Please join Terry Walters Cooks for a book signing in main building at Compassionfest 2023. Best-selling cookbook author, Terry Walters, introduces NOURISH – Plant-based recipes to feed body mind and soul. NOURISH features 200 vegan and gluten-free seasonal recipes,abundant information on healthy cooking techniques, tools, and tips, plus an entire section dedicated to Fermentation and Gut Health. There is photography throughout, original artwork, and Terry’s own poetry. Readers will love how the book lays flat with no pages flipping while you’re cooking. NOURISH is the cookbook you’ve been waiting for, full of delicious inspiration to empower healthy home cooking.
Please welcome Beth Potter tattoos inside the main building. Sign up sheet available at booth. For more information please aquire early at event 9am at the gate.
Tim Wengertman Art Gallery inside the main building. Buy one of a kind wood cut prints.
COMPASSIONFEST 2022
Please welcome Britt Bosse photography gallery show at this year's Compassionfest 2022. Britt is a fine art animal photographer and animal rights advocate from Connecticut. In 2016, she became involved in animal rights activism and volunteering at farm animal sanctuaries. Through her volunteer experiences, she was given the opportunity to photograph some of the sanctuary animals. It was then that she found her true passion in photography. Now, she photographs both rescued animals and wildlife, with a mission to raise awareness for the ways in which humans have a negative impact on non-animals and how we can create positive change.
Please welcome the amazing vegan tattoo artist Beth Potter to Compassionfest 2022. Beth has been the creator of the Compassionfest animal logo since the very first year. She will be tattooing at this year's event. Stay tuned for details.
MAIN STAGE: SOUND HEALING W/KELVIN YOUNG 10:30AM-11:30AM
Please welcome Kelvin Young, LLC to Compassionfest 2022. Join Kelvin Young with yoga instructor Michelle Pagliarella on the main stage for sound meditation and yoga starting at 10:30am-11:30am. Kelvin Young, RSS is a certified Sound Healer, Recovery Support Specialist and Owner of Kelvin Young, LLC. Kelvin is a co-founder of Toivo, a DMHAS funded, peer-run holistic healing center in Hartford, CT. He also has been inducted into the CT Hall of Change in September, 2020 which is designed to recognize formerly incarcerated men and women who have made substantial contributions to CT communities since their release. Kelvin was also featured in a powerful documentary on trauma, addiction and recovery called "Uprooting Addiction and is the author of "Finding Freedom Behind Bars: A Journey Of Self-Discovery & Healing" where he shares his story of addiction, incarceration and 3 keys that have helped him move forward without turning back to self-destructive ways of coping or simply giving up. Today, he facilitates sound healing sessions and publicly speaks on addiction recovery to people from all walks of life. at different locations throughout the United States. He is passionate about holding space for people to heal and is known for his warm, loving, and down-to-earth way of connecting with people.
MAIN STAGE: YOGA W/MICHELLE PAGLIARELLA THE LAUGHING YOGI 10:30AM-11:30AM
Please welcome The Laughing Yogi to Compassionfest 2022. Join Michelle Pagliarella with sound healer Kelvin Young on the main stage for yoga and sound meditation starting at 10:30am-11:30am. Knowing that yoga is a marriage between body and mind/spirit, Michelle expresses this union in a Vinyasa flow and Yin practice that encapsulate softness and strength. Her philosophy is that you need to be soft in order to be strong; echoing the ancient saying “you need to be like bamboo, firmly rooted, yet flexible”. Students have expressed that watching Michelle teach is like watching an underwater dance. Her belief is that the linking of breath with movement, as in traditional Vinyasa flow, allows the student to tap into their own wellspring of creativity and power. It is from this place where Michelle’s strength as a teacher becomes apparent. She has the unique, disarming quality that commands trust from her devotees, while remaining a fierce companion to her students in their exploration of untapped potential. E-RYT-500) Yoga Teacher, along with 3000 hours of teaching, Michelle has trained with many Eastern healers in Seattle, Portland (OR), San Francisco, Providence, RI, NYC and CT. She is also a 100-hour Certified Meditation Teacher, a Reiki 2 Practitioner, has a B.S in psychology, lives a cruelty-free lifestyle, is an accomplished vegan chef and is Buddhist.
MAIN STAGE: SPACEDRUM 71 GROOVE EXPERIENCE 12:30PM-1:30PM We are so grateful to announce Jim LoPresti Spacedrum 71 to Compassionfest 2022. A future primitive groove experience.
