In recent years the animal movement has paid increasing attention to theories of social change and how they can be integrated into the pursuit for animal justice. Most leaders agree that a diversity of approaches is necessary for building a mass social movement committed to ending factory farming, vivisection, zoos and aquariums, and other institutions of normalized animal exploitation. This roundtable brings together four thought leaders in the animal movement to share their perspectives on shifting social norms and effecting tangible changes for animals in the years ahead. Please join us for a critical conversation about employing education, policy, organizing, and advocacy to achieve significant victories for animals, humans, and the ecosystems that support us all.
Moderated by Jonathan Dickstein, PhD, professor at Arihanta Institute and lead organizer of the Vegan Studies Initiative.
PANELISTS
Monica Chen, Executive Director, New Roots Institute
Monica Chen is the executive director of New Roots Institute, where she has overseen the development of a unique series of educational programs. New Roots educates high school and college students on the devastating impacts of factory farming and supports them as they become advocates for a just and sustainable food system. Monica earned her BA at UC Berkeley and her Master’s in Education, with a focus on the environment, at the University of New Mexico.
Courtney Dillard, Researcher, Mercy for Animals
Courtney Dillard's background is in audience and context analysis, persuasive strategies, and social movement studies. She holds a bachelor’s in communication studies from Vanderbilt University, a master’s from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin. Courtney has been active in the animal advocacy movement for the past 30 years. Prior to joining Mercy For Animals she combined an academic career with pro bono activities aimed at improving the communication strategies of various groups in the movement. At Mercy For Animals, she supports teams seeking to increase effective paths toward social change for farmed animals.
Eva Hamer, Program Lead, Pax Fauna/Pro-Animal Future
Eva Hamer leads programs and policy for Pro-Animal Future and Pax Fauna, organizations dedicated to building a political movement to end animal farming through grassroots campaigns that transform public support for animals into law through citizen-initiated ballot measures and voter bloc organizing. Eva has been organizing in the grassroots animal freedom movement since 2015, when she began working with Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) in Chicago. She currently lives in Portland, Oregon.
For more information on Arihanta Institute's Vegan Studies Initiative events and course offerings, please click here.
