Our Mission and
Core Values
The Animal Rights Coalition works to end the suffering, abuse, and exploitation of non-human animals through information, education, and advocacy. We believe that animals matter for their own reasons and that they should not be used by human beings for profit, pleasure, amusement, or simply because it is our habit to do so.
We seek to abolish the use and exploitation of animals for human interests, rather than simply improving the conditions under which animals are used and exploited. We believe that animals are morally entitled to pursue their lives free of human violence according to the needs of their species and should be free from coerced physical and psychological suffering.
Our Work
The Animal Rights Coalition is the oldest, most successful animal rights organization in Minnesota and a locally and nationally recognized voice for animal rights. ARC became incorporated in 1981 and has been helping animals ever since.
We focus on spreading the word about compassionate living and believe that positive change results from connection, communication, and education. We advance our goals through community outreach, strategic campaigns and investigations, media outreach, and person-to-person contact, as we strive to fundamentally change how society views and treats all sentient beings.
From helping people transition to a plant-based diet to publicizing the abuse of animals in laboratories to educating the public about the exploitation of animals used in entertainment, ARC’s unique and innovative education and outreach programs reach thousands of people every year.
What makes ARC unique is that instead of expecting people to make far reaching changes in their lives based on a one-time message, we work to connect with people on a deeper level. We create opportunities for people to not only learn about animal issues, but also find support as they process these revelations about how animals are treated in our world. We want to remove as many barriers as possible to making ethical choices for animals. It’s vital that we help people with the “how” once they believe in the “why.”
While the Animal Rights Coalition will always maintain our focus on ending nonhuman animal abuse, we are aware of the intersecting nature of oppression. The mindsets of superiority and dominance leading to the mistreatment and exploitation of humans also underlies animal mistreatment and exploitation. As an organization that fights for freedom from oppression, we support other social justice movements that challenge domination in all its manifestations.
The Animal Rights Coalition also makes a commitment to reduce our environmental impact. Human activities often have harmful effects on ecological systems, the climate, and the ecosystems where humans and animals live. We are committed to reducing our environmental footprint and promoting environmental stewardship through our organization.
Board and Staff
