News
Double your impact for a vegan future.
December 26, 2017
Each day, a person who eats a vegan diet saves 1,100 gallons of water, 45 pounds of grain, 30 sq ft of forested land, 20 lbs CO2 equivalent, and one animal's life [Source]. For every five people who go vegan, in just one year there is decreased demand for an estimated 2,007,500 gallons of water, 82,125 pounds of grain, 54,750 sq ft of forested land, 36,500 lbs CO2 equivalent, and 1,825 animals' lives.
Northwest VEG connected with over 12,000 people in 2017, sharing education and resources to support a vegan future. Your support makes our work possible. Thank you.
All contributions received before midnight Dec. 31 will be matched up to $4000 thanks to the generosity of several community members. Donations are 100% tax-deductible.
DONATE TODAY AND DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT.
All donations of any amount received from now through December 31st will be automatically entered into a drawing to win a free photo shoot with your favorite furry or feathered companion, courtesy of local artist and photographer Leisa Refalo. The photo shoot will include digital files of all images taken and a 16x20 print of your favorite.
2017 In Review
December 26, 2017
Thank you for making this challenging year full of compassion and community. We appreciate you. Check out more photos in our 2017 in Review album on Facebook here. (You don't need a Facebook account to view the photos.)
2017 Northwest Health & Nutrition Conference
September 17, 2017
The Northwest Health and Nutrition Conference is a golden opportunity for you to learn the latest information on plant-based nutrition, the effects of diet on chronic disease prevention and control, and about designing an optimum plant-based diet for patients and clients in a clinical setting. Interest in plant-based diets is growing, and Portland, Oregon has become a hub for that developing interest. This conference is designed for healthcare professionals, offering up to 6.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ for many medical professionals (6.5 for dietitians), but others with strong interests in nutrition and health are welcome to attend.
October 13, 2017, 8:30am - 5:00pm at the Oregon Convention Center
Learn more and register here.
The conference features the following experts; Joel Kahn, MD, FACC; Terry Mason, MD; Reed Mangels, PhD, RD; Jane Esselstyn, RN; Craig McDougall, MD.
Schiffler Park 4th of July
July 4, 2017
Northwest VEG: 4th of July at Evelyn M Schiffler Memorial Park, Beaverton
July 4, 3:30 to 6:00 pmSchiffler Park is located just north of SW Allen Blvd. and south of SW Berthold, between SW Erickson and SW Menlo. We have reserved the picnic shelter near SW Erickson. For GPS purposes, use 5600 SW Erickson as the closest street address to the picnic shelter where we will gather. See the Google Street View and map below. Bring your croquet, badminton, bocce balls, or any other lawn or table games! We have reserved a number of picnic tables, but you may want to bring lawn chairs or blankets
The park features a grassy field for play and sport, and a playground with structures for both young and older children, including a large swing set, a skate park, basketball hoops, a 2-acre wetland/natural area with boardwalk, and a community garden.
Parking is available on the street on SW Erickson, and there are small parking lots at the access to the park on SW Berthold and on SW Bonnie Brae. A number of bus lines run within 0.4 miles of the park, including:
- the 76 and 78 bus at SW 10th and Watson
- the 88 bus at SW Allen and SW Erickson
Help shape PDX VegFest 2017!
March 22, 2017
The next planning meeting is June 11th at 5:30pm: Taborspace, 5441 SE Belmont St, Portland, Oregon 97215. Hope to see you there!
NW Veg is gearing up for another incredible VegFest this fall and we need your help to make it a success! The 13th Annual Portland VegFest will be held on October 14th & 15th at the Oregon Convention Center.
Let us know how you'd like to be involved by filling out this survey.
Did ya know we have film archives?
March 4, 2017
Need a rainy day activity?
Thanks to our awesome volunteers, we have recordings of many Vegfest and other talks. Hear about myths of vegan living, vegan athletes, the inner lives of animals, and more.
Check it out!
Volunteer Spotlight: Amy Cook
February 13, 2017
How long have you been veg and why?
Vegetarian off and on since college and vegan for the last 6 years.
How has being veg impacted your life?
I am conscious of what I put in my body and that makes me healthier and happier.
How did you get involved with volunteering for NW VEG?
