Meet ARC’s New Volunteer Coodinator

ARC’s new Volunteer Coordinator maintains a strong relationship with volunteers through regular communication and helps new volunteers get involved in a way that works for them. Ashley is a passionate activist and vegan with a long history in animal rescue and a background in graphic design. If you’d like to learn about volunteering with ARC, Ashley will be happy to help you discover how you can best use your talents to help animals.

And we’d like to send a shout out to Jenna Cameron, our former Volunteer Coordinator. We were sad to see Jenna go and will miss her, but we’re excited for her new position at Hampton Creek Foods in San Francisco where she’ll be working to get affordable, great tasting vegan foods into mainstream grocers and food service industries. We wish her the best and Hampton Creek is lucky to have her.

Help Educate the Public about Live Animal Sales

Emaciated boxer from the now closed Shakopee Petland

Emaciated boxer from the now closed Shakopee Petland

Petland is a chain of retail stores that sells live animals. These animals are sourced from breeders and/or brokers, where they may be subject to abuse and neglect.

The Animal Rights Coalition’s Minnesotans Exposing Petland campaign demonstrates outside Petland stores to educate the public about Petland’s selling of animals for profit. We staunchly oppose animal mills and breeding operations, no matter the scale, and advocate adoption and rescue as humane alternatives. Selling animals for profit perpetuates the belief that animals are commodities with price tags.
 
Minnesotans Exposing Petland’s goal is to persuade Petland to change their business model of selling live animals. Petland Canada has already adopted this measure, and we are asking Petland USA to follow suit; stores would stay in business and employees would keep their jobs, without the need to sell animals and make a dollar on an animal’s life – a win/win solution for all.

With the Shakopee Petland outlet closed down, the only remaining Petland store in Minnesota is in St. Paul. Minnesotans Exposing Petland will continue to hold demonstrations and work to educate the public about Petland and urge the company to change the way it conducts its business. We are always looking for more volunteers to engage in conversations with the public, and demonstrations are an easy, positive way to get involved in this important issue.

World Wide Vegan Bake Sale – Take 6

WWVBSMany thanks to Betsy Born for all of her help organizing the “6th Annual World Wide Vegan Bake Sale – Twin Cities’ Style” and to everyone who baked and shopped on Saturday, April 26 at Ethique Nouveau. We were overflowing with sweets and savories, and we even had treats for dogs this year. We’re so lucky to have incredible volunteers and supporters! All proceeds from the sale were donated to benefit the programs of the Animal Rights Coalition to help animals.

Winning Vegan Hotdish Cook-Off Recipes

hotdish judges choice winnerThanks to everyone who came out to the second annual Twin Cities Vegan Hotdish Cook-Off. Over 100 people thoroughly enjoyed themselves, the food was delicious, and we were thrilled to see all the new faces, many of whom commented that they saw the story about the cook-off in the StarTribune and came because they wanted to learn more about being vegan. Check out recipes from the competition.

Thanks to our judges: cookbook author Robin Asbell; Susanne Mattison, regular food judge at the State Fair; and Scott Seekins, famous in Minnesota for being famous.
 
hotdish audience favoriteCongratulations to Mary Johnson Strand, Judges Choice winner for her Chick’n in a Biscuit, and Troy Wuollet, Audience Favorite winner for his Pizza Hotdish. Each winner received a custom glass casserole with their winning title etched into the glass. All the competitors brought serious game to the dining table: Delicia Mattox, Katie LaRoche, Barbara Stasz, Megan Kosse, Melissa Peers, Melissa Peck, Rebekah Rising, Teresa Goodall Barrett, Laura Ford, and Christina Roberts.

Get Your Vegan Hotdish On!

Hotdish logoJoin us for a delicious time at the second annual Twin Cities Vegan Hotdish Cook-Off on Saturday, March 22 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m at the Fuller Park Recreation Center, 48th Street & Grand Ave. S in Minneapolis. Think tater tots, green beans, pasta, and other yummy things all mixed up in a single baking dish. Original recipes from area cooks will be vying for two prize categories: Audience Favorite and Judge’s Pick with additional prizes for the runners up.