MAIN STAGE: THE OFFCIAL CT PREMIER OF "OLD FRIENDS A DOGUMENTARY" SCREENING W/DIRECTOR Q&A1:45PM-3:45PM What Were We Thinking Films, Inc will present Old Friends A Dogumentary take place at this year's Compassionfest 2022, followed by a Q&A.
THE REUSE! BOX TRUCK: OUTSIDE ALL DAY Please welcome STAY VOCAL & the Box Truck to Compassionfest 2022. Reuse Edutainer Alex Eaves and Tiny House Expert Derek “Deek” Diedricksen have transformed a 17-foot box truck into a 98-Square Foot tiny house and mobile reuse education center; combining their knowledge of reuse and building tiny houses. This second life for the truck will provide a way for people to see the benefits of reusing and how they can reduce waste in their own lives. Alex and Deek have reused every step of the way: from the truck to the materials to screws. They will show people how, with a little more thought and creativity, reuse is everywhere and it's not only beneficial to our planet, but it benefits people and their wallets too.
COMPASSIONFEST 2019
A Dog Named Gucci
Join us for two showings of A Dog Named Gucci inside WCC at 11am & 1pm, Q&A with director Gorman Bechard following film. Gorman Bechard has directed 16 feature films including rock documentaries on The Replacements, Grant Hart, Archers of Loaf, Lydia Loveless, Sarah Shook & the Disarmers, and soon Wilco's Jay Bennett, plus the animal-rights film A Dog Named Gucci. He is the co-director/programmer of NHdocs: The New Haven Documentary Film Festival. He lives in New Haven, CT with his wife Kristine and their two dogs, Springsteen and Dylan.
Vegan Eats
So grateful to announce VeganEats to Compassionfest 2019. From vegan bars to bakeries, host Casey takes a cross-country road trip in search of some the hottest plant-based eateries around! The restaurants that Casey visits are usually well known among the vegan communities and other people in the region. While at each location, Casey has some fun in the kitchen recreating vegan specialties and interacting with the crowd in the dining room. Be sure to stay up to date with episodes, as your favorite vegan spot might be next on her list! By showcasing the vast market of vegan food and eatery options, Casey hopes to promote the transition to a vegan lifestyle and prove how creative vegan food actually is.
Vegan Vegetarianism in Art slideshow
So excited to welcome back Mark Braunstein as a featured speaker at Compassionfest 2019. Join us (Study Lounge Room) at 4pm-5pm. Vegan Vegetarianism in Art slideshow Ever since prehistoric drawings on cave walls, art has been rich with imagery of animals. While American and European artworks mostly depict cutesy storybook animals, some unwittingly portray our human exploitation of them. This slide talk sprouts from a broader lecture “Animals in Art,” which was funded by a grant from the Culture and Animals Foundation. The images for “Vegan Vegetarianism in Art” are drawn primarily from major icons of European and American painting. While some portray dairy farming, animal husbandry, butcher shops, hunting, and fishing, they do end optimistically with The Ark. Mark Mathew Braunstein is the author of five books, including Radical Vegetarianism, Sprout Garden, and Microgreen Garden. A vegan since 1970, long before even vegetarians knew the word or its tenets, he has contributed dozens of articles about veganism to magazines such as Vegetarian Times, Natural Health, Vegetarian Voice, and Spirit of Change. For 33 years, he was the art librarian and art curator at RISD and at Connecticut College. He also has written about art history, including the “Vegetarianism in Art” cover story in Vegetarian Times. You can read many of his articles at: www.MarkBraunstein.Org
COMPASSIONFEST 2018
Mark Mathew Braunstein
Time: 4pm-5pm Location: WCC Indoors on the 1st floor Study Lounge Admission: $10 Seating: Limited to 30 people, please arrive early.