I volunteered 4 years ago to get free admission into VegFest and really enjoyed being on the trash and recycling crew so I decided to be the lead for that team and it's really fun seeing the same volunteers come back year after year. And this team pretty much rocks!
What is an interesting hobby, talent or passion you have?
I love hiking and swimming so I love finding cool natural swimming holes in lakes and rivers after a nice hike.
What is something left on your bucket list of things that you would like to see, do or accomplish?
Learn to sail. I am taking a trip to Baja soon to learn.
What advice would you give an individual wanting to try a veg diet?
Just do it. And give yourself a break. You don't have to start out super strict!
Enter to win! Animal Photo Contest
January 20, 2017
Enter your favorite animal photos for a chance to win your photo on a professionally printed canvas and inclusion in the upcoming 2017 Northwest VEG vegan recipe book. One photo from each category will be chosen as a winner. Photos will be uploaded to a Northwest VEG Facebook album, and winning photos are determined by the number of "likes" on each photo. Share with your friends and encourage them to vote on your photo!
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
Enter one photo for $3 donation. Three or more photos are $2 each. You may enter as many photos as desired. Donations can be made to Northwest VEG directly through PayPal and are tax-deductible.
Photos must be a minimum of 640 x 480 pixels. Photos must be your original work and you must own the rights to your picture. Photos can be emailed to info@nwveg.org. Each original photo may include an original title and/or caption of up to 40 words.
Photos may be submitted through February 17.
PRIZE CATEGORIES:
♡ Farm Animal
♡ Companion Animal (Furry, feathered, or finned)
♡ Wild Animal
COPYRIGHT: You will retain the copyrights to your pet photo and any copying of your photo by website viewers is strictly forbidden.
USAGE RIGHTS: We may use your winning photograph in our advertisements, publications, and/or merchandise (merchandise with your approval).
Volunteer Spotlight: Joel Rebik
January 8, 2017
How long have you been veg and why?
1993 I went vegetarian, eating average amounts of cheese and ice cream. Was grossed out by milk and eggs straight away. 2007 went 90%. Eating things that contained small amounts of egg or dairy. 2012 I went level 1 Vegan. I am now a Level 3 ½ Clothing, Household Goods and some Animal Compassion events. I wanted to go vegan for all the reason and benefits a long time ago. When I met Lynn Sargent (Vegan Guide), she was the one who took me there.
How has being veg impacted your life?
The more I do for the movement, the better I feel.
How did you get involved with volunteering for NW VEG?
Being poor. At first I wanted to attend events, but lacked the funds. Now it feels great to be a part of it, a cog in the cause.
What is an interesting hobby, talent or passion you have?
Being a drummer in a band was Tops! I still play sporadically and I am connected to some Drum Circles.
What is something left on your bucket list of things that you would like to see, do or accomplish?
I want to get back into BMX Racing again. I am a Thrill Seeker.
What advice would you give an individual wanting to try a veg diet?
Don’t bite off more than you can chew and get a Sponsor/Guide. Some people can jump right into Level 1, others need to gradually transform. Hang with vegans. Shout Out to Deanna Cintas for putting together so many fun and involved groups and events.
22 Day Veg Challenge - Challenge your friends and family!
January 1, 2017
Northwest VEG's free 22 Day Veg Challenge is a great opportunity to kick start the new year in a healthy, compassionate way with a plant-based diet. Sign up today, then forward this newsletter to your family and friends and challenge them to join you!
Here's a sneak-peek of some of the challenges coming your way:
This program is great for all levels of experiences. If you're new to veganism, we will lead you through the basics of a plant-based diet and connect you with a kind and knowledgeable support system. If you're a longtime vegan, the challenge will encourage you to try something new and introduce you to new friends.
Plus, with our mentorship program we will connect newbies with experienced vegans who can answer their questions and provide additional support. Interested in being a mentor? Click here!
It will be fun and easy, with lots of support available to answer questions and share tips. There will be a kick-off event on January 7th and a wrap-up event on January 28th (details to be posted on the Facebook page). We hope to see you there!
Volunteer Spotlight: Kris Eisenman
November 29, 2016
How long have you been veg and why?
