By Dani Dennenberg

Fresh out of college and on an annual trip to Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the summer of 1997, I was scrambling to put my resume and cover letter together as part of my first official job search. As I flipped through the pages of an ASPCA Animal Watch magazine, I was drawn to an article regarding the interconnectedness of animal cruelty and other forms of violence in society. My curiosity was peaked as I read about the integral role that a field called Humane Education played in addressing this phenomenon. It struck a familiar chord.

During my senior year of high school, I had written a college entrance essay about the death of a golden retriever. I vividly recall trying to persuade the young dog to come to the side of the road and out of the busy intersection, seconds before she was tragically killed. I felt a sense of malaise and shock because of the apathy and callousness displayed by the policeman, the dog’s guardian, and the driver of the car. How could people have such disregard for other living beings? In time, I became empowered by my frustration. Tellingly, the closing part of the essay reads,

"I decided that day to work for change…I would take what I had experienced and make it a learning tool for others…Through education, the world will…understand that the animal world should be regarded with respect and honor."

Humane Education was the missing piece…I simply hadn’t realized that such a professional field existed. How long had this philosophy been around? What kind of academic background/formal training did one need to enter the field? And how did one pursue work in the field? With an Animals’ Agenda "Directory of Organizations" in hand, I spent the next half a year conducting research and doing informational interviews with humane educators all around the country. One woman with Animal Protection Institute asked, "Have you heard of the Center for Compassionate Living? They offer training through their Humane Education Certification Program."

With enthusiasm, I applied to get into the program. I was impressed from the moment I reviewed the application questions. Only then did it become evident to me that social change could be created, not by telling others what to believe or do, but by informing, encouraging critical thinking, challenging prevailing beliefs, and providing practical tools. Whereas the massive majority of people on the planet don’t knowingly support animal abuse, sweatshop labor, and/or environmental degradation, they certainly and unwittingly contribute to violence, oppression, and a host of social ills.

For the past two and a half years, I have interchanged my IIHE/CCL coursework with work for nonprofit organizations. Presently I am devoting full-time to the second unit of the program, Animal Issues while doing school presentations in my spare time. The insight, knowledge, and connections I have gained from the program have and will continue to benefit me in classrooms, activism, and all aspects of my life.

It is an honor to introduce myself to Veg News readers. I will contribute regularly to this newspaper about the experiences I have while completing my Certification in Humane Education. I welcome any questions you may have. You can reach me at: