Education, Support & Community for New & Aspiring Vegans
SYRACUSE VEGAN LIVING PROGRAM
Vegan Living Program Monthly Series
February 15, March 22, April 19, May 17 and June 21 2025
Held at Marcellus Free Library, 32 Maple St, Marcellus, NY,
and Briarwood Farm Sanctuary, 318 Center Road, Pennellville, NY
The Syracuse Vegan Living Program is switching it up this year with an exciting monthly series of educational events to support and educate new and aspiring vegans!
Except for the sanctuary trip, these events will take place at the Marcellus Free Library. There will not be a pledge/coach component to this series.
The monthly events are free to attend and open to all--perfect for anyone who is vegan-curious and wants to learn more, but not yet ready to be a Vegan Pledge. So tell all of your not-yet-vegan friends!
​
Contact syracusevlp@gmail.com
with any questions.
The Syracuse VLP Monthly Series Schedule:
Locations:
February 15, March 22, April 19, and May 17 (sessions 1-4) will be held at Marcellus Free Library, 32 Maple St, Marcellus, NY 13108.
​
June 21 (session 5) we'll meet at Briarwood Farm Sanctuary. 318 Center Road, Pennellville, NY 13132.
​
SESSION ONE - Saturday, February 15, 12:30 - 2:00pm
Introduction to Veganism & Cooking Demonstration
Held at Marcellus Free Library, 32 Maple St, Marcellus, NY 13108
​
Brief welcome by Syracuse Vegan Living Program Organizers, Shelly Bornemann and Emily Doucet. Introduction to Veganism with Syracuse Vegan Living Program Organizer Jim Thompson who also directs the Vegan CNY Foodshare. Cooking demo by Dan Williamson, who frequently performs private and public cooking demos to explore flavors from all over the world and to recreate vegan versions of just about any food.
​
TO REGISTER: Registration opens February 1st. Register directly with the Marcellus Free Library.
SESSION TWO - Saturday March 22, 12:30 - 2:00pm
Vegan Nutrition & Cooking Demonstration
Held at Marcellus Free Library, 32 Maple St, Marcellus, NY 13108
​
Vegan Nutrition by registered nutrition and dietetics technician, Khija Rockett who serves on the Board of Directors for Cafe Sankofa. After her presentation, Khija will do a cooking demo showing us how to prepare tofu in a delicious and flavorful way.
SESSION THREE - Saturday April 19, 12:30 - 2:00pm
Veganism and the Environment & Cooking Demonstration
Held at Marcellus Free Library, 32 Maple St, Marcellus, NY 13108
​
Veganism and the Environment presentation by Jacqueline Capello, Environmentalist and a presenter at the CNY Youth Climate Summit held at The College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF). She is also a recipient of a Plant Based Nutrition Certificate from Cornell’s Center for Nutrition Studies. After Jacqueline’s presentation, she will do a cooking demo using fresh and accessible ingredients the entire family will enjoy.
SESSION FOUR - Saturday May 17, 12:30 - 2:00pm
Vegan Fitness
Held at Marcellus Free Library, 32 Maple St, Marcellus, NY 13108
Vegan Fitness presentation by Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Ben Rayland. “Coach Ben” has 20+ years experience as a coach and trainer.
SESSION FIVE - Saturday June 21st, 1:00 - 3:00pm
Briarwood Farm Sanctuary & Cheese Tasting
Held at Briarwood Farml Sanctuary, 318 Center Road, Pennellville, NY 13132
​
Afternoon trip to Briarwood Farm Sanctuary where guests will have an opportunity to pet and feed the residents of Briarwood while learning their personal stories from Lori Pinzer, owner and operator of Briarwood. The sanctuary is the home of various farm animals including highland cattle, cows, chickens, turkeys, goats, roosters, and more. Held at Briarwood Farm Sanctuary, 318 Center Rd., Pennellville, NY 13132.
