Media Contact: FOR RELEASE OCTOBER 5 AT NOON

Mary Tan

Whisker Media

Cell: (612)209-3303 

Email: mary@whiskermedia.com

First Ever Animal Welfare Conference October 7 and 8 Led by BIPOC Animal Lovers

Animal welfare is not known for diversity, but “The Gathering” in Philadelphia is

(Baltimore, MD. October 5, 2022) — Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE) is hosting its first-ever national conference in the City of Brotherly Love. The event will take place at The Hive, located at 30 South 15th St. in Philadelphia on Friday, October 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, October 8 from 9 a.m. to Noon followed by a community event for pets and people. During the community event that is open to the public from 1 to 4 p.m., Baltimore-based rapper DDm will be performing in the parking lot of Emancipet Low-Cost Veterinary Clinic, located at 575 Adams Ave. in Philadelphia.

CARE is the only BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) led nonprofit that prioritizes human and animal wellbeing, equity-centered research, and storytelling from the views of those impacted.

The conference is called “The Gathering”, and the goal is to increase awareness of the work within BIPOC communities and demonstrate the deployment of human and animal well-being framework. The event is an exchange of ideas between donor organizations, social justice leaders, and animal welfare executives, about the best means to keep pets at home.

James Evans is the founder and Executive Director of CARE. “I’m excited about The Gathering. It turns traditional conferences on their heads and it doesn’t matter what the industry is. Typically, it’s elites speaking amongst other elites. They talk about problems that affect people but the people that have the problems are rarely at the table. The more diverse the audience, the more creative the solutions are going to be.”

The conference will focus on the perspective of Black, Indigenous, and other people of color identified as leaders through their CARE Center programs. This is an opportunity for animal well-being stakeholders and donors to meet, inquire, and brainstorm opportunities with individuals and communities who lack direct engagement or investment in animal welfare.

The Gathering will bring together veterinarians, donors, university researchers, animal welfare advocates, and community leaders advocating for social justice. They work with the homeless, youth, and the underserved and underrepresented. Everything CARE does is focused on racial equity and the nonprofit is very intentional about who is included, highlighted, and which vendors the organization supports.

Although the in-person event is sold out, there are still virtual tickets available. Registration is $35. It is streamed live and not recorded. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-gathering-a-virtual-care-convening-tickets-425035932917

The conference will also support local Philadelphia BIPOC businesses such as Chef Kurt Evans of Everybody Eats Philly, Chef Khoran Horn of Guardhouse, Stripp’d Juice, and Uncle Bobbie’s Bookshop founded by Marc Lamont Hill. CARE is grateful for the support of national animal welfare funders who believe in making animal welfare more inclusive. Major sponsors of the event include Maddie’s Fund, Petsmart Charities, Spring Point Life of Riley, Red Rover Foundation, and the Ryan Animal Rescue Foundation (RARF). Tito’s Vodka for Dog People and Cane Collective are also teaming up to provide beverages as well.

###

Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity is a 501©3 nonprofit that addresses organizational and personal biases within animal welfare. The mission is to bring diverse voices to the industry while also advocating for a more inclusive path to pet adoption. CARE believes in using evidence-based tools, narratives, and insights to inspire organizations to be more inclusive and less biased. It is all an effort to save more companion animal lives.