March 16 - April 13, 2013

Announcing: The 2013 Vegan Living Program!

It’s that time of year again...The 2013 Vegan Living Program is coming up soon!  Open the Cages Alliance’s Vegan Living Program (VLP) is a series of educational events and discussions geared toward new or aspiring vegans.  One component is that 25 pre-registered Vegan Pledge participants pledge to live a vegan lifestyle for the duration of the 5-week program, with the support of Vegan Coach volunteers!  

Are you an aspiring vegan?  
Please click "Be A Pledge" above to register as a Vegan Pledge in the 2013 Vegan Living Program!  Vegan Pledges are required to attend the 5 core educational sessions listed below.  As a Vegan Pledge, you sign a Pledge to live vegan for the duration of the program, with the help of a volunteer Vegan Coach to provide support and advice. You receive a goody bag full of free samples and items to make the transition easier and more fun, and a binder full of useful information and recipes.  Please note that anyone may attend the educational sessions, but to be a Vegan Pledge you must commit to attending all five core sessions, and pledge to give vegan living a try for the duration of the 5-week program.  Vegan Pledges will be paired with Vegan Coaches at the first meeting on March 16th.  For more information, please call Open the Cages Alliance at (443) 478-3074, or email info@openthecages.org. Note: We are at full capacity of Vegan Pledges in this year's Vegan Living Program. However, if you are still interested in being a Pledge, we do have a waiting list in case of cancellations, so please fill out the registration form, and be sure to attend the first session on March 16. You are also welcome to attend all of our core and elective sessions, which are open to the public (except for the April 13th session).

Have you been vegan for over a year, and do you want to help others make the transition?  
Please click "Be A Coach" above to register as a Vegan Coach!  Vegan Coaches are required to attend a pre-program meeting, plus the 5 core educational sessions listed below.  The pre-program meeting for new Vegan Coaches will be Saturday March 2nd at 5:30pm at Gallery 788, 218 W. Saratoga Street, Baltimore, MD 21201.  If you’ve been a Vegan Coach through our program before, you do not need to attend the March 2nd meeting.  As a Vegan Coach, you will be paired with a Vegan Pledge at the first core educational session on March 16th.  Vegan Coaches are asked to stay in touch with their Pledges between educational sessions, to provide support and advice.  You don’t need to be an expert, just willing to listen, support your Pledge, and look things up if needed!  For more information, please call Open the Cages Alliance at (443) 478-3074, or email info@openthecages.org.

Help us promote the Vegan Living Program!  
Getting the word out about this program is very important, and please remember that OTCA is an all-volunteer organization with only two directors currently living in Baltimore!  We would love your help promoting this program!  If you know an aspiring vegan interested in being a Pledge, or a vegan you think would make a great Coach, please forward this info to them.  Last but not least, we could use your help flyering about the Vegan Living Program.  The educational sessions are open to everyone, whether or not you’re ready to be a Pledge or Coach.  Flyers can be put up just about anywhere - your local coffee shop, bookstore, grocery store, or in the break room at work.  If OTCA can send you a stack of 10-20 flyers, please email info@openthecages.org with your mailing address, and let us know!

Be a Volunteer!
We will need help with various Vegan Living Program tasks, especially transportation of supplies.  Email info@openthecages.org if you’re interested in volunteering!

Sponsor/donate to VLP!
If your company is interested in donating vegan food, product samples, or other vegan goody bag items to the Vegan Living Program, please contact info@openthecages.org.  We are putting together 25 goody bags for Vegan Pledges, and we will use donations of food at the educational sessions and the April 13th celebratory meal!  If you would like to financially support the Vegan Living Program, please donate to Open the Cages Alliance. Thank you!

Core Sessions:

Vegan Pledges and Coaches are required to attend all 5 core sessions listed below. All core sessions except for Vegan Pledge Graduation on April 13th are open to the public! So, whether or not you want to be a Vegan Pledge or Coach, please join us! Below the core sessions, you'll find more events which we call "electives!"