During our visit, there will be a cheese-tasting using various plant-based cheeses, both local and non-local.
Feel free to bring additional vegetables to the sanctuary to feed the residents. We suggest apples, carrots, kale, cabbage, collards, sweet potatoes, green beans, heads of lettuce, etc. Nothing will go to waste!
Briarwood Farm Sanctuary is a nonprofit/501c3 and if you wish to donate you can do so by sending your gift to: venmo.com/BriarwoodFS or paypal.me/BriarwoodFarmSanct.
​
​
​Please Note: ​
Sessions held at Marcellus Free Library and Briarwood Farm Sanctuary are free.
Vegan Living Program educational content is not meant to be construed as health advice, or take the place of a consultation with a medical professional.
​Attendance indicates acceptance that participants may be photographed or filmed while participating in these events. We will make our best effort to ask attendees if they mind having their photo taken.
Speaker Bios:
Shelly Bornemann
Syracuse VLP Organizer
Speaker Session 1
​
Shelly began attending animal rights events in the mid-2000s. She’s participated in vivisection, circus, factory farming, and anti-fur demos organized by local grassroot organizations. She’s donated time to help local animal sanctuaries with cleaning stalls and other labor. She was the Volunteer Coordinator at the 2019 Syracuse Vegfest. During that time, she also participated in Vegan CNY’s Food Share cooking and serving lunch for anyone needing it.
Currently Shelly is focusing on vegan education and support by co-organizing her fourth Syracuse Vegan Living Program. Her passions include taking endless photos of her fur-kids, Betty, Polly, Xander and Otis, creating vegan dishes to share with friends and family to show how easy and delicious vegan cooking is, nature walks, gardening, and renovating her home with her fiancé, Dave. She also works at a local credit union where she’s on the Environmental Advocacy Team and a member of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee.
Emily Doucet
Syracuse VLP Organizer
Speaker Session 1
​
Emily has been volunteering with homeless cats and dogs at local animal shelters since 2001, and currently volunteers at Second Chance Canine Adoption Shelter in Jamesville, and assists with social media and marketing for Cuse Pit Crew, a pit bull advocacy group in Syracuse. She made the connection between the companion animals she was advocating for and farmed animals in 2012, and has been happily vegan ever since!
Emily was a vegan coach at the 2018 Syracuse Vegan Living Program, and a co-organizer in 2019 and 2023. She is so excited that the VLP is back, and to be a co-organizer again this year!
She currently works at the Fayetteville Library, and as a mentor at Advocates Inc. She lives with her partner Dan, and their menagerie of 4 rescue cats and 1 special needs rescue dog. When she's not working or volunteering, Emily loves reading, mushroom hunting, hiking, swimming and taste-testing (and posting on Instagram) all the fabulous vegan food created by Dan!
Jim Thompson
Syracuse VLP Organizer
Speaker Session 1
​
Jim currently serves on the board of Vegan CNY, where he has been involved with organizing Syracuse Vegfest, coordinating the weekly Vegan Food Share program, tabling local events, and generally spreading the word on vegan living. He was a vegan coach for the Syracuse VLP back in 2018, and is excited to be co-organizing a VLP for the second time. Jim lives with his wife, two vegan kids, and pit mix Ringo. When he's not volunteering with Vegan CNY, he works for the state as a Vocational Counselor and trains for marathons in an attempt to prove that he's not really 50.
Dan Williamson
Cooking Demo Session 1
​
Dan Williamson is a Syracuse transplant. Originally from Texas, he moved to the area for his medical residency. He has been cooking since age 5, and with a background in anthropology and interest in other cultures, particularly their connections with food. Because of this he loves to explore flavors and tries to figure out ways to recreate vegan versions of just about any food he comes across.
He made the switch to vegetarianism in college as he explored different cultures and their relationship with their environment, and went fully vegan as he learned more and more about the impact of industrial farming on both the environment and the animals involved. During his medical training he was frustrated with the lack of information about food and diet that he actually received and started researching the balance between food and health on his own.
