Building Effective Legislative Campaigns with Natalie Ahwesh and Hannah Truxell
Our Hen House: Vegan & Animal Rights Movement | Stories from the Frontlines of Animal Liberation
Intro
In this chapter, guests share insights on successful legislative efforts, particularly the ban on foie gras sales in Pittsburgh. They highlight the power of local activism and its impact on advancing animal welfare initiatives.
Join us for an inspiring conversation with Natalie Ahwesh of Humane Action Pennsylvania and Hannah Truxell of The Animal Policy Alliance about creating effective animal protection legislation at the local level. Learn how grassroots organizations can work with national resources to pass meaningful laws for animals, from foie gras bans to broader farmed animal protections.
This episode explores:
• How to build relationships with local legislators
• Strategic approaches to animal protection legislation
• The importance of language and messaging in animal advocacy
• Building from local victories to state-level change
• Working across different advocacy approaches
• Resources available for grassroots organizations
• Tips for starting local animal protection efforts
ABOUT OUR GUESTS
Natalie Ahwesh monitors and evaluates pending policy, regulatory, and legal action at the federal, state, and local levels that may impact animal protection. She works with local stakeholders, including policymakers, law enforcement, and community members, to ensure current laws and policies are being enforced. As Executive Director, she directs and supervises all campaigns, programs, and personnel at Humane Action Pennsylvania, while also spearheading educational initiatives. Natalie has several awards and accolades, including the 2024 City & State Above and Beyond, 2023 City & State PA Power 100, 2019 Incline’s “Who’s Next” Animal Advocates and PUMP’s and Pittsburgh Magazine’s 40 Under 40 honorees, 2017 Humane Society District Leader of the Year, and is a founding member of The Humane League’s Animal Policy Alliance. She was also awarded a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellowship in 2023.
Hannah Truxell is the Senior Policy Counsel with The Humane League, where she leads a team of researchers who focus on providing support to THL’s Animal Policy Alliance. She and her team focus on state, federal, and local policy research, drafting model legislation, and legislative and campaign strategy. Hannah led THL’s internal research and support for the organization’s legal team’s success in defending California’s Proposition 12 before the U.S. Supreme Court. She previously served as Assistant General Counsel of The Humane League, counsel at Farm Sanctuary, and pro bono counsel with the Animal Welfare Institute. Hannah is the current Chair of the Kentucky Bar Association’s Animal Law Section and co-founded a Kentucky grassroots nonprofit, Kentucky Animal Action.
RESOURCES
- Despite Temporary Closures, Avian Flu Spreads in NYC’s Live Animal Markets
- Who’s Afraid of Lab-Grown Meat?
- The Facts About Protein: Why Science Says More Isn’t Always Better
- These vegan meat brands taste almost as good as the real thing. Taste tests prove it.
- Finally Free! Alamogordo Chimps Find Sanctuary at Last
- Turkey farm in Italy suspended after mistreatment caught on camera
- Humane Action PA website
- Animal Policy Alliance website
- The Humane League website
INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT
We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read this episode's interview._____________________________________________
The Animal Policy Alliance, established by The Humane League, is a powerful collective of local and state-level animal advocacy groups throughout the United States. We serve as a trusted resource, providing knowledge, strategies, connection opportunities, and grants to our member organizations. We lead with purpose, empowering alliance members to build toward our shared vision of a world without animal abuse.
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