By Dani Dennenberg, Published in the October issue of Veg News

From all walks of life, nearly 40 participants gathered at the Asilomar Conference Center in Pacific Grove, CA for the Sowings Seeds Workshop, led by Zoe Weil and Rae Sikora of the International Institute for Humane Education. Whether you’re an educator, a veterinarian, as social worker, a physician, an attorney, an activist, or a concerned citizen, each person took something positive away from the weekend.

The workshop created a challenging, thought-provoking, exciting and even humorous atmosphere while providing opportunities for role play, interactive activities, observation of sample presentations, networking and sharing of materials, and commentary on engaging videos such as the award-winning The Witness, Education in the 21st Century, and Schools for Sale.

How do we reach out to young people about issues that remain, for the most part, hidden from the public eye? How do we turn frustration about animal, human rights, and environmental issues into a positive tool so that we are able to effectively communicate with others? How do we encourage others to think critically about daily lifestyle choices while remaining open-minded and non-judgmental? How do we tell stories in such a way that people are compelled to learn more? And how do we mainstream humane education? These were just a few of the questions answered at the workshop.

Although some of us may share in a fear of pursuing a field that is virtually unknown to most people (not for long!), humane education is growing and transforming, and is vital for social change throughout the world.