cup fork mashed lentils, 2 TBS steamed chopped kale, 2 TBS applesauce, 2 TBS quinoa, 2 TBS mashed avocado, 4 oz breast milk/formula
Snack: 4 oz breast milk/formula
Dinner: ¼ cup cubed tofu, ¼ cup fortified baby cereal, 2 TBS fork mashed sweet potato, 2 TBS peaches, 4 oz breast milk/formula
Snack: 6 oz breast milk/formula
Breastmilk or infant formula should continue during the first 12 months. It is not safe to use plant-milks (like plain soy or almond milk) or homemade formulas as a substitutes. They do not have the right nutrients and do not have enough of many vitamins that a growing baby needs for health.
Supplemental B12 and Vitamin D are recommended for infants along with iron starting at 4 months. Always discuss with baby’s doctor before starting a supplement.
(1) Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Please note: This information, while accurate, does not provide an all-inclusive feeding plan and is not intended to substitute personal medical advice. It is intended to offer guidance only. We recommend working with a registered dietitian to help meet any specific questions you may have.
______________
Suzy Sorensen is a Twin Cities-based Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator who is passionate about plant-based eating! She has a Certificate of Training in Vegetarian Nutrition from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and opened Move2Veg Nutrition Counseling in 2009 to support those interested in plant-based eating. For more information, visit move2veg.com.
Volunteer Shoutout: Suzy Sorensen, RD, LD, CDE
Suzy Sorensen is a Twin Cities-based Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator who is passionate about plant-based eating! She has a Certificate of Training in Vegetarian Nutrition from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and opened Move2Veg Nutrition Counseling in 2009 to support those interested in plant-based eating. For more information, visit move2veg.com.
This month, the first part of her new four-part nutrition series, Growing Up Vegan, will be published on our blog. The series will explore ideas for supported eating during the four main stages of development. Read on to learn how Suzy’s passions for veganism and nutrition intersect.
What drew you personally to veganism?
A vegetarian friend invited me along to a PETA seminar here in the Cities (nearly 20 years ago). That first opened my eyes to what happens to animals and the choices I can make to reduce suffering. That’s where I connected with CAA! My “aha moment” was very shortly after that. We were visiting friends in Florida and happened to be there for
What drew you to your practice (and study of) nutrition?
I have a degree in education and taught science for 7 years. I was looking for a change and took a career development class. I shadowed a dietitian, took an intro to nutrition class, and it was love at first sight! I realized that food is powerful medicine, much more than just “fuel for the machine.” Food plays a critical role in health and disease. I still consider myself a teacher, but with a new subject matter—nutrition! Later, when I became vegan for compassionate reasons, I was driven to learn about plant-based nutrition to take care of myself and my family. It didn’t take long to realize that there was a lot of misinformation out there among my friends and my patients! That’s what prompted me to start Move2Veg, there is a need for accurate, evidence-based, individualized nutrition information. With that, we can be our best plant-based selves!
What are three tips you would emphasize to a friend transitioning to a plant-based diet?
1) It does not have to be complicated or difficult to move to a plant-based diet. There aren’t “rules” or a “right way” to do it. We each need to do what works best for us to reach our goal.
2) Make connections, you aren’t alone! Go to pot lucks, dine outs, other social events, connect with a mentor, meet with a plant-based dietitian! We can learn from and be inspired by others.
3) Forgive yourself—learning something new takes time and practice, there will be moments where it doesn’t go quite as planned but tomorrow is another day.
Do you have a favorite food trend?
Easy, plant-based! The research shows more people than ever are giving it a try! Specific food trend? SO many new vegan cheeses, I’m always curious to check them out. L
Do you see a shift happening in public perceptions of nutrition?
Absolutely! I work in
To read more from Suzy, follow her new four-part nutrition series, Growing Up Vegan, released monthly on our blog starting March 6.
Celebrate our 21st with a Delicious Vegan Feast!
We’re turning 21, and you’re invited to celebrate these years of advocating for animals with some amazing vegan food!
Join us at the Clarence W. Wigington Pavilion at Harriet Island Park on Saturday, March 23 for Drake’s Drinks Celebrating 21 Years of Compassionate Action for Animals and enjoy a delicious vegan dinner catered by Gorkha Palace, an organic restaurant specializing in conscientiously prepared Indian, Nepali and Tibetan foods. And since it’s CAA’s 21st birthday, there will also be three vegan-certified cocktails from Drake’s Organic Spirits and cupcakes from Vegan East. You won’t want to miss this!
Meet the Chili Cook-Off Planning Committee!
Meet the team behind the 10th Annual Vegan Chili Cook-Off!