Our judges are noted cookbook author Robin Asbell, State Fair judge Susanne Mattison, and none other than the the monochromatically stylish Scott Seekins – The Minnesota Famous! Come and support ARC while tasting a variety of delicious hot dishes for only $1 per sample. Free beverages will be provided and there will be lots of great door prizes. Your best Church Lady attire is welcome, but not required.

We have a few contestant spots left and a $20 deposit will reserve your spot (you’ll get your deposit back in full at the contest). Contestants will receive a $10 gift card from ARC’s vegan boutique, Ethique Nouveau, and one of our new super secret special event tees! To register to compete, email Dallas at dallas@animalrightscoalition.com. See you there!

Don’t Miss Speciesism: The Movie

Still for SpeciesismSpeciesism: prejudice or discrimination based on species; especially:discrimination against animals.

All around the world wild animals are fighting against humans for their very existence and scientists are predicting a human-caused sixth extinction. Farmed animals are seen only as “stock” without regard to who they are individually, their pain, or their fears.

We humans love our “pets” and other animals who have been deemed our “companions” while participating in activities each day that cause other animals to suffer and die. Are we incapable as a species of activating our empathy and taking a fresh look at our relationships with other species?.

Join ARC and director Mark Devries as we co-host the Minnesota premiere of Speciesism: The Movie at 7:00 p.m. on March 13 at the Lagoon Cinema, 1329 Lagoon Ave. in Minneapolis, and ask Mark anything you’d like at the Q&A afterwards. You’ll never look at animals the same way again—especially humans. Tickets are going fast so get yours now and don’t miss out on seeing this historic documentary. You can watch the trailer here.

Announcing Minnesota Animal Rights Meetup

Photo of leafleting at PrideIf you’re looking for a place to connect with other people who care about making the world better for all animals and you’re ready to start taking action to realize that vision, Minnesota Animal Rights Meetup is the group for you. We’re experienced, active, effective,and busy!

There are lots of opportunities like leafleting, vegan food sampling, tabling, teaching workshops, reaching out to companies to work with them on changing policies, letter writing, sending furs to wildlife rehabs to help orphaned and injured wildlife—we do it all! Join Minnesota Animal Rights Meetup (MARC). You don’t have to be vegetarian or vegan to join; we welcome everyone on their journey towards living a more compassionate life. We’ll help you find your niche and get involved in a way that works for you.

Bake for Their Sake Vegan Bake Sale Fundraiser

Photo of Cuddle Coats recipientThanks to everyone who organized, volunteered, baked, and purchased goodies at the Bake for Their Sake bake sale to benefit our Cuddle Coats program. The sale was a huge success and the volunteers raised over $500 for the program!

This Valentine’s Day, ARC is sharing the love by hosting Bake for Their Sake, a vegan bake sale fundraiser for the Cuddle Coats program. Mark your calendars and join us Saturday, February 8th from 1-4 p.m. to get cruelty-free versions of all of your favorite baked goodies, and maybe even find some new favorites! Bake for Their Sake will be held at Ethique Nouveau (ARC’s headquarters and vegan boutique) at 317 W 48th Street in Minneapolis. If you’d like to donate baked goods for the sale, drop off your items the hour before or at the beginning of the bake sale and please bring along the recipes to give out.

Funds are being raised to help support the Cuddle Coats program, which accepts donated furs and accessories and ships them to wildlife rehabilitation centers where they are used in the rehabilitation process of injured and orphaned animals such as raccoons, squirrels, rabbits, and chipmunks. The fur is especially helpful when contact with humans must be kept to a minimum, by helping to establish a nurturing and soothing environment and providing comfort and warmth for these animals when one-on-one contact is not advisable. Proceeds from the bake sale will help with the shipping of furs to wildlife rehabilitation centers and will also provide funds for new anti-fur posters.