Later this month, three members of our leadership team are heading to Toronto for the AVA International Summit—and we’re already anticipating what a moment this will be.
Warren Egersheim, MPA, Angela de Freitas, and Erin W. don’t usually seek the stage. They’re the ones building sustainable funding models, sitting across the table from farmers ready to transition, and coordinating undercover operations that dismantle industry lies. But getting to watch them share their expertise with thousands of advocates from May 21–24 is exactly the kind of knowledge-sharing that strengthens this entire movement.
Warren will steer a fireside chat on building a sustainable fundraising engine for small organizations. Because here’s the truth: you can’t dismantle factory farming without resources, and you can’t build resources without strategy. He’ll share the infrastructure that keeps our investigations funded and our legal actions moving forward—the unglamorous backbone that makes bold work possible.
Angela will ask the room to consider farmers and farmworkers as key allies, not adversaries. Her session, “A Seat at the Table,” challenges the movement to see the humans trapped in an exploitative system alongside the animals. She’s proving that real change happens when we extend compassion strategically, helping people exit industries that harm them too.
And Erin will pose the question that makes people uncomfortable: “Do We Still Need Investigations?” Her answer—delivered with the precision of someone who’s spent years documenting what the industry desperately wants hidden—will be a masterclass in why evidence-based advocacy creates change that sticks. Investigations aren’t about shock value. They’re about accountability.
Here’s what excites us: these three sessions represent the full architecture of effective advocacy. You need sustainable resources, strategic alliances, and irrefutable evidence. You need people who understand that transformation requires both fierce determination and genuine human connection.
The future of this movement isn’t louder—it’s smarter. It’s built by people who show up, share what they know, and refuse to settle for awareness without systemic change.
If you’re heading to Toronto for AVA Summit, find our team (Ben is there too). If you’re not, know that the strategies being shared there will ripple through the movement—and through every choice you make. Whether you’re funding investigations, supporting farmer transitions, or simply choosing plants at dinner tonight, you’re part of this architecture. 🌱
Every action creates measurable impact: animals spared, livelihoods transformed, industries held accountable.
Want to learn more about our work and how you can be part of creating industry-level change? Visit https://animaloutlook.org/jobs/ 💚
