Enewsletter
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Enewsletter • March 9, 2011 | |||||||||||
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Notes from Vegan OutreachPotpourri for $2000Please be sure to follow Vegan Outreach via Twitter (@veganoutreach) and the VO Blog. And give feedback to our Facebook posts! If you ever need to contact Vegan Outreach, you can always reach us via this page. And finally, there will always be a secure unsubscribe link at the bottom of every enewsletter. Thanks!
Jeni of the West!
Continuing our series of activist profiles, we turn today to our new force in the West, Jeni Haines! In a short amount of time, Jeni has already reached 17,658 folks with the animals’ message. Here’s an excerpt: What made you decide to start leafleting? One nice day at UC Berkeley, I saw a fine young lad leafleting to students traveling to their respective classes. I soon learned that his name was Brian Grupe, and he worked for Vegan Outreach. I was thrilled to meet him and thus began my initial spark with Vegan Outreach. I leafleted with Brian on that day and have done leafleting ever since. What was your most positive leafleting experience and why? I don’t think it’s possible for me to single out one experience that surpasses all others. Doing Vegan Outreach has connected me with so many incredible individuals and has sparked countless life-altering conversations. Every day that I leaflet, I am impacted. One truth that I can confirm is that I have certainly never had a negative leafleting experience. Read the full interview.
From “Your Daily Dose of Vegan Outreach!” & Jack Norris RD Blogs
Product of the Week
Chief Joseph: “Silk’s dark chocolate almond milk was on sale at my local Jewel, and it changed my life for the better.” Please submit your nominees for product of the week via this page; previous entries here.
Notes from All OverLightning Round
Notes from Our Members
Brian,
John, and I reached 760 students
at Durham College, Oshawa, a never-before-leafleted
school. One lady mentioned she will go veg,
another took a stack of booklets to distribute,
many had questions and we saw lots reading the
booklets. Was a great end to a monster week
– over 9,000 students reached! The
quality of interactions at the
Junior Statesmen of America’s Activism Convention
was amazing. The kids were very interested in
the issue, listened and asked sharp questions.
Quite a few were already trying to eat veg,
and really appreciated the resources. One girl
said she had been vegetarian since receiving
the Compassionate Choices booklet in
front of her high school two years ago. Also
had a great conversation with a young teacher
who was not 100% veg but trying to get there,
experimenting with veg foods, and was extremely
sympathetic. He profusely thanked us for being
there and bringing this important message to
the students. At
Laney College, I gave a Guide
to a vegetarian professor, as well as to two
guys who had received an Even If You Like
Meat last semester. All I had to do was
ask them, “So, what did you think about
it?” to engage them. Naturally they thought
it was bad/wrong/gross/etc., and were happy
to get a Guide.
Despite
the cold weather, some good conversations
today while leafleting Columbus Circle. One
boy told me about how his health class in high
school is going over animal cruelty on factory
farms this month, and how he has learned a lot
about why he should not eat meat. Another man
turned to his girlfriend and mentioned how he
just read about how piglets get their teeth
clipped; she took a couple brochures with
her. It was nice to see people already informed
about the cruelty of factory farming. More
blizzard-ish conditions today,
so I used my leafleting wheelie cart as a snowplow
to make my way to the subway. Lee, Marguerite,
and I reached hundreds of NYU students, and
I had the most positive interactions I’ve ever
had here. We also had 22 new students sign up
for Marguerite’s group, which is pretty unprecedented.
Many of them were very excited to see other
vegans on campus. One student came back to tell
us that she got a wrap with beans and tofu today
instead of eating meat, as a result of reading
an Even If You Like Meat. I love those
moments. As
the blizzard rolled in, I heard
from 13 vegetarians and 4 vegans at the University
of Illinois, Chicago. One of the vegetarians
let me know that getting the booklet from me
at UIC two years ago is what inspired her change
in diet. Also had another noteworthy interaction
with a student who at first laughed at my invitation
to help stop violence upon seeing that the booklet
was about farmed animals. I pointed out that
animals have the same capacity to feel pain
as he does. His face got quite serious and he
stated, “You are right about that, let
me check this out,” and he turned the page
to enter the harsh world of today’s broiler
chickens. At
Wake Technical Community College,
I helped a soy-allergic vegetarian student with
tips on going vegan and doing so on a budget.
I met a vegetarian since birth who wanted to
become vegan. I also talked with a non-vegetarian
student who was interested in eating vegan foods. Reached
over 1,000 students at the University
of North Carolina, Greensboro. One came back
to me and said, “I really feel for the
chickens. After reading your booklet, I’m going
to go vegan.” We talked about ways to cook
vegan meals and I handed her a Guide.
I spoke to a vegan student today – he was
really happy I was there, and I handed him A
Meaningful Life in hopes he will leaflet
with me some time. Marshall
University was the best leafleting experience
for the semester so far – I reached
over 1,000 students. A number of people thanked
me for being on campus – even got an “I
love Vegan Outreach!” One guy told me that
he just did a report on eggs, was appalled,
and is now considering going vegan.
Shannon,
Marc, Kevin, and I reached 2,942 students
at USC today. This private school houses a lot
– a lot – of herbivorous
humans… holy wow they were everywhere! Chatted
with a campus chef who advised that an ALL VEGAN
eatery is being planned for this campus! Today at
Ohlone College ranks among one
of the best leafleting experiences I’ve ever
had – reached nearly 1,000 students. It was
one of those days when you walk away a little
bit exhausted but totally high on life. The
campus was filled with wonderfully open-minded
students. I cannot even count how many inspiring
conversations I had. One guy told me that he
received a leaflet a semester or year ago, and
when I asked him what he thought about it, he
said, “Oh, it’s horrible what they do to
the animals. I don’t eat meat anymore.”
Another guy, a self-professed staunch meat eater,
thanked me for being out there, as did many
other people.
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