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Meet Our New Program Assistant: Kelso Anderson, A Dedicated Voice for Animals
December 16, 2024
We are excited to introduce our newest staff member at Compassionate Action for Animals (CAA), Kelso Anderson! With years of volunteer experience with CAA and a strong commitment to animal advocacy, Kelso brings passion, skill, and heart to our mission of ending factory farming. Read on to learn more about Kelso and his journey with CAA!
Stepping Into a New Role
As the new Program Assistant, Kelso will be helping CAA stay organized and efficient. In this part-time position he’ll help manage finances, track important data, and support other staff members with various projects and tasks. When asked about his motivation to apply for this role, Kelso shared:
“I’ve been volunteering with CAA for over two years, and I’m inspired by the organization’s mission. Joining the team officially felt like the best way to contribute more to ending animal suffering.”
Kelso’s attention to detail and dedication to the cause make him a great fit for this essential role.
CAA Volunteer Spotlight: Anna Larsson’s Passion for Volunteering
December 16, 2024
Anna Larsson has been an active volunteer with Compassionate Action for Animals (CAA) for the past four years. A dedicated vegan for nearly 15 years, Anna’s passion for animals and community building has made her an outstanding volunteer.
Her journey into volunteering began when she saw promotions for CAA’s annual Vegan Chili Cook-Off and Twin Cities Veg Fest. As an introvert, attending events solo seemed daunting. To make sure she went, she decided to volunteer — and she’s been hooked ever since!
“It was so much fun, and everyone was so inclusive and welcoming, that I felt like I had found my people,” Anna shares about her first experience volunteering at the Vegan Chili Cook-Off. This sense of belonging kept her coming back for more.
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.
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!).
Vegan holiday specials: Where to find holiday meals and treats in the Twin Cities and beyond
November 18, 2024
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.
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
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!”
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.
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
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.
VegWeek 2024: Encouraging Compassion and Community at the University of Minnesota
October 1, 2024
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.