Jamie Cohen
Introduction to Vegan Ingredients
Core Session 1, Saturday March 16, 3:00pm-6:00pm

Tempeh?  Seitan?  Nutritional yeast?  What are they, and how in the world do you cook with them?  In her presentation, activist Jamie Cohen will demystify some potentially new-to-you vegan ingredients.  Jamie is a dedicated local animal activist, and supporter of many organizations that help animals such as Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary, Animal Rescue, and United Poultry Concerns.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree and Master of Science Degree, both in Applied Psychology.

 

Joseph Gonzales
Being Healthy on A Vegan Diet
Core Session 2, Saturday March 23, 3:00pm-5:00pm

Now I'm vegan, so what do I eat?  Joseph Gonzales, R.D., staff dietitian for Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), will provide practical advice on healthy vegan eating and meal planning.  In addition, he will explain how The Cancer Project of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is advancing cancer prevention and survival through whole-food plant-based nutrition, education, and research.  Researchers know more about the links between diet and cancer than ever before. Lowering body weight, limiting fat intake, and avoiding animal products can significantly cut cancer risk.  Joseph will explain how the same diet for cancer prevention aids in the prevention of heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.  His background includes developing and monitoring nutrition care plans for a variety of health organizations, including hospitals, a nursing home, and a retreat center for women diagnosed with breast cancer.

Joseph also volunteered with a diabetes lifestyle intervention program at the Diabetes Wellness Center in the Marshall Islands. In this program, he conducted cooking demonstrations, developed healthful standardized recipes, administered and evaluated blood glucose screenings, and helped people with diabetes understand the correlation between diet and diabetes.

Joseph earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition at Bastyr University and completed his supervised dietetic internships through the Coordinated Program of Dietetics at Washington State University.

In his free time, he enjoys playing ice hockey, practicing bikram yoga, golfing, and bowling.

 

Demosthenes Maratos
Vegan Living and the Environment
Living Vegan in a Non-Vegan World
Core Session 3, Saturday March 30th, 3:00-5:00pm
Vegan Men’s Roundtable Discussion
Elective Session, Saturday March 30th, 5:30-7:00pm

Demosthenes Maratos serves as the Communications Director at the Sustainability Institute at Molloy College, where he has been employed since 2009. Demosthenes has worked in the field of environmental and public policy since 1989. He began his career with the Long Island Neighborhood Network, the New York region’s largest and most active environmental advocacy organization. There, in addition to many successful efforts, he campaigned for the two most significant pieces of pesticide legislation in New York State history - the Neighbor Notification of Pesticide Spraying law and the Safe School Grounds law. Now with the Sustainability Institute at Molloy College, Demosthenes is part of a team that provides community education and fosters informed debate on key issues related to sustainability. His work also includes integrating concepts of sustainability into the curriculum, operations and culture at Molloy College and the larger Long Island community.

Demosthenes holds a Bachelor’s degree in both Sociology and Business Management from St. John’s University. In his spare time, he enjoys playing competitive ice hockey, weight lifting and classic muscle cars. He has been an ethical vegan since 1989.

 

Ben Shaberman
Vegan Men’s Roundtable Discussion
Elective Session, Saturday March 30th, 5:30-7:00pm

Ben Shaberman is a well-established essayist and commentator with articles in a number of prominent national publications including: The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, National Public Radio, The Baltimore Sun, The Des Moines Register, VegNews, Vegetarian Times, and Clean Sheets Erotica Magazine.

His book of collected essays, The Vegan Monologues, was released in April 2009 by Apprentice House (Loyola College in Baltimore).

He holds a master of arts in writing from Johns Hopkins University, as well as a master of science in computer systems management from the University of Maryland, and a bachelor of science in computer information science from Cleveland State University.

He has also been a staff writer for research, non-profit, long-term care, and hospice care organizations.

In 2003, Ben won the Penny Ante Humor Scholarship at the Stonecoast Writers’ Conference (University of Southern Maine).

In 2002, he won second place at the Des Moines National Poetry Festival.

He’s been a vegetarian since 1991 and a vegan since 2004.