1-hour food-tasting Workshop description: Microgreens, the seedling stages of greens such as basil and fennel, are moving from restaurant menus and into home kitchens. New to whole foods cuisine, if microgreens are new to you, you will learn how to move them into your kitchen. Mark will demonstrate an easy technique for indoor gardening of microgreens, and he will provide samples of more than 15 varieties to awaken your palate and to inspire your gardening. You will go home with sample seeds and a pint start-up kit. For a preview of the workshop, and for free resources about homegrown microgreens, view his website at: www.MicrogreenGarden.com
Mark Mathew Braunstein is the author of Microgreen Garden, Sprout Garden, and Radical Vegetarianism, the first book of our generation to advocate veganism (30th anniversary edition republished in 2010). His articles about veganism, sprouts and microgreens have appeared in Vegetarian Times, Natural Health, Vegetarian Voice and elsewhere. He presents microgreens workshops both nationally and locally. You can read many of his articles at: www.MarkBraunstein.Org
Workshops & Demos Compassionfest 2017
One Plug Entertainment
One Plug Entertainment, owned by compassionate vegans Chase and Amanda, provides an all inclusive customizable solution to meet their client's needs. One Plug provides Professional DJ/MC, Photo Booth, Uplighting and Photography for weddings, parties and other events. They pride themselves on offering the highest quality professional service at every event. From 10am to 2pm they will have their modern digital photo booth open for guest and families to use. They will be accepting donations to raise money for the goats at MFS.
Peter DiGennaro - Love Bombing and Heart Attack: Wielding Unviolence in the Coil of Power
Thrilled to be sharing Love Bombing & Heart Attack: Unviolencing Trump Street with the Compassionfest community, Peter DiGennaro is an International Human Rights and Peace Educator working in Critical Pedagogies across subject headings and educational sectors. A Program Director and Teaching-Artist, he holds a BA from Bentley University in Communications and Management, and an MA in Arts Politics from New York University. His research focuses on the study of Power given the social “exchange” value of Identity. In addition to having taught at the Education Center for the Arts and the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, he founded the NMS Rocks! (2001) and NMS Summer Rocks! (2011) contemporary music programs at the Neighborhood Music School, is an active member of Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the Association for Popular Music Educators (APME). He has presented his interdisciplinary, culturally conscious, student-centered curricula and programming at the University of Miami, Ithaca College, and Berklee College of Music’s City Music conference, among others. A professional musician and sound designer for twenty years, scoring work for theatre (Elm Shakespeare, Hartbeat Ensemble), film (PBS, Wesleyan University), dance (Wesleyan University, ECA, Trinity College), and installation (NYU Skirball), he is also a poet (Sinter), working in an interdisciplinary and cross-cultural format, reveling in emergent culture brought forth through collaborative trust. Creating Human Rights curriculum for Amnesty International, the Unitarian Universalist Society, and on-line platforms, as well as being a Facing History and Ourselves Certified Teacher, Peter is thrilled to be working with the Compassionfest ’17 community as we continue our efforts to make sense out of - and put sense into - our world in ways that honor our individual and collective gifts.
Xavier Xoul Kemp
So excited to announce Xavier Xoul Kemp to Compassionfest 2017. I always had a strong calling to heal and help others, seeing as I knew what it felt like to suffer with no sense of direction and drowning in the feeling of hopelessness. I dealt with vaccine damage and chronic pain for 12 years, including a few nearby death experiences; in the midst of those experiences I discovered my gift. I practiced healing myself and converting my pain into peace. The more I did that the easier it became to separate the experiences my soul had from the pain my physical body endured. I spent my everyday in meditation and in the spiritual realms, it became my home. Now I am completely healed due to the help of naturopathic medicine and my spiritual abilities. I have gained and learned so much, and am excited to have begun sharing my gifts with the world. I see positive changes in people's lives everyday that I've healed; my mission is to continue to heal those who want to be healed.
Anastasia Raw
We are so ecstatic to announce AnastasiaRAW to Compassionfest 2017! Get ready for an amazing day of vegan knowledge. Anastasia will be demonstrating a recipe from her "Uncook Book" on how to make "Mac no Cheese". $10 entrance fee. Class and talk will start at 1:15pm sharp. (Please make note: space is limited class room may fill up fast. To reserve your spot please arrive a few minutes early). After the presentation you will have the opportunity for a quick meet & greet with a personal book signing with author. AnastasiaRAW is a speaker, author, recipe demonstrator and athlete - to help you choose the life you want to lead to become your best self in living a vegan/raw life. Some notable achievements include: completing a 500-mile bicycle tour through the Adirondack Mountains, running the Midnight Sun Marathon in Tromso Norway and fasting for 32 days on water. Her youtube channel "AnastasiaRaw" and her recipe "Uncook Book" are her main ways of helping people around the world to eat healthier and live more inspired lives. http://www.anastasiaraw.com/
Vegan Teacher
Pleased to announce Vegan Teacher to Compassionfest 2017. Come on a low- carbon footprint journey with us as we explore and engage in lifestyle changes. This workshop will involve veganism, spirituality, sustainability, and mindfulness.
