August 11. 2025
Discovering Compassionate Action for Animals
Itzel Herrera first connected with Compassionate Action for Animals (CAA) in early 2025 after seeing a post about Twin Cities Veg Fest in the Vegan Minnesota Facebook group. “I clicked through different pages until I found the CAA page and started scrolling through all their posts to learn about their actions and goals,” she said.
Drawn to CAA’s mission of promoting veganism and compassion, Itzel was impressed by how the organization encourages plant-based living in a joyful, welcoming way. “CAA nurtures a sense of community with compassion, mission, and empathy,” she said. “It shows that veganism isn’t something unpleasant — it’s something to celebrate.”
A Creative Role in the Movement
Since volunteering as a photographer at the 2025 Annual Banquet, Itzel joined CAA’s social media team for Twin Cities Veg Fest. And then, when the Twin Cities Vegan Chef Challenge needed more help with social media, Itzel jumped in there as well, creating organized strategies and beautiful posts. These roles allow her to combine two passions: animal advocacy and creative expression.
“I’ve always loved writing and sharing ideas about our relationships with other living beings,” she said. “Working on social media lets me do that while also editing videos, photos, and graphics to educate others.”
Sara Olson, CAA’s Graphic Design, Social Media, and Marketing Coordinator, is thrilled to work with Itzel on the social media teams. “Itzel is always full of great ideas,” says Sara. “On everything I’ve asked for her help with, Itzel goes above and beyond. She’s an absolute rockstar of a volunteer and CAA is so lucky that she shares her talents with us!”
Making a Difference for Animals
Volunteering with CAA has been a meaningful way for Itzel to create change. “I love being part of real change while learning more about advocacy from true experts,” she said. Her path to activism began early — rescuing dogs and cats in Mexico at just 12 years old.
Her commitment deepened during a high school trip to a dairy farm. “I saw mother cows separated from their calves as soon as they were born,” she said. “When I asked what would happen to the calf, the farmer said he’d be fattened and then slaughtered. That moment changed me forever.”
Itzel began investigating the origins of everything she consumed, from food to clothing, and became committed to ending all forms of animal exploitation.
Itzel’s Work at Spring Farm Sanctuary
Itzel first connected with CAA when she wrote a heartfelt blog about Matilda, a resident of Spring Farm Sanctuary, where she was serving as Manager at the time. During our conversations about her work, she shared a touching story about Hope, a physically challenged sheep who lived at the sanctuary with her brother Asher:
“I absolutely adore Hope and her brother Asher. She was always such an inspiration to me — so full of life no matter the circumstances. Even on winter days when the wheelchairs weren’t working properly and keeping her on her feet wasn’t easy, she would patiently wait for me from a distance while I fed the others, cleaned their areas, and changed all the water buckets, knowing that afterward I would dedicate the rest of my time to her and Asher until it was ‘Nap Time’ for everyone. Watching her play with Asher always filled my heart with joy and eased my tiredness. Discovering the little notes of her personality day by day was so special — she always found a way to let you know her preferences, likes, and dislikes.”
Itzel’s deep compassion for animals like Hope shines through in her work and is part of what makes her such a valued member of the CAA community.
Life Beyond Volunteering
Outside of CAA, Itzel enjoys reading, writing, walking in nature with her dogs, and learning how to thrive on a plant-based diet to improve her health. “It’s how I take care of myself and my family while showing others it’s possible to live a full life with compassion and respect,” she shared.
Her favorite dishes include Mexican vegan picadillo and red lentil soup, and she’s a big fan of Reverie Cafe + Bar in Minneapolis.
Inspired by Animals, Motivated by Empathy
At the heart of Itzel’s activism is a deep respect for animals as sentient beings. “The only thing that separates us from other animals is not intelligence or reason, but our own inability to understand them and their language,” she said. “You cannot harm someone you truly understand.”
Through her volunteer work with CAA, Itzel helps others make those connections, too — one photo, post, or conversation at a time.
Thank You, Itzel!
We’re so grateful for Itzel Herrera’s creativity, passion, and dedication to CAA. Her work behind the camera and on social media helps spread our message and inspire others to take action for animals. Itzel’s contributions truly make a difference in building a kinder, more compassionate community.
Inspired by Itzel? Get Involved With CAA!
If Itzel’s story inspires you, consider supporting our work by volunteering, donating, or exploring creative options like matching grants through your employer. Together, we’re creating a more compassionate world for animals, people, and our planet.
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Past Volunteer Spotlights
Want to meet more of our amazing volunteers? Explore these recent volunteer profiles:
- Volunteer Spotlight on Laura Hofer
- Volunteer Spotlight on Sheryl Lyke
- Volunteer Spotlight on Rianna Engel
- Volunteer Spotlight on Magnus Larsson
- Volunteer Spotlight on Ronan Magnus
- Volunteer Spotlight on Kedar Deshpande
- Volunteer Spotlight on Anna Larsson
- Volunteer Spotlight on Alysia Nelson
- Volunteer Spotlight on Tom Hoch
- Volunteer Spotlight on Lexy Race
- Volunteer Spotlight on Faustine Micheyls
- Volunteer Spotlight on Grace Prins
- Volunteer Spotlight on Kim Milligan
- Volunteer Spotlight on Allison Gamble
Making an Impact Together
Volunteers drive everything we accomplish. Last year, more than 280 volunteers donated over 6,263 hours of their time — more than $125,000 in value to CAA! They’ve also gained valuable advocacy skills, leadership experience, and lasting friendships in our community.
Read more about our collective impact in the annual report and browse available volunteer roles here.
CAA’s Theory of Change
Our mission is to encourage people to embrace their empathy for farmed animals and move toward a plant-based diet. This drives our vision of a world where all animals, human and nonhuman, can thrive.
We grow our movement by welcoming people of all backgrounds. Through our programs, events, and activities, we create a powerful cycle of increasing awareness, building community, empowering advocates, and generating lasting change for farmed animals. This approach targets both individual and institutional change.
What kind of change do we create? Our programs reduce consumption of animal products, improve the lives of farmed animals, and benefit the well-being of all Minnesotans.
We developed this theory of change in 2017 through comprehensive community input, including an online stakeholder survey, two public town halls, and strategic planning sessions with staff, core volunteers, and board members.
Your Skills, Our Mission
Ready to turn your compassion into action? Join our community of change-makers! Explore our volunteer opportunities to find the perfect match for your interests and skills. From hands-on roles in food service, photography, and event coordination to strategic planning for Twin Cities Veg Fest and helping to manage our website, there’s a meaningful way for everyone to contribute.
