11:30 a.m.:  Vlad Ortiz – La Oveja Verde

We are so excited to have Vlad from La Oveja Verde all the way from Monterrey, Mexico! The Oveja Verde team serves up delicious traditional dishes, without animal products, to satisfy your craving!

Vlad will be discussing vegnism in Mexico, how it’s evolved, as well as the health, environmental, and economic benefits of veganism. He will also be preparing traditional Mexican tacos with cactus, mushrooms, and flowers. This is our first demo of the day, so be sure to arrive early to get a chance at some of the amazing brunch tacos!  

12:30 p.m.: Aysha Akhtar, MD, MPH

Dr. Aysha Akhtar is a neurologist and preventive medicine specialist. She is the Deputy Director of the Army Traumatic Brain Injury Program and the author of the upcoming book, Our Symphony With Animals. Dr. Akhtar has spoken and written extensively on the connection between animal protection and human health.  “I’m on a mission to show how animal protection is good for humans, too! Join me”!

1:30 p.m.: Hannah Kaminsky

Hannah is the author of My Sweet Vegan, Vegan a la Mode, Vegan Desserts, and Easy as Vegan Pie, and creator of the award-winning blog BitterSweetBlog.com. She is a baker, writer, and photographer! Don’t miss her cooking demo!  

Take a trip to Thailand in less time than it would take to order takeout! Learn how to make spicy tempeh larb without compromising flavor, nutrition, or your budget, even during the busiest weekday dinner rush. Pick up more tips and tricks for faster, tastier meals across the board, based on the cookbook Real Food, Really Fast by Hannah Kaminsky.

2:30 p.m.: SGT Bill Muir

Bill Muir is a Combat Veteran, long-time vegan (since 1992), and author of the book Vegan Strong. A former US Army Paratrooper SGT, SGT Vegan is also a RN-Cardiac Telemetry!

The Sergeants presentation will track his transition from meat-eater to vegan, and follows his life after joining the Army post 9/11 as a Combat Medic and deployed with the 173rd Airborne to Afghanistan. An RN, author, and educator  SGT Muir will provide valuable health and fitness information to inspire you to be vegan strong!

3:30 p.m.: Kimberly Barnes – Might Be Vegan

This is Kimberly, and she might be vegan! Kimberly  worked toward a fully plant-based diet for several years and finally made the switch! We are excited to have you join Kimberly’s kitchen adventures as she story-tells her journey on becoming vegan while sharing a dish like her original ‘Shrooms & Grits, Chana Masala, or other internationally inspired savory cuisine! Want to share how you became vegan with other new vegans? Head over to Kimberly’s Instagram to share YOUR story!

4:30 p.m.: John – The Humane League

Jon Camp is the Vice President of Grassroots, overseeing all grassroots program work and developing The Humane League’s national activist network. The HUmane League works to reform the way farm animals are treated while also inspiring people to make more compassionate food choices.

Join us as Jon speaks about Effective Animal Advocacy. He’ll discuss the progress for farm animals that has been underway over the last many years and how each one of us can effectively advocate for farm animals in our day to day lives. He’ll also share strategies that have led to these changes and how each one of us can effectively play a role in making life better for the 8 billion chickens raised and killed each year in the United States. Chickens raised for meat suffer in great numbers and without legal protection. And over the last two years, there’s been a revolution underway to get companies to address the worst abuses in their supply chain. Don;t miss this informative presentation!