Emma Cameron
What’s your role on the Chili Cook-off Committee? I’ve been coordinating the volunteers, making regular posts to the CAA and TCVF social media pages (e.g. Twitter, Instagram, Facebook) advertising the event, and otherwise doing tasks that come up!
What’s your favorite outreach event outside of the chili cook-off? I’m not sure that I have enough experience to say yet, but I imagine it will soon be the Twin Cities Veg Fest!
Do you have a favorite kind of chili, topping, or side? If I make chili, I love to add some type of corn chip topping, and I prefer to stick to the bean-based varieties, as opposed to those with mock meats. I also think it’s absolutely essential to serve cornbread with chili!
Luna Guo
What’s your role on the Chili Cook-off Committee? Marketing consultant and helping to plan the overall event.
What else have you been up to this winter? Everything! Dancing, horses, skating––I’m always doing something. I like to keep myself active and busy.
What’s your favorite outreach event outside of the chili cook-off? Twin Cities Veg Fest is kind of amazing, and by kind of I mean really. I love having all the delicious food in one spot and connecting with other people and the different organizations at the event.
Do you have a favorite kind of chili, topping, or side? I love making chili with all sorts of mock meats. You can have toppings and sides? I’ve been eating it all wrong then! [A note from CAA: We’d like to assure you that there is no wrong way to enjoy chili, whether you enjoy with toppings, sides, or sideless.]
Maya Ulrich
What’s your role on the Chili Cook-off Committee? My role is student outreach and general communication between the student union and CAA.
What else have you been up to this winter? My life as a student is pretty active. I have been running all over campus trying to keep up with all of my commitments. I am working at the Weisman Art Museum, volunteering with Friends of the Free Arts, Big Brothers Big Sisters, The Aurora Center, and I’m an intern for Take Action MN. Honestly, staying busy has been the only thing keeping me warm in these cold winter months.
What’s your favorite outreach event outside of the chili cook-off? I really have enjoyed bake sales on campus in the past, but tabling and pay-per-view is always pretty great. You really get to connect with the Compassionate Action for Animals community.
Do you have a favorite kind of chili, topping, or side?I really like doing simple bean-based ones, because they are cheap and easy to make. Sometimes I’ll throw in some tofu too!
Volunteers make the Chili Cook-Off happen (and get in free)! Sign up here to get involved as a volunteer or get your ticket here to this year’s cook-off. See you on Saturday, February 23 at 6:00 pm!
Vegan Valentine’s Celebrations
Whether you’re into simple gestures or going all out for a friend, loved one, or yourself, the Twin Cities have many ways to celebrate love compassionately this week.
In case you’re a last-minute planner, we compiled a list of just some of the vegan Valentine’s specials and celebrations going on around the cities.
Make a Valentine’s stop at a vegan restaurant!
If your style is a dinner out, support local businesses as they host vegan Valentine’s date nights on February 14. Some of the specials we’ve seen include:
- Fig and Farro‘s Valentine’s Day Special, February 14 5-9pm. Enjoy a $40 per person prix-fixe menu as well as delicious cocktails and a special dessert! You can make a reservation here.
- My Vegan Valentine – A Date Night for Vegans February 14, 6-9pm at LUSH. Enjoy a 5-course vegan menu, bottomless wine, and special Valentine’s readings and performances by Damien D’Luxe and Queenie Von Curves. You can make a reservation here.
- Seed Cafe’s Vday Dinner on February 14. $35 for dinner for two and dessert or $49 to add a bottle of wine.
- Give back while dining out at Trio Plant-based. Mondays through Thursdays throughout February, if you mention “WE WIN” to your server at Trio, 10% of your bill will be donated to support WE WIN’s programs Minneapolis youth.
- Or, Be Your Own Valentine at J. Selby’s on February 14––Enjoy their happy hour from 4-6pm as well as their burger and
soyclone specials throughout the day.
Let’s Misbehave – Mistress Ginger’s 6th Annual Valentine’s Cabaret, February 13 and 14 at LUSH
Special discount ticket offer for Mistress Ginger’s 6th annual Valentine’s show!
Let’s Misbehave
Mistress Ginger Sings Cole Porter
TONIGHT Wednesday, February 13 & tomorrow,
LUSH, 990 Central Ave NE, Minneapolis
TICKETS
VIP $25 – Includes reserved seating plus a glittering gift bag of vegan Gingersnatch Cookies
General Admission $15 – Use promo code Ginger5 for $5 off!
Get your tickets in advance at LUSHmpls.com
Note that VIP ticket sales close 24 hours before showtimes.
Promo code Ginger5 is only valid for general admission tickets purchased online.
