“Minorities in general and Afro-Americans in particular are still virtually invisible in all aspects of organized animal protection.”

~ Society and Animals 13(2):153-162

HAW.ACADEMY

A new home for your REDI coursework.

Never stop learning, because nothing is more dangerous than ignorance.

OUR MISSION

Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE), in the interest of Human and Animal Well-Being, prioritizes and amplifies BIPOC and other Marginalized Voices using Narratives, Research, and Community-Centered Investments.

Our Method For Change

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A three percent increase in adoptions among people of color would give 2 MILLION pets a loving home.

97% of Animal Welfare holds an implicit bias against individuals from low socioeconomic status, and over 65% hold implicit bias toward Latin X and African Americans.

The work we do at CARE, Human and Animal Well-Being, addresses the bias within Animal Welfare in service to the field and marginalized people and their pets.

HUMAN AND ANIMAL WELL-BEING [HAW] is a unique, six stage, method of community support and advocacy that centers the well-being of people, in contrast to Animal Welfare’s traditional animal only focus. Few organizations work in the same way as CARE. As illustrated below, we start with building trust with community members before attempting to implement programming.

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Our work begins with establishing trusting relationships within marginalized and underserved communities.
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We ask those closest to community challenges for their insights by way of Community Participatory Research [CPR]
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Insights gains from CPR and other studies guide CARE’s program design, partnerships, and resource distribution.
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Community Animal CARE is a shelter intervention program that supports communities with pets and their Proximate Leaders.
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Everything we learn from our community partners and research studies is hosted and shared through The Circle of Learning and Leadership.
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People of Color and marginalized communities suffer from negative stereotypes. Our Narratives tell a truer and more beautiful story about them.
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Our programs and their missions

COMMUNITY ANIMAL CARE

Community Wisdom Amplified

Community Animal CARE [CAC] is an innovative Public Health centered program designed to prevent and solve persistent challenges to Human and Animal Well-Being. CAC delivers critical resources to community members led by our CARE Center Partners and Proximate Leaders. In particular, Access to Care and Prevention, Pet Behavioral Training, Pet Resources, Compliance Awareness, Lost and Found Pets, and Involuntary Surrender Prevention.

THE CIRCLE OF LEARNING AND LEADERSHIP

Informed people make better choices.

The Circle of Learning and Leadership is a unique BIPOC-led educational experience with an ecosystem centered on Racial Equity, Community Wisdom, and Access to Preventive Care. Our goal is to bridge the information gap between traditional Animal Welfare and marginalized communities.

NARRATIVES

Hear My Story. See My Heart.

Stories shape our vision of the world and often frame our perceptions and biases. For this reason, CARE is producing and sharing stories that celebrate the diversity within human and animal well-being.

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR GIVERS CIRCLE

COLLABORATORS

You don't have to imagine a tapestry of beauty stories … follow us on Instagram.

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Mar 23

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🔊 Data centers are built to run all day, every day, which also means 24/7 noise pollution.

But don`t be fooled by the low hum of the cooling systems and generators: data center noise pollution is harmful enough to create lasting impacts on our physical and mental health.

👂🏽 A 2026 study in Frontiers @frontiersin_ on the `Health implications of the rapid rise of data centers in Virginia` found that nearby residents are exposed to constant sound levels between 40 and 59 decibels. These levels can approach or exceed public health guidelines, especially in residential areas.

Long-term noise exposure is associated with hypertension, heart disease, sleep disruption, and stress-related conditions. For children, exposure above 55 dBA has also been linked to learning and concentration challenges.

💔 As data center development expands across the country, we must consider the long-term impacts of noise exposure on our communities.

💡 Visit the Frontiers website to read the full report:
"Health implications of the rapid rise of data centers in Virginia: an exploratory" assessment …

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Mar 22

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The Gathering was created to center the biggest hearts in our community, and that includes making this space more accessible to those who have historically been left out of these conversations.

🎫 BIPOC Tickets: $99

Includes:
• Welcome Night
• 2 Days of Mentorship Classes
• Professional Headshots
• Breakfast and Lunch (both days)
• Reception Night
• Games

💫 If you’ve been looking for a space to learn, connect, and be in community, this is your invitation!

💗 Extra Special Thanks to Maddie`s Fund @maddiesfund for making The Gathering possible.

#thankstomaddie #thegathering4 #caregathering #humananimalwellbeing …

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Mar 18

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📷 Thermal drone footage shows that xAI is still burning gas at its facility in Southaven, Mississippi, despite a recent EPA ruling requiring a state permit for this activity.

State regulators claim that the turbines, mounted on tractor trailers, don’t need permits. However, the EPA mandates that such pollution sources must be permitted under the Clean Air Act.

🏭 A report from Floodlight@floodlightnews/Capital B News@capitalbnews reveals thermal drone footage of more than a dozen unpermitted turbines still emitting pollutants at the plant nearly two weeks after the EPA`s ruling.

The EPA has significantly reduced enforcement actions and declined to comment on the turbines at Musk’s AI facilities, deferring questions about permits to local authorities.

🔎 Regulators are struggling to keep up with the rapid growth of data centers and their health impacts, as seen in Southaven, where state and federal regulations conflict.

Grok, an AI chatbot from xAI, operates turbines linked to pollution and health issues like asthma and lung cancer, raising concerns among local residents. The 114-acre site expanded with the launch of Colossus 1, the largest AI supercomputer, in South Memphis in spring 2024. Tennessee county officials exempted turbines from permit requirements, approving 15 for Colossus 1, while xAI built Colossus 2 with 27 turbines in Southaven, a high-pollution area.

🚨 Floodlight identified 15 unpermitted turbines in Southaven, with records showing that 18 of the 27 have been operational since November. While state agencies manage air permits, the EPA enforces federal compliance.

Local resident Krystal Polk was unaware of xAI`s plans until fences appeared near her home, increasing noise and pollution. As an asthmatic, she had to leave her family`s home due to health concerns.

⛽︎ Despite sustainability claims, many data centers rely heavily on fossil fuels, with reports stating that about 75% of their electricity comes from natural gas.

🔗 Read the full story using the link in our bio.

#CARENews …

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Mar 16

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📊 41% of extremely low-income renters who work are working full time.

Housing insecurity is often framed as a problem of “lazy workers” who don’t want to work. In reality, many of the lowest-income renters are already working 40 hours a week and still can’t afford to rent in their own communities. Elderly and disabled people also make up a large portion of low-wage workers.

🏠 Research from the National Low Income Housing Coalition`s 2026 Gap Report highlights a deeper issue within the housing system: when wages remain low and housing costs continue to rise, employment alone can’t solve our nationwide affordability crisis.

🔗 Source: National Low Income Housing Coalition @nlihc, The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes, 2026 (link in bio)

#CAREequity #HumanAnimalWelfare …

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Mar 15

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✨ The Gathering is back!

For the fourth year, CARE’s annual conference returns to bring together community members, practitioners, researchers, and advocates working at the intersection of Human and Animal Well-being.

What began as a space for honest dialogue has grown into a gathering where people come together for three days to examine how animal welfare systems can move beyond exclusion and inequity to build better pathways forward for both people and animals.

🤝 The Gathering centers BIPOC leadership, lived experience, and community-based knowledge. Sessions move beyond theory to offer practical tools and conversations around topics like financial literacy, branding, grant budgeting, pet grief, and justice-focused policy.

All of these resources are grounded in CARE’s pillars of Intention, Mobilization, Peace, Education, Acknowledgment, Compassion, and Heart.

📅 Monday, 05/11/2026 – Wednesday, 05/13/2026

📍 The Study at University City
20 S. 33rd Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104

🎟 Tickets include a welcome event, two full days of programming, meals, breakout sessions, and the Tuesday evening Black and White Carnival reception.

🔗 Visit the link in our bio to learn more and reserve your seat:

💚 Extra special thanks to Maddie`s Fund @maddiesfund for supporting The Gathering.

#thankstomaddie #thegathering4 #caregathering #humananimalwellbeing …

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OUR MISSION

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