Northwest VEG's Viva La Vegan PORTLAND - Metro

Come at 5:00 pm to join old and new friends at a delicious potluck dinner, and/or come at 6:15 pm for a presentation by Iris Schrijver MD, a certified Lifestyle Medicine physician passionate about guiding people toward general wellbeing at every stage of life. Dr. Iris, as many patients call her, operates VitalPath MD, a telehealth service providing science-backed whole person medical care. She is also the author of On the Path of Health, Wellbeing, and Fulfilment. Dr. Iris will be allowing plenty of time for Q&A at the end of her presentation, so this is a great opportunity to get some of your general health and nutrition questions (but not specific medical advice) answered.
If you come for the potluck, please bring a plant-based (no meat, dairy, honey, or other animal products) main dish, salad, or dessert; a card listing its ingredients; and plates and utensils for your use. If you come alone, figure the amount to serve 4-6; increase the amount 4 servings for each additional person in your party/family.

Join Pro-Animal Oregon at Bye and Bye as we build community and prepare for the upcoming foie gras hearing! We’ll be making homemade signs to show support during the hearing, creating a fun and hands-on way to get involved.

All materials will be provided. Just show up ready for a fun, creative activity that will make a real difference for animals. It’s a fantastic opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals, contribute to a meaningful campaign, and have fun in the process!

Whether you’re new to activism or experienced, everyone is welcome to join Pro-Animal Oregon for a laid-back, productive evening. We can’t wait to see you there!

Find us out back on the covered and heated patio -Look for a group sitting at tables with sign-making materials.

RSVP on Stampede here.

Optional drop-in Zoom office hours for anyone with questions ahead of the hearing. No pressure to attend if you’re all set.

Feel free to add any questions you have to the Event Discussion, and I’ll respond there and/or do my best to address them during the prep session.

The prep session will be recorded and shared afterward for anyone who can’t attend live.

I’ll stay on until 8:30pm PT for additional questions, logistics, and support.

Zoom link

RSVP on Stampede here

🔥 Let’s Pack City Hall for the Force-Fed Foie Gras Ban Hearing 🔥

Portland’s Arts & Economy Committee has a tentative hearing date for the proposed foie gras ban, and this is our moment to show up for animals.

This is the most important time to show up. If you can be there, we need all hands on deck.

You don’t need to live in Portland to attend. Everyone is welcome, and it doesn’t matter where you live or where you’re registered to vote.

RSVP: Pro-Animal Oregon uses a custom-made activist platform called Stampede. I would encourage you to sign up and RSVP on there as well using this link. This is the best way to streamline our coordination so that we can be as organized as a voting bloc.

📅 Tuesday, January 27, 2026
📍 Portland City Hall and Zoom (Zoom link coming soon)

In person meet up: 9:00 AM outside City Hall the SW 4th Ave entrance.

Refreshments:
For those able to attend in person, there will be bagels and cream cheese (vegan, of course), courtesy of our friends at Ben & Esther’s.

And if you need a little extra help waking up for the 9:30am hearing, we’ve got you covered with coffee generously donated by Orange & Blossom Patisserie.

We’ll meet at 9:00 a.m. and head through security together, then grab bagels and coffee in the City Hall courtyard before the 9:30 a.m. meeting starts.

Timing:

Foie gras is tentatively slotted as the opening agenda item, so please be ready to go at 9:30 a.m. sharp (in person and on Zoom).
The foie gras agenda item is expected to last about 45 minutes to an hour, so it should finish around 10:30am, and after that you're free to leave.

This will be the first time Portland elected officials formally discuss foie gras. What they see in the chamber and online will help shape what happens next. Let’s bring a respectful, energized, united presence.

What to expect:
A presentation and likely public testimony, followed by committee discussion and possibly a vote.

How you can help:
✅ Attend in person or on Zoom, even briefly
✅ Testify, we are aiming for 30+ supporters
✅ Testimony will be short and direct, for example:
“I’m a District __ voter and I support this ordinance.”
or “Plus one.”

Testimony:
If you’re able to and comfortable giving testimony, it’s really important that we get a lot of people to show support. Zoom or in-person both work. Please sign up using this form.

Written testimony:

Anyone can also submit written testimony. Written testimony is encouraged even if you’re giving verbal testimony. It’s really important that we get a lot of written testimony as it helps ensure your support is on the record. Pro-Animal Oregon will send instructions and a simple template. Indicate you want to submit written testimony on the same form above (it can be just 1–2 sentences).

What to wear:
If you have a Pro-Animal Oregon shirt, please wear it. If not, everyday casual clothes are great. This helps us show we’re just concerned Portland voters showing up for our community. Animal-friendly/public health/environmental shirts are welcome too.

Polite request:
Please avoid shirts that mention veganism or could be interpreted as vegan messaging, so we keep the focus on the ordinance and make it easy for everyone to feel included. We’ll have a few Pro-Animal Oregon shirts on hand for you all to wear.

Parking & Transportation:
Parking near City Hall can be limited, so please plan extra time and consider carpooling, biking, or transit if you can. Need a ride or transit support to attend in person? Please fill out this short transportation form and we’ll be in touch.

Time-off Request for Employers:
This hearing is during normal business hours. For those who need it, here is a simple time-off request letter template. Just make a copy, add your details, and adjust the timing if needed before sending it to your employer.

Sign-Making:
We will host a sign making event the evening of Sunday January 18 so we can show up prepared and visible. More details coming soon. We’ll also have a few laminated signs to supplement the signs we’ll make at the sign-making social, so you can roll in, suit up, and help us show a strong, unified presence.

Let’s pack City Hall and the Zoom room with supporters! We need a strong showing for animals, every voice counts.