Vision Board
Create your own vision board at this year's Compassionfest 2017. Proceeds will go to Maple Farm Sanctuary. With your contribution of $7 for the workshop (supplies included) you will be helping animals in need. What is a vision board? A vision board is a tool used to help clarify, concentrate and maintain focus on your goal. Use this workshop to help build the kind of lifestyle you desire and want to achieve. Don't miss out. Space is limited. Workshop runs 10am - 11am.
Compassionfest 2016
Laura Le
So excited to announce Laura Le from Toivo will be joining us with the workshop "Laughter For The Health Of It" at Compassionfest 2016. Laura Le is a certified Laughter Yoga instructor and Wellness Facilitator at Toivo. For the last five years, she has shared the healing power of laughter in various different settings, including hospitals, workplaces, libraries, parties, health conferences, and retreats. She has been has been interviewed on radio and public TV shows and has been featured in the Hartford Courant.
Kelvin Young
We are so lucky to announce Kelvin Young from Toivo will be hosting the workshop "Laughter For The Health Of It" at Compassionfest 2016. Kelvin Young is a Holographic Sound Healer, Holistic Stress Management Instructor, Certified Addiction Recovery Coach, Recovery Support Specialist and Director of Toivo. He was featured in a powerful documentary called “Meditation: The Journey Within” Kelvin sustains his health by living a vegan lifestyle, practicing meditation on a regular basis, spending quality time in nature, and building healthy relationships with others.
Bobcat
Bobcat will be educating on solar energy, sustainability and showcasing his handmade telescopes. Noted in CT Environmental Headlines saying "Bobcat Carruthers is devising ways to use the sun to assist him in his daily living, which include riding his bike to and from his home in Bethany. The popularity of electric bicycles is on an incline. Just flick the switch on the natural wood grained dashboard of Bobcat Carruthers electric bicycle and the volt meter instantly indicates how much power is left in the batteries that are attached to a piece of plywood on the back of the bike."
Krista Annecharico
Krista Annecharico- Light As A Feather is a level II Reiki healer using crystals and intuition to guide you into a healing space where your energies can be cleared and aligned. She will also be offering her home made body products and handmade crystal jewelry.
Ed Cleveland
Ed Cleveland with The Healers Lounge. Founder · Southington, Connecticut Reiki Master Teacher Holographic Sound Healer Crystal Energy Healer Medicinal Aromatherapy Kids Sound Aromatherapy Meditations 3rd Degree Black Belt Sonic Crystal Gemstone Sound Aromatherapist Meditations for Kids and Adults Monochord Vibrational Therapy for the Heart & Spine in 432 Hz Advanced 7 day Gong Camp Training by Mitch Nur.
Imagine Wellness
At Imagine Wellness, we are committed to creating a holistic treatment plan that is specifically tailored to your individual needs. We believe that message therapy is an integral part of any wellness plan and the health of our clients. We strive to meet and exceed the expectations of our clients while providing an environment of understanding respect, dignity and compassion.
The Art Of Ivan Tirado
We are so lucky to have The Art of Ivan Tirado LLC to Compassionfest 2016. He will be demonstrating body painting. Dr. Iván Tirado-Cordero, international contemporary artist and instructional designer, was born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico in 1975. Dr. Tirado is adjunct faculty at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT, where he teaches the First Year Seminar on Inquiry Based Learning. He achieved a bachelors’ degree in Humanities in Liberal Arts in 1998. He also achieved a M.Ed. in Instructional Technology in 2006 and a Ph.D. in Education in Instructional Design in 2013. In September 2010, he had the first opportunity to exhibit his sculptures. A year after his sculptures began reaching from Connecticut and New York to other states, and as far as Argentina, Puerto Rico, France, London, Switzerland and Saudi Arabia. You can find his artwork in the books INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY MASTERS VI (2012), IMPORTANT WORLD ARTISTS (2013), and his collaborative book The Art of Ivan Tirado. Other publications include: Feat of Clay. Interview. Milford Living Magazine. (Fall 2013), Featuring Artist. Milford Arts Council Newsletter. July/August (2013), The Well Written Woman (Blog) (2012), and the New Haven Independent (2014), and The Milford Mirror (2015). His doctoral dissertation is available online and was also published in the International Journal of Strategic Information Technology and Applications. Dr. Tirado is available for commissions, sculpting and painting parties, private lessons, workshops, and public speaking. Contact The Artist.
