Heal Your Heart for Activist Appreciation Month 2025
For Activist Appreciation Month this February, we offerd opportunities to heal your activist heart. Prominent experts gave presentations on critical animal studies, innovative activist strategies, and healing trauma exposure from animal cruelty. Virtual events included a guided meditation with self-care guru Victoria Moran, author of Age Like a Yogi: A Heavenly Path to a Dazzling Third Act. Those who joined our two in-person events to feel supported, refreshed, and rejuvenated. See the full program and watch the replays below!
We know activists are busy every day around the world taking action for animals in a multitude of ways. We recognize your efforts and offer support to help you continue this often challenging and heartbreaking journey. We spotlighted devoted activists on social media throughout the month for their tireless dedication and efforts to help animals, including those who have had historic wins like Bujinlkham Erdenebat who helped pass the first animal rights law in Mongolia and Altamush Saeed who hosted the first animal rights conference in Pakistan.
Watch our video of highlights to see our heart-healing events and programs in action!
Activist Appreciation Month Events
February 4: Tule Elk Town Hall
February 6: Understanding the Humane Myth: Speciesism, Capitalism, and the Misrepresentation of Animals with Lisa Barca
February 8
Censored Landscapes with artist and author Isabella La Rocca González
1 - 2:30 p.m. PT, Berkeley Animal Rights Center, 2414 6th Street, Berkeley, CA 94714
Prema Love Healing Hearts Music, Prayer Circle, & Vegan Potluck Dinner
6 - 9 p.m. PT, Corazon Culture Arts & Resource Center, 125 S. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga, CA 90290
Proceeds benefitted animal victims of the Palisades Fire: www.idausa.org/LAfire
Watch the video!
February 10: Vegan Mentor Support Group with In Defense of Animals' Farmed Animals Campaign Coordinator Lia Wilbourn
4 p.m. PT, virtual, offered monthly on the second Monday, register here
February 12: Healing Trauma Exposure From Animal Cruelty: Lessons from Research and Practice in Violence Prevention with Dr. Roshni Ladny
February 13: Vegan Catholic Daniel Mascarenhas Invites Us to Love All Creatures
February 15: Celebration of Life for Arthur Simoneau
February 19: Celebrate Yourself Meditation with Age Like a Yogi author Victoria Moran
February 26: The Revolution of One's Tastes: Strategies for Animal Activists Inspired by India's Swadeshi Movement with Jay O'Shea
February 27: Activist Peer Support Group with In Defense of Animals' Lisa Levinson
5 p.m. PT, virtual, offered monthly on the fourth Thursday, register here
Honoring Black Vegan Activists for Black History Month
- Gwenna Hunter - first vegan food bank in Los Angeles
Sean Hill - vegan activist actor extraordinaire
Activist Spotlights
- Bujinlkham Erdenebat - first animal law in Mongolia
- Altamush Saeed - first animal rights conference in Pakistan
Activist Tributes
- Sheila Bolin - founded the Regal Swan Foundation
- Son Kim - died flying dogs across country for adoption
Activist Animal Tributes
- Theia - Wyoming wolf killed by Cody Roberts in bar
- Momma Bear 399 - "Queen of the Tetons" killed by accidental vehicle collision outside park
Mini-Grants
We awarded two mini-grants for vegan advocacy to organizations in Africa. Sondu Vegan in Kenya received a grant to start a vegan support group with over 160 members. Rakai Vulnerable Home Center in Uganda received a grant to fund meals and programs at this vegan orphanage. Both organizations are new members of our Interfaith Vegan Coalition.
Sustainable Activism
Activist Appreciation Month is part of our Sustainable Activism Campaign to support activists’ vital work to help animals via a support line, support groups, and activist healing retreats.
Our free 24-hour Animal Activist Support Line is for animal advocates everywhere, regardless of their affiliation. The line offers free counseling and resources for activists, by activists. Counselors are trained in nonviolent communication techniques and most are professional therapists and coaches who practice a vegan lifestyle.
Counselors can be reached by phone, text, email, and online chat at 1(800) 705-0425 at the Animal Activist Support Line. Find emotional, physical, and spiritual resources on our Activist Resource List.
Resources
Check out these specific resource pages for two popular activist topics!
Compassion Fatigue: Resources and strategies to prevent burnout
Self-Care: Alternative healing modalities to improve your health
Services
Connect with our counselors by phone, email, text, or online chat: www.idausa.org/activistsupport
Access our religion-specific Vegan Advocacy Kits to help you veganize your place of worship: www.interfaithvegancoalition.org
Join our monthly support group and find helpful webinars to practice sustainable activism: www.idausa.org/events
Support
Support Line: Free counseling, mediation, resources, and therapist referrals by phone, text, email, and online chat.
Call/text (800) 705-0425
Email activistsupport@idausa.org
Activist Resource List: Your one-stop shop for strategy and physical, emotional, and spiritual support. Includes a list of vegan therapists. Access our resources.
Monthly Support Groups: Register for our online events and watch replays of previous webinars here.
Access our Activist Appreciation Month resources from 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, and 2017, featuring activist self-care tips, stories, and more.
We want you to be sustainable activists! Tell us what support services you need at sustainableactivism@idausa.org. We value your ideas. Reach out to us today!
