Category Archives: Events

A Movie That Changed My Life

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About 14 years ago, I walked into a movie screening hoping to be entertained, informed, and maybe inspired.
What I didn’t expect was that I would be veganized.

But that’s exactly what happened.

The movie’s depiction of the suffering of the animals and people involved in animal agriculture, coupled with its profound message of transformation and hope, literally opened my mind and heart. I remember exiting the movie in a kind of daze; then calling my partner and telling him, “I’m vegan.”

That movie was the acclaimed Peaceable Kingdom by producers Tribe of Heart. This Thursday, Vegan Kalamazoo and the Natural Health Center are screening the updated version, Peaceable Kingdom: The Journey Home. The screening is FREE and NHC is providing free yummy vegan popcorn. So come, and bring a friend! But two warnings:

(1) Bring your Kleenex, and
(2) Be prepared for possible change.

Peaceable Kingdom: The Journey Home
Thursday, February 16
6:30 pm – 8:00 p.m.
Natural Health Center
4610 W Main St, Kalamazoo (NE corner of West Main & Drake) – plenty of parking
FREE
More info / preregister on Meetup.

Next month we will be showing another Tribe of Heart classic, The Witness. The stars and setting of this one couldn’t be more different from those of Peaceable Kingdom. Instead of rural farmers learning to love the cows and other beings they formerly exploited for profit, we have a tough-guy construction worker in New York City who, through his relationship with his cat, evolves to become an animal activist.

The Witness
Sunday, March 12
1:00 pm – 2:30 p.m.
Natural Health Center
4610 W Main St, Kalamazoo (NE corner of West Main & Drake) – plenty of parking
FREE
More info / preregister on Meetup.

Also in March, we’re having a Coffee Social at the sunny and cheerful Coexist Cafe (2901 Howard St, near WMU) and a Gourmet Pizza Party at Sawall’s excellent new Cafe 36! More info on Meetup. As always, at Vegan Kalamazoo events, everyone is welcome, including vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores. However, out of respect for our mission, we request that you only order / consume vegan food at this event. Newcomers are especially welcome!

Eating healthily is soooo complicated—or is it?

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You can focus on Dr. Fuhrman’s GBOMBS: Greens, Beans, Onions, Mushrooms, Berries, and Seeds. (Dr. Fuhrman is author of the bestselling Eat to Live and other excellent diet/health books.)

GBOMBAnd check out the Environmental Working Group‘s lists of Clean 15 and Dirty 12:

Clean 15 – Foods that tend to be relatively free of pesticides, so you don’t have to buy organic.

Dirty 12 – Foods that tend to be heavily treated with pesticides, so try to buy organic.

You’re done!

Okay, there’s a bit more to it than that—but maybe not too much if you’re vegan.

Remember: Vegan Kalamazoo is here to help! This summer we’ll be doing a lot of tabling, so stop by and see us at…

  • The Kalamazoo Dog Walk – This Saturday May 7
  • Kalamazoo Farmers’ Market – Third Saturday of the month, May – August
  • Portage Farmers’ Market – Fourth Sunday of the month, May – August
  • Kalamazoo PRIDE – June 9-10

We’ll be happy to answer your questions. (And if you’d like to help table, that would be great! Tabling is fun and you don’t have to be an expert. Email me if you’d like to do it.)

You’ll also meet many friendly, fun, and helpful vegans at our informal Living Vegan Social Club get-togethers:

  • Saturday May 14, 10 – noon @ Fourth Coast Cafe (Westnedge)
  • Monday, May 23, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. @ Tropical Smoothie Cafe (West Main)

Remember—everyone, including vegans, vegetarians, and the veg-curious, is always welcome at all Vegan Kalamazoo events. All events are free except for cost of food, movie, etc. (An optional “love donation” to help defray expenses is appreciated.)

More info / RSVP on all events on our Meetup page (preferred) and Facebook page. (We’re also sharing lots of recipes and other fun stuff on Facebook!)

See you healthily this summer!

Tuesday 5/17: Show Up for the Animals at HSUS Humane Lobby Day

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The Humane Society’s annual Humane Lobby Day in Michigan is a fun and interesting event. This is a great opportunity to tell your state legislators about issues affecting Michigan’s animals such as what changes are needed to protect animals from puppy mills and gas chamber euthanasia. Don’t be worried if you have never participated in this sort of event before, as there will be plenty of people with lobbying experience to help out.

If you need a ride or would like to offer a ride to the event, please use the comments section on our Meetup site to organize carpools.

Registration is $8 and that covers materials and a vegan boxed lunch. Last day to register is May 13.

***Attendees must register on the Humane Society website***

When: Tuesday, May 17, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Anderson House Office Building, Mackinac Room
124 North Capitol Ave., Lansing, MI 48909
Cost: $8

More info/to register.

Monday 5/23: Living Vegan Social Club (Kalamazoo)

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Living Vegan is a social group where we come together informally for fun times and fun discussions. Need a recipe? A vegan fashion tip? Tips for dealing with non-vegan family/friends? You’ll get it all at Living Vegan! We also have plenty of fun discussions on non-vegan topics like movies, TV, gardening, photography, and science fiction. And sometimes there’s a pool game or two!

