Note from the Coordinators
Activists In and Outside the Spotlight
Vegetarian Resource Group intern Julia Comino wanted to interview a veg activist from the 1970s who created a ton of media for vegetarianism, as well as influenced other vegan activists. The potential interviewee responded, although she was very appreciative to be considered, as she has done most of her work anonymously, she would rather it stay that way. Though there are some people in movements who put themselves in the limelight, change happens because of everyone, whose activism takes place in varied ways. The person Julia wanted to interview was on some major television shows and in national media, but she never saw it about herself.
For another story, Julia was researching one of our members, Albert Gordon, a Freedom Rider who traveled from New York to Mississippi (where Julia grew up) in the 1960s to protest segregation, risking violence and arrest. In an archived video, Albert wondered why some people see there should be change and others don't, and why some people take risks for change and others don't. Of course those have been unanswered questions for thousands of years, if not longer. Thank you to all our volunteers, staff, and supporters behind the scenes and in "front of the camera" whose priority is not only themselves, but also creating a better world (even if some of us are a little quirky at doing this).
We enjoyed having Odette Olivares as an intern for her masters in nutrition requirement. We tremendously appreciate her continued work with VRG after the internship to help us promote vegan foods among Latino communities and beyond. For example, see her article on iron in traditional Latin American foods on page 24.
Former intern Laura McGuiness sent this nice note: "Just wanted to shoot you an email. I'm in Boston for an archives conference, and it is my first conference attended since VRG sent me to the Animal Rights one in 2013 and the Gender Equity one a few years later. I just wanted to let you know that, if I hadn't attended that conference with you way back in 2013, I think I'd be a lot more overwhelmed. Now I know what to expect! It's important for people to know the internship gave me a lot of 'firsts' that have helped with my career. At the time I didn't realize, but I see it now!"
Thank you to all our interns who took advantage of our varied learning experiences, and especially the ones that paid it forward by continuing to be involved with The Vegetarian Resource Group activism. And thank you to all our subscribers, members, donors, volunteers, and staff, who enable us to continue to assist young people and future activists to improve the world for people and non-human animals.
Debra Wasserman & Charles Stahler
Coordinators of The Vegetarian Resource Group