I've been vegetarian for over 35 years. Although I always leaned toward a plant based diet, I became exclusively vegan about 2 years ago. I am vegan for my health, the environment and the animals.
How has being veg impacted your life?
I do not have any of the chronic illness that plagued my parents and continue to plague my siblings. I've also have met the most wonderful and compassionate friends through events hosted by NW Veg.
How did you get involved with volunteering for NW VEG?
I started volunteering with NW Veg when I moved to Portland about 5 years ago. After I finished the Master Veg program in 2015 I started volunteering more frequently.
What is an interesting hobby, talent or passion you have?
Cooking and Birdwatching are my two greatest passions. I teach people how to cook through PCRM's Food For Life program and I bird watch with anyone who happens to be walking along side of me.
What is something left on your bucket list of things that you would like to see, do or accomplish?
I want to visit Australia and Iceland.
What advice would you give an individual wanting to try a veg diet?
Just do it. Don't obsess about the future and what you won't eat. Just take it a meal at a time and explore all the delicious and healthy food out there. Also learn to cook. Making your own whole foods plant based meals is the biggest thing you can do to improve your health.
Earn $ for NW VEG as you shop!
November 29, 2016
Click here to link your Fred Meyer Community Rewards to Northwest VEG. You can search for us by our non-profit number (90573). Then, every time you shop and use your Rewards Card, you are helping Northwest VEG earn a donation! Don't worry: you still earn your Rewards Points, Fuel Points, and Rebates, just as you may do currently.
Click here to link your AmazonSmile account to earn money for Northwest VEG.
Thanksgiving Memories
November 29, 2016
We celebrated Thanksgiving festivities with nearly 1,000 people this past week. Thank you for being part of our community.
Here is a sampling of special moments beautifully captured by Northwest VEG member and volunteer Amit Zinman.
Volunteer Spotlight: Emily Canibano
November 1, 2016
How long have you been veg and why?
I have been a vegan 30 years because even as a child I could not reconcile loving animals and gaining sustenance from killing or exploiting them.
How has being veg impacted your life?
When I first became a vegan it wasn't mainstream. I was in grade school and there were no other kids like me. The whole experience of choosing to live consciously has made me more aware of my own power: as a self advocate, a consumer and an educator.
How did you get involved with volunteering for NW VEG?
When we moved to Portland we didn't know anyone or any places then we saw an ad for VegFest. This past year I really wanted to dive into volunteering so I contacted NW VEG about sponsoring the kids area and blending my love of veganism with my passion for early childhood education.
What is an interesting hobby, talent or passion you have?
My husband bought me a Little Free Library for outside of our vegan school. I painted the whole thing with the covers from childhood books and its been featured on a few LFL blogs. I love being a little free librarian; my library rolls my hobby, talent and passions into one.
What is something left on your bucket list of things that you would like to see, do or accomplish?
I've been creating vegan treats and eats for decades and sometimes dream of a career change in that direction, but the food industry can be volatile so I'll settle for visiting the Herbivorous Butcher.
What advice would you give an individual wanting to try a veg diet?
Don't get caught up in anyone else's dogma, all well worn paths start with a step.
A note of gratitude on behalf of Northwest VEG
October 24, 2016
Thank you so much to everyone who helped make Portland VegFest such a celebration this past weekend. We had a record number of volunteers (over 400!), a record number of exhibitors, incredible speakers and film screenings, and the best attendees. An additional thank you to all our sponsors who help make an event of this size possible.
At the core of our mission at Northwest VEG is compassion - for ourselves and other humans, for our planet, for all the non-human animals with whom we share the earth. One of our esteemed speakers this weekend emphasized that his journey to a plant-based diet started with his wife's compassion toward animals and to him as a then-omnivore. This weekend, the compassion that livens our community was present in spades: volunteers for whom this was their twelfth year helping to run Portland VegFest smoothly; the awe of those for whom this was their first VegFest; the growing all-vegan companies that have blossomed, driven by passionate, compassionate entrepreneurs; the increasing number of omnivorous companies that have launched vegan product lines to meet increasing consumer demand; the many other organizations spreading their own missions of compassion.
If you are not already a member of Northwest VEG, now is a great time to show your support for NW VEG and all our events held throughout the year, along with the compassionate, health, and environmental outreach we deliver! More information on joining here.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your dedication and commitment to our community.