We hope you’ll join us for our next get-together on Monday, May 23 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Tropical Smoothie Cafe (4315 West Main, Kalamazoo) Event is free (except the cost of your food and drink); we do request and appreciate an optional $2 donation to cover group expenses.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe, located behind The Hanger on West Main, has excellent and healthy food with lots of vegan options including sandwiches and wraps with Beyond Meat. If the weather’s good we can eat outside!

Our gracious host is Hillary Rettig. RSVP requested in advance on our Meetup (preferred) or Facebook page.

Please note: there will be no Living Vegan Potluck at Laurie Oldfather’s house this month.

As always, at Vegan Kalamazoo events, everyone is welcome, including vegans, vegetarians, omnivores, and vegans-in-progress.

Saturday 5/14: Living Vegan Social Club (Kalamazoo)

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Living Vegan is a social group where we come together informally for fun times and fun discussions. Need a recipe? A vegan fashion tip? Tips for dealing with non-vegan family/friends? You’ll get it all at Living Vegan! We also have plenty of fun discussions on non-vegan topics like movies, TV, gardening, photography, and science fiction. And sometimes there’s a pool game or two!

We hope you’ll join us for our next get-together on Saturday, May 14 from 10:00 a.m. to Noon at Fourth Coast Cafe (816 S Westnedge Ave, Kalamazoo) Event is free (except the cost of your food and drink); we do request and appreciate an optional $2 donation to cover group expenses.justwanttodrinkcoffee

Our gracious host is, as always, Laurie Oldfather. RSVP requested in advance on our Meetup (preferred) or Facebook page.

As always, at Vegan Kalamazoo events, everyone is welcome, including vegans, vegetarians, omnivores, and vegans-in-progress.

Saturday 5/7: Learn to Cook Vegan With Chef Paul Vugteveen! (Hastings)

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chef paulPlease join Chef Paul Vugteveen at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute on Saturday May 7 to learn about vegan cooking.

Vegan diets offer a variety of health and environmental benefits, and interest in them has grown rapidly in recent years. Chef Paul Vugteveen will highlight several vegan recipes, including how to make vegan cheese and meat alternatives that can be used in favorite recipes.

Date: Saturday, May 7

Time: 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Location: Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, 701 West Cloverdale Rd, Hastings

Cost: Members $20 | Non-Member Adults $25

Program limited to 20 participants. Preregister here.

Chef Paul Vugteveen is originally from Zeeland, MI. Paul Vugteveen is the Chef at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute in Hastings, MI. He gained much of his cooking experience at the JW Marriott in Grand Rapids, MI, then spent 2 years as an artisanal pastry chef at Zingerman’s Bakehouse in Ann Arbor, MI. He also worked as a Bread Baker at Avalon International Breads in Detroit, MI, specializing in naturally leavened breads. He also spent more than two years growing organic vegetables at Brines Farm in Dexter, MI.

Thursday 4/14: Supermarket Shoparooni! (Kalamazoo / Oshtemo)

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Join us for another Vegan Kalamazoo Supermarket Shoparooni!
 
We’ll be walking through Meijer (West Main St.) checking out all the cool vegan foods and talking about how you can use them. We’ll be exploring:
 
*fruits and vegetables
 *whole grains, legumes, seeds, and nuts
 *plant based milks and yogurts
 *condiments, herbs, and spices
 *ethnic selections
 *frozen / convenience foods
 
 We’ll also be discussing low-oil, and oil-free cooking, cooking healthy for kids (our leader, Katie, has three), and any other topics you wish to bring up!
 
We are so fortunate to have Katie Alkema leading this event. Not only is she a passionate vegan shopper and cook, she just got her certificate in plant-based nutrition from the prestigious T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies, one of the top vegan nutrition programs in the world!
Please preregister at our Meetup or Facebook page.
Thursday April 14, 10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. (meet at 9:50; tour begins promptly at 10), Meijer, 6660 W Main St.; meet at Customer Service Desk
 
Remember: everyone, including vegans, vegetarians, omnivores, and the veg-curious, is always welcome at Vegan Kalamazoo events! Also the event is free, but we suggest an optional $2/person donation to help defray expenses.
 
See you at the Shoparooni!

Thursday 3/31: Managing Type 1 Diabetes Using a Plant-Based Diet (VK Healthy Eating Series)

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“Let food be thy medicine,” said Hippocrates more than 2,000 years ago—and health-conscious people continue to do just that. Vegan Kalamazoo is inaugurating its Healthy Eating discussion series with a truly special event. Professional chef Paul Vugteveen will share his personal account of being diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) at the age of 25, and how that diagnosis has been woven into all of his food choices, eventually leading him to a whole foods, vegan diet. Among other topics he’ll be discussing

· Brief comparison of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

· What the Glycemic Index is and why it’s important

· How to shop for and prepare foods

· Tips for living an active life with T1D

· How to get involved with Vegan Kalamazoo or T1D in Action

Come prepared with your questions and to share your own experiences! Note: This talk will focus on T1D, but many of the tips will be useful to those with Type 2 Diabetes as well. Everyone is welcome!

chef paulOur speaker: Originally from Zeeland, MI, Paul Vugteveen is the Chef at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute in Hastings, MI. He gained much of his cooking experience at the JW Marriott in Grand Rapids, MI, then spent 2 years as an artisanal pastry chef at Zingerman’s Bakehouse in Ann Arbor, MI. He also worked as a Bread Baker at Avalon International Breads in Detroit, MI, specializing in naturally leavened breads. He also spent more than two years growing organic vegetables at Brines Farm in Dexter, MI.