Tonight we’re gonna party like it’s 1929. Mistress Ginger, our venerable cabaret queen, has unearthed a treasure trove of delicious Cole Porter tunes for your Valentine’s amusement. With Franco Holder on piano and special guest Joey Clark, Ginger takes you on a vintage musical journey from a chic penthouse in Manhattan to the Café de Paris. Revel in the music of one of the twentieth century’s greatest — and gayest — composers, whose songs are famously full of glamour, wit, passion, and the permission to be naughty. Let’s do it! More info at junkyardcabaret.com.
Staying in?
- If you missed their Valentine’s Dinner for Two, you can still pick up something sweet or savory from The Herbivorous Butcher to feature in your Valentine’s meal. Check out their daily menu here and mark your calendar for the reairing of their Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives episode on February 15 and 16 (because what’s more romantic than Guy Fieri eating a vegan deli sandwich?)
- Seed Cafe put together an awesome post with three different menus you can make at home that are sure to satisfy whatever kind of craving you have this week. Check out their Valentine’s Dinner 3 Ways here!
- Check out recipes for some of the most delicious looking vegan Valentine’s desserts on Vegan Faux Ever as well as some quick tips about what to check for if you’re buying a treat store-bought.
- Not into baking? Vegan East has you covered with all of the sweet treats you could dream of!
And don’t forget our annual Valentine’s Bake Sale!
Although Valentine’s and Galentine’s will have passed, there’s no rule that says you can’t keep spreading the love around! Treat yourself with a vegan dessert made by one of our baketivists at our Galentine’s Vegan Bake Sale, Monday, February 18 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm at Coffman Memorial Union.
Meet Our New Board Member – Henry Patterson
CAA welcomes Henry Patterson to our board of directors. Read on to learn more about him, his various projects, and how he got involved with CAA and working for the animals.
Throughout his career, Henry has worked primarily as a project manager and consultant in manufacturing for various technology projects including early medical films and x-ray equipment for 3M, data storage and backup, and CD-ROM, as well as a furniture company. “I started out in engineering in 3M, doing summer internships during college, worked part-time permanent, and then got a permanent job in the Twin Cities.” His work brought him from Minnesota to California and then back to Minnesota.
Most recently he’s been working with startups in addition to his non-profit work. An alum of St. Thomas Academy (STA), he’s fairly active with the school and their STA Connections group. He also serves on the board of the Sally Manzara Interpretive Nature Center in the Friends of Lake Elmo Sunfish Lake Park, which opened June 2018.
At home, he spends time with his two Basenjis, Lokan and Emi, and enjoys taking photos––in the summer, he’s been trying out drone photography.
Journey to veganism
Henry started his journey to being vegan when he lived with his brother in California. His brother was in law school at the time and became vegetarian after reading, Diet for a Small Planet. “I said, ‘Make a case for why I should go from being an omnivore to vegetarian,’ which he did.” His brother also recommended that he read the same book. “I would say 99% of my diet went from being an omnivore to primarily vegetarian diet, which I maintained for several years.”
After moving back to Minnesota, he went completely vegan. “I realized that there were more products available to make it easier, more options at places I could eat, most restaurants I could call ahead and find out what was on the menu if it wasn’t clear––it became a lot easier.” The hardest thing to eliminate? “Cheese was really the only thing I was still having that was keeping me on a vegetarian diet was cheese. I started going to classes in the Twin Cities to learn how to make vegan cheeses. Between that and reading stuff, I really saw no reason not to switch to vegan.”
“I think I’m a lot more aware and conscious of the environment around me, how important the footprint that we have on the planet and the things that we do, how much waste we have and how we treat the planet and animals on the planet. I started to see the suffering more and I want to do something to stop that.”
Involvement with CAA, joining the Board
Henry first got involved with CAA after attending a few Twin Cities Veg Fests. He’s been involved with the planning committees for both the 2018 Vegan Thanksgiving and 2019 Vegan Chili Cook-Off.
As a new board member, Henry wants to support CAA’s mission through expanding the reach of our mission and increase exposure. “You want to get more people more exposure and help on how to maintain the diet, how they can continue to make progress. I think I can help there and that’s where we need to put some effort.”
“What I’ve seen that’s given me a lot of hope for the future are companies like The Herbivorous Butcher and J. Selby’s. I never thought I’d actually see something like them in the Midwest and in Minnesota,” said Henry. “We still have a long way to go, but it’s really exciting to see the growth of the Twin Cities and in my
Interested in joining CAA’s board of directors? Our board meetings are open to prospective members. If you are interested in attending a board meeting, email [email protected] to find out when the next board meeting will take place.