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Tell us a little bit about Our Hen House (and how did you choose the name?)! The way we describe Our Hen House is "a central clearinghouse for all kinds of ideas on how individuals can make change for animals." We created it based on our conviction that a mass movement is needed that reaches into the homes and working lives of vast numbers of individuals, each of whom must take personal responsibility for leading the way to a new world -- a world where exploiting animals is recognized as no longer necessary for human progress and absolutely must end. We created Our Hen House in the hope that it can help people accomplish this by functioning as a resource – an indefatigably positive, accessible, and entertaining resource – for those who are becoming aware of the conditions within which animals currently exist, and want to be part of this new world. To do this, Our Hen House identifies and disseminates information about opportunities for individuals to create change, including academic resources to facilitate both research and classroom work; legal theories, particularly relating to lawsuits based in tort; informational resources to take full advantage of online -- as well as traditional -- ways to disseminate information; artistic endeavors; and for-profit enterprises. All of this focuses on enabling the vast shift that simply has to happen. Stated most simply, our primary goal is to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals. The name just occurred to us and we instantly loved it. Looking back after the fact, we realized that it has so many things that work for us. We both love chickens – we love their busyness and their enthusiasm and total engagement in life, all of which are characteristics needed by effective activists. Every day, we aspire to be as ‘in the moment’ as the average hen. They also happen to be by far the most abused animals on the planet, and we love identifying hens with something positive. On a personal note, we just happen to have an awful lot of hens in our apartment – hen bookends, hen magnets, a hen watering can. As for the "Our," we hope that people will see Our Hen House as not just Jasmin’s and Mariann’s house, but as a home for everyone who is looking to make positive change for animals. What led you to start it and how did you go about developing it? We were looking for a project that we could work on together that would make best use of our talents, and that we would both enjoy (I guess those things kind of naturally go together). And we have a strong conviction that the animals need more than the top-down kind of advocacy that people can pursue through mainstream animal groups. That kind of activism is crucially important, but to effect the kind of sea change that is needed, we must create a truly mass movement, in which everyone sees him- or herself as a leader, responsible for changing the world. So, given those parameters, we just tried to come up with a platform that we thought could help enable people to become those leaders. As for developing it, we just made it up as we went along. There are all sorts of resources out there for people who want to start online projects. Figuring them out can be challenging, but if you are relentless and willing to call and call and call for online support, you can get it done. How do you go about spreading the word? We are still figuring that out, and it seems like every day we find out new ways to reach people. First and foremost, for us, was the old standby: Facebook. We were both already connected to lots of people and we started with that base and it just instantly took off and grew to, in just a few months, over 3300 "fans." Facebook also led to other social networking opportunities and, all together, they just keep on spreading out. Then we have also been lucky enough to have some other people in the movement spread the word about Our Hen House on their sites. What roles do each of you play in OHH? (that’s a great acronym!) Mariann is more big concept, and Jasmin is the one who gets things done! Mariann’s background, as a lawyer, is much more academic and theory based, while Jasmin’s background is in writing, which she does the bulk of, and in theater, which is focused on presentation and communication. We find, however, as we work, that we cross over into each other’s realms more and more. You’re making the jump from a private organization to a non-profit. What has that process been like? What trials have you faced and how are you overcoming them? Oh, it’s just a lot of paperwork and a learning process. It’s a bit tedious (and, unfortunately, Mariann’s legal background isn’t in not-for-profit law so it’s a learning process for both of us) but we would encourage anyone who wants to go that route to just sit down, get the resources (Non-Profits for Dummies is a good one) and do the work. It’s not as intimidating as people think. How do you feel going to non-profit status will make your activism more efficacious? We thought long and hard about whether to take this step. The not-for-profit model has its limitations, and too many not-for-profit organizations (not just animal related) get caught in traps of having to compete with other organizations for limited resources rather than focusing on the mission. And, as we said, we are all about making sure everyone thinks of themselves as a leader in this movement to change the world, and sometimes people can let themselves off the hook by thinking that the not-for-profits are in charge of changing the world and I only have to give money once in a while. That kind of attitude will never make effective change. But, at the same time, we would have to seriously change our focus to come up with a model that would generate profit, so this seemed the best fit. We want to do something that people will feel good about donating money to, but at the same time will understand that that’s only a small part of the role they should be playing in changing the world for animals. What was the impetus to go from simply going vegan to speaking out and what did you do to make sure your activism was effective? 
