Vegan Living Program

Are you vegan-curious? Want to give vegan living a try, but need some help and support? Be a Vegan Pledge in the 2014 New York Vegan Living Program! The Vegan Living Program (VLP) is an educational program for the vegan-curious! Every spring, we hold a series of talks, activities and classes, which cover the hows and whys of vegan living, including nutrition, cooking, ethical and environmental implications, and living in a not-yet-vegan world.
Thirty people pledge to live vegan for a month, with the help of the program and our volunteer Vegan Coaches. Vegan Pledges receive a binder full of resources and recipes, and a goody bag of free vegan stuff to make the transition easier and more fun! Classes and cooking demos are open to the public, so no one misses out on the valuable info. The VLP has been held with great success for the past 4 years in Baltimore, MD by Open the Cages Alliance, and this year OTCA and Karuna for Animals are teaming up to bring the VLP to Long Island, NY!
Thirty people pledge to live vegan for a month, with the help of the program and our volunteer Vegan Coaches. Vegan Pledges receive a binder full of resources and recipes, and a goody bag of free vegan stuff to make the transition easier and more fun! Classes and cooking demos are open to the public, so no one misses out on the valuable info. The VLP has been held with great success for the past 4 years in Baltimore, MD by Open the Cages Alliance, and this year OTCA and Karuna for Animals are teaming up to bring the VLP to Long Island, NY!
Get Involved!
- Not yet vegan? Be a Vegan Pledge! Sign-up here.
- Have you been vegan for at least a year? Be a Vegan Coach! Sign-up here.
- Vegan-curious, but not ready to pledge? Come to the educational sessions!
- Help promote the Vegan Living Program!
Email robin@openthecages.org if you can post flyers in your area, such as your local library, bookstore, or place of worship!
Vegan Living Program Sessions:
Saturday, May 31, 1:00 - 3:00pm - Introduction to Veganism & Coach-Pledge Intros
We will discuss the reasons for living a joyful, vegan life, view the 12 minute film, “Vegan: A Life Connected”, VLP organizers will present an introduction to vegan foods demonstration, and Vegan Pledges and Coaches will have some time to get acquainted.
Sunday, June 8, 1:00 - 3:00pm - Vegan Nutrition
Learn about healthy, vegan nutrition and get all your questions answered by our guest vegan Registered Dietitian.
Saturday, June 14, 1:00 - 3:00pm - The Environment & Living Vegan In a Not-Yet-Vegan World
Demosthenes Maratos of the Sustainability Institute at Molloy College will speak about the environmental impact animal agriculture has on our planet, and discuss the ethical reasons for living vegan. He will then join a panel of VLP organizers, Robin Helfritch and Erica Settino, along with Vegan Coach, Chris Settino, to discuss obstacles faced during transitioning to veganism, living vegan amongst family and friends who are not, and tips on maintaining veganism after the program
Saturday, June 21, 1:00 - 3:00pm - Field Trip to For the Animals Sanctuary
We will meet at the sanctuary for a tour, get acquainted with the resident animals, and learn about their lives before rescue.
Limited space, RSVP a must to: robin@openthecages.org.
Sunday, June 29, 5:00 - 7:00pm - Graduation Celebration (Not open to the public)
A celebratory vegan meal for Vegan Pledges and Coaches, with certificates of completion presented to Vegan Pledges!
We will discuss the reasons for living a joyful, vegan life, view the 12 minute film, “Vegan: A Life Connected”, VLP organizers will present an introduction to vegan foods demonstration, and Vegan Pledges and Coaches will have some time to get acquainted.
Sunday, June 8, 1:00 - 3:00pm - Vegan Nutrition
Learn about healthy, vegan nutrition and get all your questions answered by our guest vegan Registered Dietitian.
Saturday, June 14, 1:00 - 3:00pm - The Environment & Living Vegan In a Not-Yet-Vegan World
Demosthenes Maratos of the Sustainability Institute at Molloy College will speak about the environmental impact animal agriculture has on our planet, and discuss the ethical reasons for living vegan. He will then join a panel of VLP organizers, Robin Helfritch and Erica Settino, along with Vegan Coach, Chris Settino, to discuss obstacles faced during transitioning to veganism, living vegan amongst family and friends who are not, and tips on maintaining veganism after the program
Saturday, June 21, 1:00 - 3:00pm - Field Trip to For the Animals Sanctuary
We will meet at the sanctuary for a tour, get acquainted with the resident animals, and learn about their lives before rescue.
Limited space, RSVP a must to: robin@openthecages.org.
Sunday, June 29, 5:00 - 7:00pm - Graduation Celebration (Not open to the public)
A celebratory vegan meal for Vegan Pledges and Coaches, with certificates of completion presented to Vegan Pledges!
All sessions except the graduation celebration on June 29th are open to the public, but to be a Pledge or Coach you must attend all five!
$5-10 suggested donation per session for all attendees except Coaches and Volunteers (no one turned away for lack of funds).
$5-10 suggested donation per session for all attendees except Coaches and Volunteers (no one turned away for lack of funds).
Locations:
All sessions except June 21st will be held at Molloy College Suffolk Center, 7180 Republic Airport, Farmingdale, NY 11735. For directions, click here. If traveling with GPS, "1 Marriott Plaza, Farmingdale" will help your GPS find where to turn off Rte. 110 onto Grumman Lane; the Suffolk Center is the 4th building on left. On June 21st we will take a field trip to For the Animals Sanctuary in NJ, located at 8 Cherokee Trail, Blairstown, NJ 07825. We will meet there at 1:00pm (car-pooling encouraged). RSVP a must, as there is limited capacity for the tour.
Sponsors:
We would like to thank our wonderful sponsors and product donors who help to make this program possible!
Major Sponsor: The Sustainability Institute at Molloy College

