Vegan Community

Me and the lovely Colleen Patrick Goudreau at VegFest. (Apologies for the graininess; the company was much better than the photo quality!)

Last week, my daughter randomly looked up at me and exclaimed, "Mama, no one else is vegan."

It caught me by surprise, and I stammered that sure, there were lots of vegans out there. But of course, "out there" seems very far when you're small, and this three-year-old hasn't seen much of the world. Besides, sometimes adults feel like "no one else..." too.

When we do something different, it's easy to believe we're the only ones. That's the nature of being different.

I recently attended VegFest Colorado, and was reminded how vital community is. When we do something different--being vegan, for example--the support and encouragement of others make it possible. This support can take many forms. I'm thinking specifically of three kinds:

Those who inspire us
I am not easily starstruck. I've worked on television sets, passed celebrities on the street, been to award ceremonies and around movie premieres...not a big deal. Last month, I sat on a park bench next to Gavin Rossdale and his son Kingston while paparazzi swarmed nearby. It didn't phase me.

But last week, when I decided to approach Colleen Patrick-Goudreau , I tripped over words, began to sweat profusely, and dissolved into a total fangirl! (Of course, she was engaging and gracious, as I knew she would be. Still, sweating!) My response surprised me, but I realized that Colleen is someone I have incredible respect and admiration for, an example of what's possible when we commit our gifts to the values we hold. Definitely worthy of a bit of fangirling!

It is vital that we connect with those who have accomplished those significant things, reached the places we'd like to someday go. The show Whale Wars chronicles the work of Sea Shepherd's campaigns to protect ocean animals. It was my daughter's first exposure to direct action activism. I remember watching it with her on a hotel room television while she sat, entranced. When she had an opportunity to meet the organization's volunteers, it was a cool experience. She listened to how they only ate vegan food on board, not taking any fish from the sea, and she loved getting a cute tattoo out of it! We all need inspiration from those doing amazing work.

G looks demure, but is a hardcore vegan AR activist at heart.

Mutual peers
At this event, I met a vegan/vegetarian family who attended my church, discovered a vegan supper group just minutes from my home, and chatted with local vegan businesses I didn't know existed. Lately, I had happily been doing it on my own, while a vegan community waited just outside my door. Years ago, I co-founded Denver's Brunch Revolution. Now, I'm inspired by Chomp, the local vegan supper club. In a few weeks, I'm attending a vegan dinner and connecting with some other vegan parents. I've joined several meetups. Easy community.

Maybe you don't have other vegans in your city, or friends who share your passion for activism. But if you're reading this, you probably know there's an amazing vegan blogging community to connect you to culinary, artistic, or activist vegan pursuits. Use it!

Those who we inspire
When I put together Vegan for Lent: A Guide to 40 Days of Plant-Based Eating, my hope was to enable people to observe Lent by abstaining from animal products. I was so happy to learn that many who used the guide are now moving toward plant-based diets. I'm glad I created something useful, something that played a part in people becoming more compassionate, more mindful, and more vibrant.

Of course, we don't have to do "big" things like writing books or producing vegan documentaries to inspire others. You can host a vegan potluck at your apartment, research vegan nutrition for a friend, or show someone the basics of leafletting. And some of the most effective vegans are culinary activists who bring baked goods to work and share recipes. All of these things encourage those wanting to live kinder, healthier lives.

So who inspires you? Who are your peers? Who do you inspire? And have you discovered vegan community you love? We all need it.

The budding activist, Z displays his first tattoo.