Paul was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes (a chronic autoimmune disease) in 2011. That diagnosis led him to question how consuming animal products affects the wellbeing of himself and others. He currently lives in Kalamazoo with his partner, Lindsey, and their dog and two cats. Paul is an Organizer and Camp Cook for the Kalamazoo based group, T1D in Action.

Paul has appeared on WZZM 13 and WOODTV 8 TV stations. You can email him at paul.t1dinaction@gmail.com, and learn more about his work at

www.facebook.com/chefpaulvugteveen

and

www.facebook.com/t1dinaction

Please join us on Thursday, March 31 at 7:00 p.m. at the Stuart Avenue Association Building (530 Douglas Ave, Kalamazoo). White building on east side of Douglas Ave, (between Jefferson and North), park on Douglas Street.

We’ll be repeating this event Tuesday, April 19 at 7:00pm at Natural Health Center.

RSVP at our Meetup (preferred) or Facebook page

Remember: everyone, including vegans, vegetarians, omnivores, and the veg-curious, is always welcome at Vegan Kalamazoo events! Also the event is free, but we suggest an optional donation (which will be split between VK and the Stuart Avenue Restoration Association) to help defray expenses.

Saturday 4/16: Living Vegan Social Club (Kalamazoo)

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Living Vegan is a social group where we come together informally for fun times and fun discussions. Need a recipe? A vegan fashion tip? Tips for dealing with non-vegan family/friends? You’ll get it all at Living Vegan! We also have plenty of fun discussions on non-vegan topics like movies, TV, gardening, photography, and science fiction. And sometimes there’s a pool game or two!

We hope you’ll join us for our next get-together on Saturday, April 16 from 10:00 a.m. to Noon at Fourth Coast Cafe (816 S Westnedge Ave, Kalamazoo) Event is free (except the cost of your food and drink); we do request and appreciate an optional $2 donation to cover group expenses.justwanttodrinkcoffee

Our gracious host is, as always, Laurie Oldfather. RSVP requested in advance on our Meetup (preferred) or Facebook page.

As always, at Vegan Kalamazoo events, everyone is welcome, including vegans, vegetarians, omnivores, and vegans-in-progress.

Tuesday 4/19: Managing Type 1 Diabetes Using a Plant-Based Diet (Vegan Kalamazoo Healthy Eating Series)

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Let food be thy medicine,” said Hippocrates more than 2,000 years ago—and health-conscious people continue to do just that. Vegan Kalamazoo is inaugurating its Healthy Eating discussion series with a truly special event. Professional chef Paul Vugteveen will share his personal account of being diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) at the age of 25, and how that diagnosis has been woven into all of his food choices, eventually leading him to a whole foods, vegan diet. Among other topics he’ll be discussing

· Brief comparison of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

· What the Glycemic Index is and why it’s important

· How to shop for and prepare foods

· Tips for living an active life with T1D

· How to get involved with Vegan Kalamazoo or T1D in Action

Come prepared with your questions and to share your own experiences! Note: This talk will focus on T1D, but many of the tips will be useful to those with Type 2 Diabetes as well. Everyone is welcome!

chef paulOur speaker: Originally from Zeeland, MI, Paul Vugteveen is the Chef at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute in Hastings, MI. He gained much of his cooking experience at the JW Marriott in Grand Rapids, MI, then spent 2 years as an artisanal pastry chef at Zingerman’s Bakehouse in Ann Arbor, MI. He also worked as a Bread Baker at Avalon International Breads in Detroit, MI, specializing in naturally leavened breads. He also spent more than two years growing organic vegetables at Brines Farm in Dexter, MI.

Paul was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes (a chronic autoimmune disease) in 2011. That diagnosis led him to question how consuming animal products affects the wellbeing of himself and others. He currently lives in Kalamazoo with his partner, Lindsey, and their dog and two cats. Paul is an Organizer and Camp Cook for the Kalamazoo based group, T1D in Action.

Paul has appeared on WZZM 13 and WOODTV 8 TV stations. You can email him at paul.t1dinaction@gmail.com, and learn more about his work at www.facebook.com/chefpaulvugteveen and www.facebook.com/t1dinaction .

Please join us on Tuesday, April 19 at 7:00pm at Natural Health Center (4610 W Main St, Kalamazoo).

Remember: everyone, including vegans, vegetarians, omnivores, and the veg-curious, is always welcome at Vegan Kalamazoo events! Also the event is free, but we suggest an optional $2/person donation to help defray expenses.