On November 30, 2012 Dave and I (and CK and Ernie, the cats!) crossed the border
into Colorful Colorado and our new life.
Not yet three months later, we are both feeling as if we are home. Dave is coaching several new athletes and spending time at the Olympic Training Center and with the USA Swimming Association. I am continuing my work with my east and west coast consulting clients, and have taken on a local nonprofit client. More importantly, I have carved the time to focus on my “other”, new career: vegan lifestyle coaching, education and writing.
I recently had the opportunity to meet the food editor of the only daily paper in Colorado Springs, The Gazette. Over lunch Teresa Farney asked me lots of great questions about my vegan diet, my upcoming book (with co-author Ginny Messina), and my coaching and classes. Ultimately she interviewed me for an article that hit the paper yesterday, Vegan virtues: Diet is difficult yet rewarding.
I love this piece because it captures both the health and ethical entry to veganism and answers and debunks myths around protein and supplementing. The article also created buzz around my local education efforts and registrations for my March vegan lifestyle class came streaming in all morning. (I’m about to start a waiting list; if you want in, register now!)
Teresa also invited me to be a guest on her weekly radio show Table Talk:
The show airs at noon MST (2pm EST) Saturday, February 23 on KVOR’s AM 740; non-locals can can listen online or via the podcast.
Icing on the vegan cake yesterday? Receiving an invitation to speak at VegFest Colorado in July!
I will be doing a Healthy Food Preparation for the Busy Non-Cook Cooking Demo! It’s pretty exciting to be involved with the VegFest in my new home state and even more exciting that it’s just a few days before Vegan for Her is released!
I want to give a major shout-out to the Colorado Springs Vegan & Vegetarian Group MeetUp. In anticipation of our move, I joined the group last May and was immediately impressed by their activity. I was a co-organizer of the Westchester NY Veggie EatUp (with the AWESOME, Jenn, who may have the best blog title of all time) and was hoping to get involved with folks in the Springs. The group hosts Veg Drinks, Vegan Potlucks, Plant Strong classes, and more. I was recently invited to serve as an Assistant Organizer for the MeetUp and was delighted to accept. I look forward to working with my fellow organizers and I look forward to seeing YOU, my Colorado Springs readers, at future events!
I’m actually a member of several super-active Colorado Veg MeetUps:
- Colorado Springs Vegan & Vegetarian Group
- (PPART) Pikes Peak Animal Rights Team
- “A Vegan Life” / Denver, Co
- The Boulder (and Beyond!) Vegan Meetup Group
After just a few short months I feel completely welcome and at home in Colorful Colorado! I am so grateful.
Have you recently moved? Are you a new vegan seeking a plant-based community? I recently shared some tips on getting involved – whether due to relocating or simply to connect with vegans in your current community – on Our Hen House. I hope you’ll take a listen!
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My giveaway ends tomorrow! Simply play a little game here and you will be entered to win a copy of Main Street Vegan AND Vegan for Life!
7 thoughts on “What a Welcome to Colorful Colorado! MeetUps, VegFest Colorado, and Local Press!”
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I live in Colorado Springs and it’s weird there is not a vegetarian/vegan restaurant here in town. I find that odd since you can usually find one near a college, but no……allot of the same crap. Having spent most of my life in Denver, I’m used to healthy restaurants or even a place to drop in for a healthy smoothie, not here…don’t let them fool you!
@9f78ce63515a7d8e408a0227e55541e6:disqus, I know, I was surprised by the lack of a vegetarian (at least) restaurant! But I’m so pleased that many restaurants use the word “vegan” on their menus, including Poor Richard’s, Trinity Brewing, Rasta Pasta and Adam’s Mountain Cafe. The more we request vegan options at restaurants the more they will see there is a demand for plant-based options!
I have mixed feelings about the article title/slant — a peeve of mine is when people insist that veganism is SO HARD, or worse, put it on a pedestal (such as the word virtues). Gahhhh
Like, isn’t it overdone YET that “The bottom line: The challenge with any restrictive diet is to find balance.” PERSON THE BOTTOM LINE WITH ANY ANY DIET AT ALL IS TO FIND BALANCE. I don’t find veganism restrictive, I find it as a reflection of my values.
POSITIVE NOTES: Congrats on the awesome shoutout, and high profile story! The “any press is good press” maxim is somewhat true.
Thank you! 🙂
I’ve been working with the media for years and I’m not surprised with the title and I can’t disagree with her approach. In many ways she’s reflecting to the audience what they probably believe but then give pretty solid information re: supplementation, etc. I too am a joyful vegan who finds my experience full of abundance, not restriction. But there are many veg-curious and new vegans who do feel that it’s difficult. I think she did a terrific job.