There is so much animal activism going on around the world, but how does it all get funded? Jessika Ava joins us to discuss the work of Thrive Philanthropy, a global grantmaker that accelerates alternatives to industrial animal agriculture and amplifies just, sustainable, plant-based food systems across the world.

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Jessika Ava, MS, MPA is one of the first Native Americans to sit in a leadership position in the vegan philanthropic space. Jessika is the CEO and founder of Thrive Philanthropy, an initiative launched to dismantle accessibility barriers for non-USA grassroots organizations and ensure food justice advocates across the globe have equitable access to funding opportunities. She is a co-founder of A Just World, an organization with a mission to strengthen food justice organizations within India. She is co-founder of Africa Vegan Restaurant Week and Africa Vegan School Lunch Campaign,  domestically-led initiatives to advance plant-based eating across the African continent.  In 2020, she launched the Africa Accelerator to expand funding opportunities across Africa, which has since resulted in increased financial or capacity support to over 150 Africa-based food systems advocates. 

Jessika is a tribal member of the Choctaw Nation, and she shares her life with a beloved 3-legged feral street dog from Kathmandu and chosen family all across the globe.

RESOURCES

 

• The Chippo is Australia’s first-ever all-vegan pub


• They Are Trying to Kill Us Community Documentary Night


• Our Hen House episode 622 w/ John Lewis & Keegan Kuhn


• Scarlet Spark Workshops


• Thrive Philanthropy website


• Thrive Philanthropy on LinkedIn


• Jessika Ava on LinkedIn


• info@thrivephilanthropy.org

INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT

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This episode is sponsored in part by The Culture & Animals Foundation, which sponsors artists, scholars, and activists in our collective efforts to understand our fellow species more deeply and to further their rights. CAF provides annual grants, an arts prize, a lecture series, and a fellowship. Visit cultureandanimals.org for more information. The Culture & Animals Foundation: Think. Create. Explore. Celebrate. 

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This episode is brought to you in part through the generosity of A Well-Fed World. A Well-Fed World provides the means for change by empowering individuals, social justice organizations, and political decision-makers to embrace the benefits of plant-based foods and farming. Learn more at awfw.org.