Laura Lee Cascada is the campaigns director for the Better Food Foundation and the founder of the Every Animal Project, a collection of true tales reshaping our relationship with animals.
Laura Lee Cascada is the Campaigns Director for the Better Food Foundation, where she runs innovative campaigns to shift us to a plant-based food norm. She has a master’s degree in environmental policy from Johns Hopkins University and has spent the more than 15 years campaigning for a more sustainable world. She is a published novelist and the founder of the Every Animal Project, a collection of true tales reshaping our relationship with animals.
Cascada earned her graduate degree in environmental science and policy from Johns Hopkins University and has amassed over a decade of experience fighting for a more just planet, from staving off efforts to overturn Virginia’s 30-year ban on uranium mining with the Sierra Club, to heading up PETA’s work to defeat over a dozen proposed “ag-gag” bills threatening vital eyewitness investigations of factory farms, and overseeing Animal Outlook’s campaigns to put vegan options on menus nationwide.
As a writer, Cascada has contributed to One Green Planet, Honey Colony, CounterPunch, The Dodo, Climate Conscious, and more.
In Virginia's General Assembly, a seemingly innocuous bill is poised to change the definition of an animal shelter under state law. If enacted, Senate Bill (S.B.) 1381 will require that private shelters operate for the basic purpose of "finding permanent adoptive homes" for animals. With nearly 3 million animals being euthanized every year, according to the ASPCA, this seems like something we can all jump behind, right?
When I was growing up, a popular show on television ventured into the unique backyards of kids across the country who lived adjacent to theme parks, chocolate factories, and any other imaginable delight under the sun. I wanted more than anything to be one of those kids with one of those fancy backyards.
Recently, my wife, Rachel, and I took a visit to Toronto, and there we strolled right into a different kind of backyard, one that emitted a putrid scent straight out of a child’s worst nightmare. It was revolting enough to require me to focus on maintaining the contents of my stomach, yet there it was, looming two blocks away from cookie cutter condominiums. It was a pair of slaughterhouses, sending eau de rotten flesh wafting through the slight breeze.
I’ve always been enthralled by water. Standing beneath a curtain of water cascading down a mountainside on a chilly morning is among the most invigorating experiences I’ve ever had. There is something magical about the way the water perpetually flows off a cliff, so fresh and crisp, before it meets the oily runoff from the towns below. Without water, clearly, we die. But without clean water, what becomes of our quality of life?
The Dog Who Wooed at the World is the first anthology from The Every Animal Project, is the product of my grappling with the gaping hole in my heart, and my forward voyage into an uncertain future devoid of that therapeutic “woo!” when I needed it the most. It is my reckoning with the instability of life, the inevitability of death, and the uniquely human quest for order and answers, when perhaps a simple “woo!” would suffice.
And it is a reflection on the courage Powder imbued in me to take some of the scariest steps of my life, including persisting after her death. Between its covers, you’ll find Powder and my twin tales of thriving through anxiety-inducing mental illnesses, as well as many more inspiring stories and photos of courageous animals like Powder from people around the world.
When you’ve lived your entire life mired in filth, dreams are the only thing you can cling to. And inside her prison, lost in a sea of other girls, Delaware has one colossal dream revolving around a simple white baseball. But Dellie’s Run isn’t just a story of dreams–It dives into the grim lives of billions of beings who share our world, lives that most of us never see. And as you follow Dellie’s courageous journey, you’ll find that her prison isn’t quite so far away from your own backyard.
For my entire life, I have been moved and shaped by the power of words, and I believe that they truly can change lives and open hearts and minds. Four years ago, I began a journey to use my own words to share the truth about the oppressive animal agriculture system, which abuses and kills billions every year, through the eyes of a lovable, inquisitive, and headstrong character named Delaware.
Dellie’s Run will reach thousands of Americans who will love a good adventure about our nation’s greatest pastime, baseball–and through Dellie’s story, they will find a spark of compassion inside themselves they never knew they had.
Words can deeply touch our souls and cause us to reflect on our very foundations. This book will prompt many readers to think about the choices they make in their daily lives, and to begin choosing compassion three times each day.
Welcome to The Every Animal Project, where every animal—from the brave little minnow to the mighty elephant—has a story. Those journeys, filled with challenges, triumphs, and even a little mischief, can shed light on our own humanity, expand our empathy, and deepen our connections. This blog showcases true animal tales from around the globe, inspiring and empowering thousands of readers to seek healing both for themselves and the beings who surround us, ultimately transforming our world.
With support from Sentient Media, we at the Better Food Foundation analyzed eight major news outlets’ cooking sections to see if their recipe curation was as climate-conscious as their reporting.
Environmental journalism has improved significantly over the past two decades, but for most news outlets, animal agriculture remains a blindspot. A recent investigation analyzed 1,000 climate news articles and found that only seven percent mentioned the topic of animal agriculture, let alone animal agriculture’s contributions to climate change. We sought to determine whether news outlets’ recipe sections followed suit.
This webinar explored findings and shared insights from experts on media and food, including Food Network champion Priyanka Naik, journalist and advocate Bel Jacobs, Sentient Media’s Managing Editor Jenny Splitter, Better Food Foundation’s Senior Director of Campaigns Laura Cascada, and Plant Based Treaty’s communications director Nicola Harris.
Nationally and globally, political leaders are waking up to the role animal agriculture and food plays in the climate and health crises. Now, New York City is trailblazing a healthier future by completely flipping the script on America’s harmful food norms—and serving plants by default. Will your city be next? Get involved at betterfoodfoundation.org/cities.
- Hampton Roads VegFest, Marketing Director (2016-2019)
- The Dog Who Wooed at the World: Book Launch (May 30, 2024, 7pm)
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‘Tis the season for holiday lights, delicious feasts, and gifts galore. On your list for Santa might be a Star Wars Lego set, a Barbie dream house, and maybe even a new puppy. But before you head out to your local pet shop or shelter to surprise the kids with a 12-week-old Labrador pup, consider that soon that ball of fluff will blossom into a 70-pound ball of energy—and a lifetime commitment. Here are the top five reasons you should think twice before adding a furry friend to your family for the holidays.