With love and gratitude,
Jaclyn Leeds, Executive Director
Photo credit to Enoch Thomas.
Volunteer Spotlight: Jamie Loken
October 7, 2016
How long have you been veg and why?
I went vegetarian 9 years ago, and I've been vegan for 6.5. My choices stem from multiple areas. Health. Environmental. Spiritual.
How has being veg impacted your life?
It's elevated it in ways I probably don’t even yet fully recognize. Making decisions in an effort to align internal intentions with external action shapes every moment of every day. The entire world appears different.
How did you get involved with volunteering for NW VEG?
After moving to Portland this spring, I saw a notice for the VegFest planning committee. I'd previously worked with environmental organizations, but I really felt as if it were time to direct my energy into a different world-shaping approach that was also a significant aspect of my life.
What is an interesting hobby, talent or passion you have?
I love shooting… and not with a gun. Framing what feels like the perfect shot is startling and exceptionally subjective. I spent over a decade involved in film before I moved to Portland. It's lovely to stand behind a camera and witness how the simplest adjustments can shift perception and the viewer's vision of things.
What is something left on your bucket list of things that you would like to see, do or accomplish?
Egypt. I'd love to wander Egypt.
What advice would you give an individual wanting to try a veg diet?
The majority of messages you receive every day are in place to sell you something. Ultimately, the most important story you'll ever tell in life is the one you whisper to yourself.
VegFest Sneak Preview: This Undercover Rebel in a Lab Coat Wants to Set You Free
October 7, 2016
Interview of Dr. Alan Goldhamer by NW VEG Member and Volunteer Jamie Loken
Portland VegFest is October 22 and 23 at the Oregon Convention Center. Click here to see this year's fantastic lineup of speakers.
You don't have to be nice to be vegan.
That's a message Dr. Alan Goldhamer would like to communicate. He doesn't care if you're vegan to save the animals, the environment, or your place in heaven.
He wants you to save yourself.
Vegans are stereotyped as bleeding hearts for a reason. It can be a difficult to hear we need to stand up for ourselves and our health, but that's exactly what VegFest 2016 speaker, Dr. Alan Goldhamer, wants you to do.
Usher in the semi-rebel vibe.
Though co-author of The Pleasure Trap and founder of the largest medically-supervised fasting center in the world, TruthNorth Health Center, it seems Goldhamer's name is only commonplace in certain circles. With the powerful messages he imparts, it's mysterious that he's not more well-known. [...]
Health Conference Early Registration Extended
October 5, 2016
Oregon Convention Center
Friday, October 21
On October 21, Northwest VEG and Adventist Health will co-host the fifth annual Northwest Health and Nutrition Conference, a professional conference featuring five top speakers exploring the science behind plant-based nutrition. Speakers this year include:
- Neal Barnard, MD: Plant-Based Diet for Diabetes and Obesity
- Milton Mills, MD: How Plant-based Diets Improve the Interaction between the GI Tract and the Microbiome
- Julieanna Hever, RD: Transforming the Future of Healthcare
- Alan Goldhamer, DC: Fasting, an Ancient Approach to Modern Problems
- Brooke Goldner, MD: Healing Autoimmune Disease with Supermarket Foods
Volunteer for Portland VegFest 2016!
August 18, 2016
Portland VegFest 2016 is almost here!
Did you know that we need more than 400 volunteers to make Portland VegFest happen? We are still looking for dedicated volunteers to help make the Portland VegFest awesome, and that's where you come in. Click here to volunteer for 2016 VegFest, and invite your friends to sign up to volunteer with you!
Volunteers under 18 will need to bring a signed parental consent form.[...]
To visit the VegFest website, click here.
EARN MONEY FOR NORTHWEST VEG WHILE YOU SHOP!
August 17, 2016
Northwest VEG launched a shop!
Check out our brand new merchandise at our new shop! A percentage of every purchase made goes directly toward funding our mission to support people in their transition toward making healthier, more sustainable & compassionate food choices. So you can look sporty and support a good cause!
Or, help us collect earnings while you do your regular shopping at Fred Meyer or on AmazonSmile.