Are you vegan-curious? Want to be vegan but need a boost? Or just want to learn more?

Check out the Vegan Living Program, an educational program presented by Open the Cages Alliance for those interested in vegan lifestyles!

PLEDGE TO BE VEGAN THE MONTH OF THE PROGRAM (April 15-May 20) and get a personal VEGAN COACH + a fantastic goody bag!

NOTE: We have reached our quota for this year's registered Vegan Pledges, but we are still taking registrations for our stand-by list. Please sign up if you are interested, and be sure to attend the first session on April 15. All sessions, except May 20th, are also open to the public.

Five “Core” Educational Sessions

Required of Coaches and Pledges; all except May 20th open to the public, too!

All core sessions listed below will be held at Cyclops Books, 30 W. North Ave., Baltimore, MD 21201 except for the May 6th field trip to Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary, 15200 Mt. Nebo Road, Poolesville, MD 20837. 

Check out our speakers and presenters list!

Sunday, April 15th, 3:00-5:00pm

THE BASICS OF VEGAN LIVING with Michael A. Weber, Program Director of Farm Animal Rights Movement, and VEGAN INGREDIENTS presentation with local activist, Jamie Cohen

RSVP for this session on Facebook

Sunday, April 22nd, 3:00-5:00pm

VEGAN NUTRITION BASICS with Joseph Gonzales, R.D., staff dietitian for Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

RSVP for this session on Facebook

Sunday, April 29th, 3:00-5:00pm

“BEING GREEN" BY LIVING VEGAN with Demosthenes Maratos, Communications Director of the Sustainability Institute at Molloy College, plus VEGAN HEALTH AND FITNESS with “The Boot Camp Girl” Stephanie Dignan, and Javier de la Camara of Gorilla Fit

RSVP for this session on Facebook

Sunday, May 6th, 1:00-3:00pm

FIELD TRIP to Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary, 15200 Mt. Nebo Road, Poolesville, MD 20837

RSVP for this session on Facebook

Sunday, May 20th, 3:00-5:00pm

CELEBRATION FOR PLEDGES AND COACHES!

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Note: On May 13th there will be no core session. Instead, there will be a special elective Mothers' Day VEGAN COOKING DEMO with Land of Kush. Details below.

RSVP to the Vegan Living Program Facebook Event and "Share" it on your Facebook page!

 

Seven Fantastic “Elective” Sessions

All elective sessions listed below will be held at Cyclops Books, 30 W. North Ave., Baltimore, MD 21201 except for the May 13th cooking demonstration at The Land of Kush, 840 N. Eutaw Street, Baltimore, MD. 

Check out our speakers and presenters list!

Saturday April 21st, 3:30pm

GARDENING WORKSHOP with Sonya Miller
Learn about how plants grow, and how to grow your own vegetable container garden!

RSVP for this session on Facebook

Sunday April 22nd, 5:30pm (following the Nutrition “core” VLP session)

RAW FOODS DEMO with Fitness Instructor/Personal Trainer Tracy Matthews
Tracy will demonstrate a raw vegan savory dish to delight your taste buds and your health!

RSVP for this session on Facebook

Sunday April 29th, 5:30 - 6:30pm (following the Environment/Fitness “core” VLP session)

VEGAN LIVING AND SPIRITUALITY ROUNDTABLE with Wendy Stewart
A roundtable discussion on vegan lifestyles and spirituality, with 2011 Pledge Wendy Stewart.

RSVP for this session on Facebook

Saturday May 5th, 1:00 - 2:30pm

RAISING VEGAN KIDS ROUNDTABLE with Lesley Parker-Rollins
A roundtable discussion on raising vegan children, with vegan mom of three Lesley Parker-Rollins, who is also the Baltimore Volunteer Outreach Coordinator for Compassion Over Killing.

RSVP for this session on Facebook

Saturday May 5th, 3:00pm

VEGAN BAKED GOODIES WORKSHOP with Teresa Pessaro of Goody Goody Gumdrops Vegan Goodies
A hands-on workshop and discussion of vegan baking!

RSVP for this session on Facebook

Sunday May 13th, 6:00pm

VEGAN COOKING DEMO with Land of Kush, 840 N. Eutaw Street, Baltimore, MD
The Land of Kush, home of fabulous vegan soul food, will demonstrate preparation of a delicious vegan dish.  Bring your mom for Mothers’ Day and then stay for the cooking demo!  Land of Kush closes for dinner at 6pm, so be sure to come early for dinner!

RSVP for this session on Facebook

Saturday May 19th, 1:00-3:00pm

RAW DESSERTS DEMO with Jahari "Chef RawLife" Adjiri of Raw Soul-licious Gourmet
Chef RawLife will demonstrate preparation of a raw dessert fit for vegans, the health-conscious, diabetics...and more than yummy enough for everyone else too! 

RSVP for this session on Facebook

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Please note: All educational sessions and electives may be documented with video and/or photography.  Media may be invited to some sessions

 

Ways to Participate

1) Just show up!  All sessions except for the May 20th Pledge celebration are open to the public!

2) Be a Vegan Pledge!  Pledge to be vegan for the duration of the program (April 15th - May 20th, 2012). You’ll be paired with a one-on-one Vegan Coach to provide you with friendly support throughout the Program.  You’ll receive a binder full of useful information and recipes, and a goody bag of samples and other free stuff.  Attendance at the 5 “core” VLP sessions (listed above) is required of Vegan Pledges.  The fifth session on May 20th is a catered meal for Pledges who complete the program, where we’ll celebrate and present certificates of completion to Pledges.  No registration fee.  There is a $0-5 suggested donation per session; no one turned away for lack of funds!  Space is limited; sign up today!

3) Be a Vegan Coach! Change is tough...Please consider being a Vegan Coach for an aspiring vegan!

Calling all Vegan Coaches, and potential Vegan Coaches for OTCA's 2012 Vegan Living Program! We're holding a Vegan Coach Interest Meeting, Saturday March 31st from 2:00-3:30pm at Cyclops Books, 30 W. North Ave, Baltimore, MD.  Cyclops Books is located on the NE corner of North and Maryland, one block east of Howard, one block west of Charles. The meeting is for those who have already registered AND those still on the fence. We will discuss pertinent details for this year, and reflections based on last year's program! Light refreshments will be served. Email info@openthecages.org to RSVP or for more details! Click here for more information and to sign up to be a Vegan Coach!

4) 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!

5) 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 May 20th celebratory meal!  If you would like to financially support the Vegan Living Program, please donate to Open the Cages Alliance. Thank you!

6) Help us promote the Vegan Living Program!  RSVP to the Facebook Event and "Share" it on your Facebook page!