He currently lives with his fiancé and their menagerie of 4 cats and a dog. They often spend weekends hiking and foraging for mushrooms that he incorporates into dishes.
Khija Rockett
Speaker/Cooking Demo Session 2
​
Khija Rockett is an herbalist at heart and a nutritionist by degree. She holds a B.S. in nutrition from Syracuse University. Rockett's exceptional journey began as a trailblazer at SU, launching her very own nutrition column in the esteemed university publication, The Daily Orange. Khija Rockett now serves on the Board of Directors for Cafe Sankofa, a community-driven wellness resource center rooted in her hometown of Syracuse.
​
Furthermore, she excels in her role as a registered nutrition and dietetics technician at a skilled nursing facility, where her dedication to the well-being of others shines brightly.
​
As a certified lifestyles oriented nutrition counselor, Rockett brings a unique approach to her work, utilizing mindfulness techniques to facilitate the transformation of one's relationship with food and their body. Her goal? To guide others in achieving and maintaining their desired weight without resorting to restrictive diets or meticulous calorie counting. Khija Rockett envisions Soul & Health as a stepping stone for some and a lifestyle for others. She believes that by promoting mindfulness and educating individuals about the importance of proper nutrition, she can help them achieve a state of optimal health and well-being that extends beyond just physical health.
Jacqueline Cappello
Speaker/Cooking Demo Session 3
​
Jacqueline Cappello is a passionate environmentalist who was an Energy Auditor and solar industry Project Manager in New York City, before relocating to South Onondaga and eventually homeschooling her son.
​
In 2018, after learning that animal agriculture was causing global biodiversity loss & species extinction and realizing she could no longer reconcile being an animal lover while simultaneously eating animals who needlessly suffered, Jacqueline –against every German meat- and dairy-loving bone in her body– started stepping away from animal products.
​
Jacqueline’s husband and son also stepped onto the plant-based, whole-food path in 2019, and the family became collectively and measurably healthier. The best gift of all: their son who had suffered from failure-to-thrive launched right out of that diagnosis and continues to flourish.
​
Lit up with how important vegan feasting is for sustainability, the lives of others, and the health of ourselves and kin, in 2021 she received her Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate through Cornell’s Center For Nutrition Studies. She now pairs her zeal for environmentalism with her love of food, nutrition, and animals.
​
Jacqueline and her son offer free coaching, cooking demonstrations, and talks to help folks learn the beneficial ripple effects of eating sustainably, healthfully, and compassionately.
Ben Rayland
Speaker Session 4
​
Rampage Strength and Conditioning is owned and operated by Ben Rayland, CSCS, affectionately known in the community as “Coach Ben”. We specialize in Sports Performance and Fitness & Strength for all ages.
​
“Coach Ben” Rayland has 20+ years of experience as a coach and trainer. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). Ben is also a Certified Level 1 Coach with USA Track & Field and a Certified Sports Performance Coach with USA Weightlifting. Ben is a father of five who resides in Fayetteville with his family and is a proud member of the Central New York community.
​
Coach Ben understands that adapting new fitness habits is difficult, so he thrives on making it fun! His goal is to change your view on fitness, so that it becomes a part of who you are and your lifestyle. He strongly believes that if you practice healthy habits, you will be able to obtain a healthy lifestyle.
"I recommend this excellent program to anyone who is interested in learning more about the vegan perspective. The presentations are informative and practical. Myths are dispelled here. Yes, it is possible to get enough protein on a vegan diet, and vegan food can be delicious! More importantly, people who care about the impact they have on their fellow beings, and on the environment, come together to explore the possibilities for change."
~ Pamela Kenley-Meschino
Vegan Living Program participant, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
SIGN UP FOR OUR EMAIL LIST
Stay updated on news about our Vegan Living Programs and other events!