Christopher Massey
Christopher a Multi Modality Healer and teacher will be offering Thai Yoga and Chair Massage, Auricular therapy, Meditation and mindfulness counseling, Qi Gong for health. Chris has been working in Holistic's since 1997 and continued his work through the years. Stop by and meet this wealth of information and inspiration! www.zenarts.center
CT Bellydance Tent
So excited to announce The CT Bellydance Tent will be at Compassionfest 2016. The CT Bellydance Tent is your Compassionfest home for all things that shimmy! Whatever your interest, we've got it covered: from modern to traditional styles and all the community in between! Come and learn about the different styles of bellydance, both regular CT classes and bellydance workshops at Compassionfest, and explore the diverse CT bellydance community! Tava Naiyin is bringing classic bellydance style: dripping in the Golden Era elegance which is foundational to this art form. www.bellydancebytava.com.Diana Saylor is representing for American Tribal Style (ATS) bellydance: a dynamic dance language rooted in middle eastern and Flamenco dance traditions. www.elmcityshimmy.com. Eliot Snaith is sharing tribal fusion and Improvisational Tribal Style (ITS) bellydance: modern evolutions of bellydance that combine the technicality of classic bellydance training with a contemporary expression. Eliot Snaith is teaching an open level workshop on modern tribal style bellydance! Learn basic movements and group dynamics, and take home a few combos from Hot Pot Improvisational Tribal Style (ITS) to incorporate in your own workouts and performances! This workshop is a great introduction for beginners while offering pointers on technical execution and performance concepts to intrigue advanced dancers as well! Come explore the beautiful diversity of the CT bellydance scene while we cultivate community together at Compassionfest! Check out www.ellybelly.dance.
S&S Traveling Parties And Events
Pleased to welcome S&S Traveling Parties and Events to Compassionfest 2016. Come visit the creative corner for kids. DYI workshop and so much more.
DYI Workshop's
Time-In Tee-Pee
Time-In Teepee Workshop. Do you suffer anxiety at public events? Do you want to get involved in community activities but have a hard time and need a safe space to regroup? Over 18% of Americans over the age of 18 yrs old have admitted to having frequent anxiety attacks. You are not alone. That's why Compassionfest now has the "Time-In Teepee" located on the festival grounds. What exactly is a Time-In Teepee? Good question. This is a safe no talking space to escape-to for meditation & relaxation, with pillows located inside to help you unwind & regroup. This space is intended to share with others that have the same idea in mind for quiet-time & calm.
Warm Fuzzy Workshop
A warm fuzzy is a symbol of love & showing love. Wearing a warm fuzzy at Compassionfest is a friendly reminder to us to use our words and actions in compassionate ways.The Warm Fuzzy Workshop How It Works: Put on your warm fuzzy necklace as you roam the grounds of the event. If you cross paths with someone wearing the warm fuzzy necklace exchange a kind word or compliment directed to them. Pull a single yarn strand from the ball & tie that yarn strand around the necklace part of that persons warm fuzzy necklace. In return that person will exchange a kind word/ or compliment back tying a strand around their warm fuzzy necklace. This is a great way to spread love and kindness around. It's also a wonderful way to connect with others that are looking to unite with compassionate folks in the community. These fun wearable yarn balls will be handed out at this years event. They will also be hanging from the trees.
Wish Rock
Wish Rocks- are rocks collected all over CT from rivers, lakes & the ocean. Choose a rock from the barrel use our eco-friendly chalk marker to write down your wish. At the end of the event all wishes will be returned to the natural water.
Soul Gazing
This year on festival grounds will be a soul gazing station (2 chairs, a small table with a timer). Sit and wait for someone to sit across from you. Set timer for 10 minutes, allow yourself to gaze into the eyes of the person sitting across from you. Allow them to gaze back without breaking eye contact. Do not talk, just relax and enjoy the experience.
For an idea of what we've feature in the past, below are Compassionfest 2015's demos & workshops:
Compassionfest 2015
Enjoy conversations with and demonstrations by these inspired neighbors:
MARK MATHEW BRAUNSTEIN
A high raw vegan since 1970, Mark Braustein is author of Microgreen Garden, of Sprout Garden, and of Radical Vegetarianism, the first book of our generation to advocate veganism. His articles about veganism have appeared in Natural Health, Vegetarian Times, Vegetarian Voice, Healing Our World, and elsewhere.
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