Hi and welcome to PDX VEG! I have set up this site to help you move towards being vegan, vegetarian, or reducing your intake of animal products.
MISSION
PDX VEG seeks to empower people to shift towards a way of life that benefits humans, other animals, and our planet by providing three-week Veg Challenges that include cooking demos, a Vegan Mentor Program, practical tips, inspiration, and community, all free of charge.
MY STORY
I started out as a biomedical scientist after training at Stanford University School of Medicine where I obtained an MD and a PhD in Cell Biology. I served on the faculty and headed labs at Yale University School of Medicine and at Geisinger Health System in Pennsylvania before transitioning from a scientific career to a calling to make the world a better place for all animals, human and nonhuman. I became aware of the vast suffering endured by animals used for food when I observed their living conditions firsthand during runs in the countryside of rural Pennsylvania. This awakening is described in my first animal-related publication, “Striving for Peace in Every Step,” a chapter in Running, Eating, Thinking, edited by Martin Rowe.
After reading up on animal agriculture, deciding to change my diet, and attending animal rights and protection conferences, I initiated my animal activism by hosting and leafleting with activists, and by providing financial support to several worthy nonprofits that seek to reduce animal suffering. After living for 13 years in the environment that forever changed my views on eating, suffering, compassion, and justice, I, my spouse, and 11 primarily vegan rescued cats moved to Portland, Oregon, where numerous opportunities for vegan activism abound. Among these, I have taught an online plant-based nutrition course for University of Western States and handed out leaflets from One Step for Animals at Portland State University.
VEG CHALLENGE GOALS AND RESULTS
The goal of our Veg Challenges is to help people eliminate or reduce their consumption of animal products. To determine the effectiveness of our Veg Challenges, we do surveys of what the participants ate before and afterwards. We are gratified to see that the participants in our Veg Challenges made significant progress in reducing their consumption of animal products! You can see the full report of the 2019 Veg Challenge here, the 2022 Veg Challenge here, the 2023 Veg Challenge here, and the 2024 Veg Challenge here.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
By donating to PDX VEG, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, you can help us reach more people to give them the inspiration and tools to shift towards veganism.
You can also help us get the word out by distributing flyers that promote the Veg Challenge and the Vegan Mentor Program. Please contact me at [email protected] if you are interested in this.
Thank you for your interest and support!
Best wishes,
Cathy Berlot
MISSION
PDX VEG seeks to empower people to shift towards a way of life that benefits humans, other animals, and our planet by providing three-week Veg Challenges that include cooking demos, a Vegan Mentor Program, practical tips, inspiration, and community, all free of charge.
MY STORY
I started out as a biomedical scientist after training at Stanford University School of Medicine where I obtained an MD and a PhD in Cell Biology. I served on the faculty and headed labs at Yale University School of Medicine and at Geisinger Health System in Pennsylvania before transitioning from a scientific career to a calling to make the world a better place for all animals, human and nonhuman. I became aware of the vast suffering endured by animals used for food when I observed their living conditions firsthand during runs in the countryside of rural Pennsylvania. This awakening is described in my first animal-related publication, “Striving for Peace in Every Step,” a chapter in Running, Eating, Thinking, edited by Martin Rowe.
After reading up on animal agriculture, deciding to change my diet, and attending animal rights and protection conferences, I initiated my animal activism by hosting and leafleting with activists, and by providing financial support to several worthy nonprofits that seek to reduce animal suffering. After living for 13 years in the environment that forever changed my views on eating, suffering, compassion, and justice, I, my spouse, and 11 primarily vegan rescued cats moved to Portland, Oregon, where numerous opportunities for vegan activism abound. Among these, I have taught an online plant-based nutrition course for University of Western States and handed out leaflets from One Step for Animals at Portland State University.
VEG CHALLENGE GOALS AND RESULTS
The goal of our Veg Challenges is to help people eliminate or reduce their consumption of animal products. To determine the effectiveness of our Veg Challenges, we do surveys of what the participants ate before and afterwards. We are gratified to see that the participants in our Veg Challenges made significant progress in reducing their consumption of animal products! You can see the full report of the 2019 Veg Challenge here, the 2022 Veg Challenge here, the 2023 Veg Challenge here, and the 2024 Veg Challenge here.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
By donating to PDX VEG, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, you can help us reach more people to give them the inspiration and tools to shift towards veganism.
You can also help us get the word out by distributing flyers that promote the Veg Challenge and the Vegan Mentor Program. Please contact me at [email protected] if you are interested in this.
Thank you for your interest and support!
Best wishes,
Cathy Berlot
