Our Mission

We educate and encourage people to make vegan choices for a healthy, sustainable, and compassionate world.

Northwest VEG is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in the Portland, OR and Vancouver, WA area. Founded in 2003, we are dedicated to bringing awareness to the power of a plant-based, vegan lifestyle and helping support people in their transition toward making healthier, more sustainable, and compassionate food choices. We welcome everyone and encourage you to explore the issues at your own pace. 

Our purpose is to:

  • Build, support, and maintain community in a fun environment

  • Build, connect, and network in the larger community

  • Provide education, and outreach

  • Be a responsible, effective, and transparent organization

  • Provide expertise and serve as a resource to the community on vegan and plant-based issues

  • Create positive change and make the world a better place

To keep informed about news and events, please subscribe to our email list. Please consider becoming a member to help support what we do.

“So nice to be around like minded, compassionate people. Great events, and even better company.”

— JAZMIN HAVENS, FACEBOOK REVIEW

Our Projects

Monthly Potlucks and Presentations

Each month we host a Portland and Vancouver potluck, followed by an educational presentation or cooking demonstration. Our potlucks explore delicious food and enable you to meet others within the community. We also host a potluck and program every other month in the Hillsboro area.

Educational Programs

Northwest VEG offers these programs annually:

Veg 101 is a 6-week series on vegetarianism, featuring both a lecture and a cooking class (with samples) each week. The lectures provide an excellent grounding in topics such as health, nutrition, factory farming, environmental impact, and related subjects.

Community Events

VegFest - our largest event of the year - welcomes thousands of people to celebrate and promote sustainable, compassionate, and healthy food choices and lifestyles. Held at the Oregon Convention Center, VegFest is a low-cost, educational, fun event that welcomes everyone. VegFest connects organizations, businesses and educators with the local public and each other. Currently on hiatus following the COVID pandemic, but we are hosting the Compassionate Living Festival, a mini-VegFest, in 2024.

Education of Health Professionals

Northwest VEG co-sponsors and coordinates the annual Northwest Health and Nutrition Conference professional health conference. The conference presents the latest information on plant-based diets with respect to clinical nutrition, the effects of diet on chronic disease prevention and control, and on designing an optimum plant-based diet. The conference offers continuing education credits for many medical professionals. Currently on hiatus following COVID pandemic, but we are co-sponsoring the Food as Medicine conference in 2024.

Social Events

Northwest VEG coordinates an annual Compassionate Thanksgiving Vegan Potluck, an annual 4th of July Potluck Picnic Celebration, as well as monthly potlucks, dineouts and happy hours. To view upcoming events, check out our online calendar.

Community Outreach

Northwest VEG has an information booth at over 35 events each year in the Portland area. We cast the widest net possible to reach as many people as we can. At each event, we offer free Vegetarian Starter Kits, a sampler of healthy veg recipes, health information on hot button topics and schedules of our upcoming educational and social events, as well as our restaurant dining guide.

We are also dedicated to highlighting activities and events hosted by partner organizations and businesses, as well as working to increase the platform for intersectional & underserved communities in the vegan space.

Publications

We send monthly emails that include information on our upcoming events, educational articles, and a plant-based recipe. Click here to subscribe.

Information Resource

We provide the community with information, contacts, and guest presenters. If you've got a plant-based question, or you're looking for a presenter, please contact us for assistance.