CORE SESSION 1 - Saturday March 16th, 3:00-6:00pm:
Pledge and Coach Introduction, and Introduction to Vegan Ingredients
With speaker Jamie Cohen.  This session includes helpful info on meal-planning, and potentially new-to-you ingredients such as tempeh, seitan, and tofu.
RSVP on Facebook: www.facebook.com/events/104693433034648/

CORE SESSION 2 - Saturday March 23rd, 3:00-5:00pm:
Being Healthy on A Vegan Diet
With Joseph Gonzales, Staff Dietitian with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.  Get your nutrition questions answered!
RSVP on Facebook: www.facebook.com/events/231059430342603/

CORE SESSION 3 - Saturday March 30th, 3:00-5:00pm:
Vegan Living and the Environment, followed by Living Vegan in a Non-Vegan World  
Demosthenes Maratos, Communications Director from the Sustainability Institute at Molloy College, will give a presentation on the compelling environmental reasons to live vegan.  At this session we’ll also discuss challenges facing new vegans, common questions vegans get from friends and family, and potentially challenging social situations such as eating out and family get-togethers.  Discussion will be led by Demosthenes Maratos, and OTCA's Directors, Allie Cornell, Robin Helfritch and Erin Marcus.  
RSVP on Facebook: www.facebook.com/events/287476734708127/

CORE SESSION 4 - Saturday April 6th, 1:00-3:00pm:
VLP Field Trip to Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary
Vegan Pledges and Coaches will take a field trip to Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary (PSAS) in Poolesville, Maryland.  Join us to meet rescued farmed animal residents at PSAS, who are the most compelling reasons to go vegan and stay vegan.
RSVP on Facebook: www.facebook.com/events/420036081405882/

CORE SESSION 5 - Saturday April 13th, 3:00-5:00pm:
Vegan Pledge Graduation!  
We’ll celebrate the successful completion of the Vegan Living Program by the 2013 Vegan Pledges with a graduation ceremony and celebratory vegan meal!  (This session is not open to the public.)

LOCATION: All VLP Core Sessions except our Poplar Spring Field Trip will take place at Gallery 788, 218 W. Saratoga Street (between Park Ave and Howard Street), Baltimore, MD 21201.  The field trip to Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary will be Saturday April 6th, 1:00-3:00pm.  Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary is located at 15200 Mt. Nebo Road, Poolesville, MD 20837, and directions are online at http://animalsanctuary.org/events/directions.html.

Elective Events:

We call these “electives.”  Vegan Pledges and Coaches are not required to attend these sessions, but we encourage you to do so if you are interested!  ALL of these sessions are open to the public, so please come, and invite friends!

Friday March 29th, 6:00-8:00pm:
Juicy Happy Hour!  
Join us at Grind House Juice Bar, 2441 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, MD 21218 for a juicy vegan happy hour social!  Grind House is a 100% vegan juice bar, cafe, and market, so come hungry!  This social is held in conjunction with the 2013 Vegan Living Program.  RSVP on Facebook: www.facebook.com/events/409059365841635/

Saturday March 30th, 5:30-7:00pm:
Vegan Men’s Roundtable Discussion
Vegan men face specific challenges in our society.  Eating meat and dominating those less powerful are often associated with masculinity by popular culture, but we all know that real men are kind to animals!  Join facilitators Ben Shaberman (author of The Vegan Monologues) and Demosthenes Maratos (Communications Director, Sustainability Institute at Molloy College) for a guided discussion of these issues at Gallery 788, 218 W. Saratoga Street (between Park Ave and Howard Street), Baltimore, MD 21201. This discussion is open to all male-identified vegans and male-identified aspiring vegans.  RSVP on Facebook: www.facebook.com/events/469288499796172/

Sunday April 21st, 6:00-8:00pm:
Cooking Demonstration at The Land Of Kush!  
Chef Greg Brown will demonstrate preparation of local, seasonal produce in this vegan cooking demonstration at The Land Of Kush, 840 N. Eutaw Street, Baltimore, MD 21201.  Come early for the cafe’s delicious offerings such as vegan BBQ ribs, mac n cheese, and collard greens.  RSVP on Facebook: www.facebook.com/events/519345631419210/

Sunday May 5th, 2:00pm:
Free Screening of Peaceable Kingdom: The Journey Home
Free Screening of Peaceable Kingdom: The Journey Home, a Tribe of Heart Documentary, at The Enoch Pratt Central Library, 400 Cathedral Street, Baltimore, MD 21201.  Awarded Best Feature Documentary at the Moondance International Film Festival, this riveting story of transformation and healing follows the experiences of five farmers, an animal rescuer, and a humane police officer, each engaged in a powerful struggle of conscience. The 78-minute documentary provides insight into their connections with the animals under their care, while also making clear the complex web of social, psychological and economic forces that have led them to their conflict.  Described by many viewers as “a life-changing experience,” Peaceable Kingdom: The Journey Home shatters stereotypical notions of farmers, farm life, and farm animals themselves.  More info & trailer at www.PeaceableKingdomFilm.org.  RSVP on Facebook: www.facebook.com/events/118379705002611/

Have a question? Want more info? Email info@openthecages.org or call (443) 478-3074.