by Ellie Meyerstein, VRG Intern
Once I began working with The Vegetarian Useful resource Group, I wasn’t fairly certain what to anticipate. However over the previous 10 weeks I’ve had the chance to work on quite a few initiatives that (just about) took me all around the nation. I began my internship by tabling on the Inexperienced Mitzvathon Environmental Truthful in Baltimore. There, I used to be in a position to interact with individuals of all ages and backgrounds about vegan and vegetarian points. I talked to many individuals who had been already vegan and easily searching for new recipe concepts or vitamin data. However, I additionally met a number of individuals who had relations that had been vegan, and so they had been visiting the occasion and our desk to be taught extra about veganism. Whether or not that was shopping for a vegan cookbook for his or her member of the family or buddy or taking a duplicate of the Vegan Journal so they might check out some new vegan recipes, I used to be very glad I may assist them.
One in every of my favourite initiatives to work on this summer time was watching the movies for VRG’s video contest and sending responses to the contestants. Every of the movies was informative and well-done and every centered on a distinct side of veganism that was necessary to the person. Everybody has a distinct purpose for doing this work, however we’re all doing it collectively and that’s what is necessary.
One other undertaking that I labored on this summer time concerned reviewing eating places for VRG’s intensive restaurant information. https://www.vrg.org/restaurant I researched and reviewed vegan and vegetarian eating places all around the nation, and even went to some that had been native. This really confirmed simply how a lot the world of vegan and vegetarian meals has expanded and advanced over the previous decade. There are vegan eating places all around the nation, and plenty of extra locations are providing vegan choices. It proves how the work that VRG and different organizations have been doing with advocacy and training is working.
By this internship, I labored so much on initiatives that may hopefully make veganism extra accessible to individuals. Individuals shouldn’t be restricted simply due to their monetary or residing scenario. A part of this was serving to to place collectively a low-income vegan meal plan, which is able to hopefully exhibit that veganism doesn’t must be costly, although it typically seems that approach within the media. Veganism is a way of life that everybody, no matter revenue ought to have entry to and I hope my work with Reed Mangels, PhD, RD and VRG will assist with that accessibility.
Firsthand, I labored on vegan training with VRG’s different summer time intern, Chaltu. I interviewed her and we mentioned veganism as an entire and the right way to be vegan on a price range. The video will probably be posted and out there on VRG’s social media and weblog. One side of vegan training that I had the prospect to see in motion was attending one in all Crystal Forman’s vegan cooking courses at Christopher’s Place, a program for previously homeless males. I used to be very glad to have had this chance and might be part of the essential work that Ms. Forman, MPH, MPA is doing. She is extremely educated about meals and well being and the individuals, and myself, had been captivated watching her cook dinner and clarify the science behind it.
I additionally had the chance to work with VRG Volunteer Coordinator Whitney on a undertaking researching assisted residing amenities that supply vegan meals choices. Once more, I hope the data that’s now out there on VRG’s web site and weblog will make veganism extra accessible and can be certain that aged people should not have to compromise their values with a purpose to get the assistance they want.
I’m grateful for my time with VRG and I hope they proceed the unimaginable work they’re doing. For details about VRG internships, go to https://www.vrg.org/pupil/index.php
For details about VRG internships, see www.vrg.org/pupil/index.php
To assist VRG internships, donate at www.vrg.org/donate or be a part of at www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php