The Sustainability Institute at Molloy College’s mission is to serve as a core resource on environmental excellence, and to promote positive solutions that advance the three dimensions of sustainability - economy, environment and social equity, for both the students & faculty of Molloy College and for the larger Long Island community of which Molloy is a part.
Our vision is to catalyze Long Island to become a national leader in developing, promoting, and implementing sustainable solutions to environmental and quality of life challenges. Visit our website for more information.
Our vision is to catalyze Long Island to become a national leader in developing, promoting, and implementing sustainable solutions to environmental and quality of life challenges. Visit our website for more information.
Major Sponsor: A Well-Fed World

A Well-Fed World (AWFW) envisions a world where there is enough healthy and accessible food for everyone, and where food is produced in a way that prioritizes health and the common good. AWFW seeks to remedy rising global "meat" production by promoting the benefits of sustainable, plant-based solutions in response to global food security, health, hunger, and environmental concerns; encouraging think tanks, social justice leaders, and government decision-makers to promote the benefits and accessibility of plant-based foods in their policies and recommendations; providing resources and educational materials to the public that improve food choices; and empowering locally-active groups with financial and material assistance, especially groups in low-income and disenfranchised communities. More info here!
Major Sponsor: Creations Magazine

Creations Magazine has been "Inspiring the Soul" for over twenty five years. With a circulation of 38,000, Creations is distributed bi-monthly to 1,300 locations throughout New York City and Long Island. An additional 42,000 readers visit creationsmagazine.com, bringing our total readership to nearly 150,000.
We serve the Holistic-Minded, Health-Conscious, Spiritually-Centered and Creative Communities. Creations Magazine is found at health food stores, wellness, spiritual and cultural art centers, libraries, universities, supermarkets, coffee shops, music and book stores, yoga studios, gyms and wellness/green expos.
Each issue features seasonal topics including Personal/Spiritual Growth, Holistic Health, Nutrition, Relationships, Yoga/Meditation, Lessons, Transitions and the Earth/Environment.
Please visit our website for more articles, our most up-to-date listings, and to view back issues and newsletter.
We serve the Holistic-Minded, Health-Conscious, Spiritually-Centered and Creative Communities. Creations Magazine is found at health food stores, wellness, spiritual and cultural art centers, libraries, universities, supermarkets, coffee shops, music and book stores, yoga studios, gyms and wellness/green expos.
Each issue features seasonal topics including Personal/Spiritual Growth, Holistic Health, Nutrition, Relationships, Yoga/Meditation, Lessons, Transitions and the Earth/Environment.
Please visit our website for more articles, our most up-to-date listings, and to view back issues and newsletter.
Product and coupon donors - NY VLP:
Alternative Baking Company (www.AlternativeBaking.com)
Beyond Meat (www.beyondmeat.com) Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps (www.DrBronner.com) Herbivore Clothing (www.HerbivoreClothing.com) Hurraw! Balm (www.HurrawBalm.com) LUSH Cosmetics (www.lush.com) |
Seventh Generation (www.SeventhGeneration.com)
So Delicious (www.SoDeliciousDairyFree.com) Sunshine Burger (www.SunshineBurger.com) Sweet to Lick Vegan Bakery (www.sweettolick.com) Tofurky (Turtle Island Foods, Inc) (www.tofurky.com) Vegan Essentials (www.VeganEssentials.com) |
Vegan Living Program educational content is not meant to be construed as health advice, or take the place of a consultation with a medical professional. All Vegan Pledges will be given a release form indicating as much at the first meeting on May 31st.
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Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date, and/or contact us with questions or for more information.