The impetus was the knowledge of the suffering. Once you know, it’s so hard to not do something, even when you have no idea what to do. I think it’s impossible to be sure your activism is effective – you can only look around, see what works for other people, and other movements, think about what you do best, cross your fingers and go for it. And then constantly look around to see if you are having the kind of effect you want and keep fine tuning. None of us knows the answer, but we all have to try. What changes have you seen in your lives because of your activism? How has it affected you and how has it affected others? Our lives and our activism are so completely intertwined, especially since OHH came into existence, that it is hard to see how things would have been if we had gone in another direction. Activism also brought us together, and is so much a part of our lives together. It’s not really something we do, it’s something we are. Not to say that we don’t do other things, and goof off, and screw up from time to time. But the core of our lives is about the animals. It’s always so hard to know how your activism has affected others. Every once in a while someone tells you they went vegan because of something you said and that means the absolute world. But you have to believe that lots of times you are having an effect that you will never know about but that will add to the sum total of knowledge that ultimately changes someone’s heart. What advice do you have for new activists? Find something you enjoy. We hope that the best way to do that is to go to Our Hen House and start poking around. We have tried to arrange things in categories that are helpful to people. Maybe you will find the perfect idea or role model, or maybe you will be inspired to come up with something even better. Then we can report on what you are doing and that will inspire others! It's also important to find people who you enjoy working with. Activism is not a burden. This will change your life so much for the better, and will, in time change the world. Jasmin, I hear you’re working on a children’s book! Please tell us what it’s about! I am writing a children's book about a misunderstood pit bull ... with two vegan lesbian mommies! In the book, the veganism and the lesbian mommies are complete non-issues; just like books with straight meat-eating characters, it just is. The book focuses on Iris, the beautiful pit bull, who wants more than anything else to be best friends with you -- and everyone else, for that matter. But when she walks by, the people in the neighborhood pull their children close to them, don't make eye contact, or hurry along quickly. This, of course, is very confusing for Iris, who is such a good, gentle little doggie. After an incident in the neighborhood happens -- and I won't tell you what it is because I want you to buy the book once it's out -- Iris becomes the hero, and everybody loves her wildly. And, okay, I'll admit it: This book was pretty much inspired by my family. The vegan lesbian mommies are pretty obviously me and Mariann (named Daisy and Mary-Margaret in the book), and Iris is based off our own perfect pit bull, Rose, who wants nothing more than to cuddle with you and be your BFF. Pit bulls are the best, and anyone who thinks otherwise needs to become enlightened, and fast. One thing I hope to do with this book is speak out for farm animals at the same time as I'm speaking out for pit bulls. The characters will be eating tofu scramble and visiting a farm animal sanctuary. But the focus is sweet Iris. I have dreams of dog and cat organizations selling this book; I want to reach the dog and cat people with the underlying message of compassion to all animals, including farm animals. At the moment, I'm just at the beginning stages of writing this book. I don't yet have a publisher, so if you know of any who'd be interested ... Finally, a food question. What is your favorite recipe that you make at home? (please share!) Thanks Jasmin and Mariann! Contact Info Visit Jasmin and Mariann at www.ourhenhouse.com to keep up on the latest news in animal activism. Jasmin Singer is a writer and activist living in New York City. From 2007-2010, Jasmin was the campaigns manager for Farm Sanctuary. During that time, Jasmin was the National Walk for Farm Animals coordinator and the NYC Walk for Farm Animals coordinator, headed up all grassroots advocacy, and led monthly activist meetings in NYC. Currently, Jasmin is a consultant for Farm Sanctuary, where she continues to lead monthly activist meetings in NYC. She is a contributing writer for VegNews Magazine, and was also named by VegNews as one of twenty stand-out stars of the animal rights movement. She has also written for Satya Magazine and Heeb Magazine, and contributed to various blogs including Crazy Sexy Life, Civil Eats, Making Hay, VegDAILY, Toastermag, SuperVegan, Girlie Girl Army, and Zaftig Vegan. Her workshops — which have been featured in publications such as TimeOut NY and The Village Voice — have been presented at universities and law schools throughout the country, as well as conferences such as Taking Action for Animals, Farm Sanctuary’s Hoe Down, Let Live Northwest Animal Rights Conference, the Institute for Critical Animal Studies North American Conference, the SUNY Social Justice Conference, and the NYC Food & Climate Change Summit at Climate Week NYC, which was organized in conjunction with the United Nations’ Climate Change Summit. Prior to her animal activist career, Jasmin was an actor-educator with the AIDS-awareness theatre company, Nitestar. As an actor, she has also performed in (and produced) the show, Mortified, and has been seen in New York City at the Midtown International Fringe Festival, where she won rave reviews for her starring role in “Exhibit This”. Visit her website, www.jasminsinger.com. Email Jasmin at jasmin@ourhenhouse.com. Mariann Sullivan is a lawyer and an adjunct professor of animal law at Brooklyn Law School and Cardozo Law School. She found her way into animal law through the Committee on Legal Issues Pertaining to Animals of the New York City Bar Association and eventually served as chair of that committee. She is currently chair-elect of the American Bar Association’s Tort Trial Insurance Practice Section’s Animal Law Committee. With David Wolfson, she is the author of a trilogy of articles on farmed animals and the law: “Foxes in the Henhouse: Animals Agribusiness and the Law, A Modern American Fable” in Animal Rights: Current Debates and New Directions; “What’s Good for the Goose… The Supreme Court of Israel, Foie Gras, and the Future of Farmed Animals in the United States,” in the 2007 volume of the Duke Journal of Law and Contemporary Problems; and “If it Looks Like a Duck: New Jersey, The Regulation of Common Farming Practices, and the Meaning of ‘Humane,’” in Animal Law and the Courts. Mariann is also the author of “The Animal Welfare Act: What’s That?” which was published in the New York State Bar Association Journal. She has spoken at various conferences and animal law related events throughout the country, as well as Animal Rights Africa’s Animal Law Review Consultation Workshop in Johannesburg. Mariann has served on the board of directors for Farm Sanctuary and The Animals Agenda, and currently serves on the board for Animal Welfare Trust and Animal Welfare Advocacy. Email Mariann at mariann@ourhenhouse.com. *PRIVACY POLICY - Contact information is never, ever given or sold to another individual or company By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Service. | subscribe contact contributors pro bonum classes meals |