Meet Our Judges

We are excited to have Colleen Patrick-Goudreau on-board as our featured celebrity judge!

She will also be signing copies of her books at this event.  

 (from Colleen’s Website)   ”Colleen  is an exhilarating speaker, a powerful writer, a talented chef, and a persuasive advocate whose success can be measured by the thousands of people whose lives have been changed by her compassionate message. Addressing the spiritual, social, and practical aspects of a compassionate lifestyle, Colleen is the author of three cookbooks – The Joy of Vegan Baking, The Vegan Table, and Color Me Vegan – and two vegan/compassionate living books – Vegan’s Daily Companion, and The 30-Day Vegan Challenge.”

“The mission of Colleen’s work is to empower people to make informed food choices, to debunk myths about veganism and animal rights, and to give people the tools and resources they need to live according to their own values of compassion and wellness.  She has been guiding people to make transition so they can do it healthfully, joyfully, and confidently. Using her unique blend of passion, humor, and common sense, she empowers and inspires people to live as healthfully and compassionately as possible.”

 

We are privileged to include Jennifer Fearing,  CA Senior State Director, Humane Society of the United States.
(from HumaneSociety.org): “During her time at The HSUS, she has co-authored a book on creating dog-friendly workplaces, coordinated research on spay/neuter in the Gulf Coast, led California’s successfulProp 2 campaign, and helped guide the enactment of numerous California animal protection laws, including the 2009 ban on cow tail-docking and the 2011 ban on the shark fin trade. ”

“Fearing is currently working to promote wildlife and habitat protection in California. She is member of the board of directors of the CalTIP Foundation (an anti-poaching/polluting organization).”

 

Also joining us as a Cupcake Connoisseur is Yoga in the Park founder Gina Garcia.

(from her Yoga Across America Facebook Page)  ”Gina is also the founder of Yoga Across America (YAA), a not-for-profit corporation that teaches yoga to those who don’t have access to yoga, have never heard of yoga, or cannot afford it. She is grateful to her Yoga in the Park students, who manifested an outreach program that allows more people to experience what they created at McKinley Park, in Sacramento.”

“Yoga Across America is partners with Dr. Oz’s “HealthCorps” – providing yoga to high school students living in low-income areas, across the country. YAA recently launched “Yoga for American Soldiers,” a non-partisan initiative that reaches out to wounded warriors, and other soldiers returning from war. YAA teaches yoga, meditation, and other health and wellness programs to these men, women, and their families.”

“Gina believes that anything is possible, and that each and every moment in her life is truly a miracle. She is a certified Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga Teacher.  She is especially grateful for all of the students who attend the weekly Yoga in the Park classes – they are her greatest teachers, her inspiration.”

“Yoga in the Park is offered every Saturday at McKinley Park in Sacramento.  They meet behind the rose garden off of H St., 9am.  It’s a free, powerful vinyasa yoga class! This is an all-levels class open to everyone.”

 

We are pleased to have our own local plant-based MD, Dr. Don Forrester.

(from Dr. Forrester’s website):

“Dr. Forrester is a steering committee member of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM).  He is a (semi)-retired Kaiser family medicine physician with 30+ years of experience, and is our local leading expert MD in preventing and reversing chronic diseases through advocating for a whole-foods, plant-based nutrition.”

“Dr. Forrester is also the Medical Director for EarthSave’s Meals for Health programand provides clinical support for the  Whole Foods McDougall Program ”

 

 

 

 

Meet Ray Tretheway, Executive Director Sacramento Tree Foundation

As Executive Director of the Sacramento Tree Foundation, Ray Tretheway has been leading the grassroots nonprofit with passion and dedication. He has received recognition nationwide as an outstanding leader and visionary. Tretheway was a City of Sacramento Councilmember for nine years. A community activist since 1980, Tretheway has long been a strong advocate for downtown revitalization, neighborhood empowerment, and habitat protection.

He has served on national, state and local boards and non profit organizations, including National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council, California Urban Forest Advisory Council, California ReLeaf, Natomas Basin Conservancy, and the Natomas Community Association Born and raised in Sacramento, Ray Tretheway and his wife Judy built their own energy efficient solar home in 1978. The Tretheway’s have two married children and four grandchildren. Tretheway is a graduate of University of California Santa Cruz, with a BA in Environmental Studies and Anthropology.–Sacramento Tree Foundation

(from SacWiki page)  ”Ray has a strong commitment to public service and to building neighborhoods and communities that are great places to live and work. He has made critical investments in public safety, flood protection, youth services, parks, waterfront, historic preservation and healthy environments. He is an advocate for smart and sound planning for residential and commercial growth. He is a proponent of the region’s Blueprint vision for growth and transportation planning and the Greenprint vision to build the best urban forest in the Sacramento region.” –Above taken from the bio on his former official City website (as of 6/24/2010)
Meet Janice Daniels, a junior journalism major and a family and consumer sciences minor at Sacramento State University, became interested in healthy living during her first semester of college in 2009.   Since then, she has done lots of research on health, became an exercise enthusiast, was a vegetarian for over a year, developed a passion for vegan cooking and baking, and has lost over 80 pounds.   She wrote a great article for the Sac State Hornet about Sacramento Vegan Chef Challenge last October.
After playing around with the vegan lifestyle last year, Janice decided to completely commit to it and says she has never felt better. Her diet consists of mostly whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts and lots of tea.
With her weight loss and new love for health and nutritious food, she has influenced many of her friends and family members – especially her mom and eldest sister, who have each lost 40 pounds – to make changes in their eating and exercise habits so they too can live long and fulfilled lives.
Janice hopes to someday own her own vegan restaurant/bakery as well as write articles – as a health/food writer – that will influence and educate others through research and her personal experiences on how to go about properly nourishing themselves and their families.

Events

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