This past July, Wildlife & Environmental Coordinator Barbara Troyer spoke at the Animal Rights National Conference (AR 2019) in Washington, D.C. as part of a panel she organized called "Sustainable Food Policies and Climate Crisis: Earth- and Animal-friendly Menus for a Changing Planet!"
In addition to Barb, the panel included Chloe Waterman, Senior Food Campaigner, Friends of the Earth and Liberty Mulkani, Project Management Program Director, Animal Legal Defense Fund. Barb’s presentation focused on menu policy adoption successes (and challenges) with environmental and wildlife nonprofits and highlighted Food for Thought’s innovative grant opportunities. Chloe spoke about her impactful food policy work with schools and governmental organizations and Liberty gave real-world examples and practical tips on putting sustainability policy into action at large events. This isn’t the first time this powerful team of women has come together—earlier this year, they presented at the Public Interest Environmental Law Conference (PIELC) in Eugene, OR. The panel was so successful, they wanted to do it again, and the AR 2019 audience appeared to be a good fit.
The panel’s unique Sustainable Food Policies topic stood out from the 80+ other sessions at AR2019 and drew a good crowd, with engaged attendees who packed the room. One person even thanked the panel team, saying it was the most valuable session she attended at the conference and that they were presenting important information not heard anywhere else that weekend!
In addition to the panel, Barb tabled and networked throughout the conference, engaging with nonprofit employees and activists from around the world. Food for Thought donor and volunteer Alysoun Mahoney also generously lent a hand at the table each day!
The Food for Thought team was pleased with the opportunity to present at AR 2019 and we look forward to promoting our work, as well as strengthening partnerships with other nonprofits, at future Animal Rights National Conferences.