Give us about 30 minutes each month. You’ll be a better animal advocate!
We’ll give you the knowledge and tools be more effective.
Join us on the first Monday of each month at noon (Eastern) on Facebook Live for information-packed and timely discussions. (Note: we move to the second Monday in months where there are holidays.)
You look to AFA for resources to be a more effective animal advocate. We step up our game — and yours — with this new series.
We launched on November 2, 2020. Here’s our archive:
April 1, 2024 (#42) features Cheryl Ruble, MD, and her journey from physician to full-time advocate, opposing CAFOs. Cheryl emphasizes that you can advocate without such a significant life change, and shares what makes a good advocate. Watch it here.
March 4, 2024 (#41) We welcome back Alicia Prygoski for Part II. This month she focuses on how you, as an animal welfare advocate, can be more strategic in your work with elected officials. Watch Part II here.
February 5, 2024 (#40) We welcome Alicia Prygoski, ALDF’s Strategic Legislative Affairs Manager, to talk about her job, and how strategy impacts animal welfare legislation. This is Part I; she’ll return March 4. Watch it here.
January 8, 2024 (#39) Sen. Dayna Polehanki started the new year with a preview of several bills pending in #MILeg: Queenie’s law, HB 4849 also involves animals used in research by regulating experiments that cause pain to dogs; HB 4856 would require that tribal and other voices be included in the state-funded Wildlife Council that currently only represents hunting and fishing interests; and SB 657 , which she sponsored, would amend the “bond and forfeiture” procedure to provide more equitable treatment for animals who are confiscated in connection with animal crimes, and for the shelters who care for them.
December 4, 2023 (#38) Logan Christian, National Council of Environmental Legislators. NCEL is a great resource for legislators — and advocates. The NCEL “empower[s] a nonpartisan network of state legislative champions. Created by and for state legislators, NCEL serves as a resource to lawmakers working to protect, conserve, and improve the natural and human environment.” Watch it here.
November 6, 2023 (#37) We start our 4th year with John Vucetich, PhD, who demonstrates the impact that an academic, scientist, and researcher can have on developing public policy that improves the lives of animals. From felids in SE Asia, to the moose and wolves of Isle Royale, to Michigan’s intractable division on wolf hunting, to how the Endangered Species Act should be interpreted, John’s enlightening interview touches on all of these. Watch it here.
October 2, 2023 (#36): Blake Goodman became the HSUS Michigan State Director several months ago. He joins us to discuss his work with the Michigan Legislature, his background, and how he sees his role. The wide-ranging discussion includes short-, mid- and long-term goals. Video.
September 11, 2023 (#35): Adam Mason, ASPCA Senior Manager of Farm Animal Welfare and Environmental Policy, returns to update us on the 2023 federal Farm Bill. The bill likely will not be passed until the end of the year. Adam discusses the EATS Act, a threat to state laws regulating animal welfare and many other issues, but notes the push-back from over 200 Congress people and Senators who signed a letter opposing EATS; and Defeat EATS, a coalition that’s growing in strength. Adam also discussed activity in Michigan, including efforts to amend SB 275 to remove manure as a source of biofuel. Video
August 7, 2023 (#34): Nichole Keway Biber, tribal citizen and member of the Anishinaabek Caucus, talks about the importance of storytelling in advocacy, and provides insight into Traditional Ecological Knowledge as a way of looking at our relationship with animals and nature. Video.
July 10, 2023 (#33): Sara Amundson returns for her 4th L+L, this time to talk about a bill pending in Congress that poses a danger to years of progress by many states, including Michigan, to protect animals. Find out why the EATS Act is so insidious, and what you can do to prevent its passage. Video.