A peaceful world begins on your plate.
Our Mission
Compassionate Living is a 501c3 non-profit organization working to end farmed animal suffering and encourage vegan living. Through educational activities, community building, compassionate and inclusive outreach, framing veganism as a justice issue, while educating on the sentience of animals, we hope to be part of achieving a just, compassionate, non-violent, vegan world.
Reason for Vegan
How many reasons do we need to be vegan? Access our educational content to understand why living vegan is so urgent today. Learn about how animals are raised for food, the impacts of animal agriculture on the environment, how to avoid falling for “humane" labeling, and understand why we don't need animal protein to thrive.
The Sonoma County VegFest is the North Bay Area's premier celebration of compassionate, healthy, and environmentally responsible living and eating in Santa Rosa, California. Join us for dozens of local vendors with delicious vegan food, refreshing drinks, music, kids zone, wellness and nutrition information, sustainable and eco products, and so much more. We have inspirational presentations and veggie food prep demos throughout the day. This event is indoor/outdoor and children under 13 are admitted free.
Connect with compassionate community and join us!
SONOMA COUNTY VEGFEST
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2025
Santa Rosa Veterans Building
11:00 am - 4:00 pm
AHIMSA LIVING CIRCLE
with Hope and Cogen Bohanec
Second Saturday of the Month
The next Circle is on
Saturday, November 8, 2025
10:00 - 11:30 am PT /
1:00 - 2:30 pm ET
At Compassionate Living, we feel that it is imperative that we change who we are, not just want we do. As longtime spiritual vegans, Hope and Cogen Bohanec have a lot to share about living a compassionate, fulfilling life.
Our Ahimsa Living Circle is a virtual community gathering for anyone who is curious about veganism, Jainism, the Dharma traditions, and the concept of ahiṃsā, nonviolence. We want to create a community of inspired, engaged advocates who believe that expanding our circle of compassion to include animals and all of the Earth should be a central feature of any spiritual journey. While the gathering will emphasize Jain teachings and practices, it will be based on the core value of a shared truth that is present in all spiritual traditions, particularly the Dharma traditions (Jainism, Hinduism, and Buddhism) in a way that recognizes the centrality of ahiṃsā, which means non-harming or non-violence.
Our circle is a place of support and community for those exploring veganism, non-violence, and ahiṃsā. These elements are incorporated into the program for each meeting, but the gathering will also encourage attendees to broaden the discussion, participate, ask questions, and offer reflections and support to others. Everyone is welcome in this circle where we will discover together how we can live a compassionate life aligned with our deepest ethic of non-violence. This event is co-produced with our partner Arihanta Institute.
The Humane Hoax: Essays Exposing the Myth of Happy Meat, Humane Dairy, and Ethical Eggs, edited by Hope Bohanec
Part of Compassionate Living's Humane Hoax Project, this volume contains 18 contributing authors who explore the timely topics of humanewashing, greenwashing, language and labels, and how so-called alternative animal agriculture intersects with feminism, affects the environment, is represented in the media, and impacts human and non-human communities alike. This anthology has new essays from noted animal and environmental advocates including Carol Adams, Karen Davis, Alastor Van Kleeck, Sailesh Rao, John Sanbonmatsu, and Christopher “Soul” Eubanks. All proceeds of the sale of the book go to Compassionate Living.
The Humane Hoax Project Videos
Compassionate Living has hosted numerous conferences and webinars through our Humane Hoax Project. There are now hours of fantastic presentations to watch from our Humane Hoax Online Conference and our Humane Hoax Chicken Webinar. Dive into the myriad aspects of humanewashing and greenwashing, watch the videos, and share on your networks.
Support Our Work
Your support will help us carry out our educational projects aimed at creating a world where no animal has to suffer at human hands. Thank you for being a part of Compassionate Living and helping us achieve animal freedom.
