Get a head start on Giving Tuesday this year, by considering a donation to VegMichigan! In the month of October alone, we hosted 15 events around the state, including providing food samples and educational materials directly to participants at events at Eastern Market in Detroit, the Ann Arbor Farmers Market, a university ethics course, rural community libraries, faith-based groups, Meals on Wheels, and campus tailgates. With 17 events the previous month, we are averaging four events per week, all targeted at groups of mostly non-vegans to get them interested in, or introduced to, plant-based eating by trying samples and signing them up for our 30-Day Plant-Based Pledge. Feedback from the pledge program continues to be overwhelmingly positive, with participants noting how helpful it is in introducing non-vegan family members to vegan eating and the ability to try vegan products and discover how delicious they are. Your support helps keep these programs free for participants and attendees, reaching hundreds of people each month! Donate, Become a Member, or Donate via PayPal. Thank you!

I was heartened to read the recent news of President Biden’s apology for the federal government’s 150 years of moving Native American children into boarding schools. This comes as many Americans prepare for a season of Thanksgiving in November, which is also Native American Heritage Month. The timing of these two commemorations comes with more than a bit of irony given that a traditional Thanksgiving celebrates a coming together of sorts of early European immigrants with Native Americans, the result of which was the tragic loss of Indigenous tribes and the colonization of Native American land and communities.

Moving children to abusive boarding schools wasn’t the only strategy used to remove Native Americans from our traditional ways of life, however. Indigenous foods and dietary practices were also changed as a tool in trying to extinguish our culture. As we were removed from our land and held on reservations, our people were introduced to government rations, like lard and canned meat, that did not reflect our traditions. These products contributed to the higher rates of obesity, diabetes, liver disease, and other ailments Native Americans face today. Read Darylin's Full Article Here

Plant-Based Tailgate at University of Michigan

Saturday, November 2

Troy Dinner Meetup at Neehee's

Thursday, November 7, 6pm-7:30pm

Traverse City Meetup at Oryana Community Co-op West

Saturday, November 9, 1pm-3pm

Ann Arbor Dinner Meetup at Seva

Wednesday, November 13, 6pm-7:30pm

Thanksgiving Dinner at The Old Shillelagh

Saturday, November 16, 5pm-7pm

Ann Arbor Senior Center Presentation, Lunch and Pledge

Wednesday, November 20, 12pm-1pm

Presentation & Food Sampling for Sierra Club Crossroads

Wednesday, November 20, 7pm-8:30pm

Detroit Lunch Meetup at The Kitchen by Cooking with Que

Friday, November 22, 12pm-1:30pm

There are a few seats left for our annual Thanksgiving-themed vegan dinner at The Old Shillelagh in Detroit on Saturday, November 16, from 5pm-7pm. All attendees must pre-pay so we have an accurate headcount for the restaurant. Dinner will be served at 5:30pm and drinks are available for purchase separately. Dinner is $35 for current VegMichigan members and $45 for non-members. We hope you can join us for an evening of plant-based food and fun! Get details and register here.

• Chive Catering
• Detroit Street Filling Station (also apple pies & pumpkin pies)
• Good Cakes and Bakes 
• The Kitchen by Cooking with Que
• Shimmy Shack
• Vegano Italiano
• Vince & Joe's
• Whole Foods
• Zerbo's

Michigan's legislative session is winding down, but that doesn't mean a lot can't happen between now and adjournment in December. MJFS continues to be hyper-focused on SB 275 and ready to respond as needed. The November meeting will include a status update of our advocacy and step-by-step instructions on the most important action you can take to prevent this bill from going forward. The second half of the meeting will give us a chance to celebrate our successes and raffle off some prizes. The Zoom meeting will be held on Monday, November 11 at 6pm. Register Here