Animal Welfare Professionals

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  • 1.  Community Conversations - 04/27/2026 - Beyond Assumptions

    Posted 21 days ago

    Updated 4/27/26 at 3:47 pm - Recording now available to watch on-demand!

    Enter here for a chance to win the April Community Conversations giveaway after watching live or on-demand.

    Please note: All views expressed on these calls are not necessarily endorsed by Maddie’s Fund. 

    We hope to see you on the next Maddie's Community Conversation on Monday, April 27, 2026 at 11am PT / 2pm ET  for "Beyond Assumptions: A Case Study for Engaging Underserved Communities in Veterinary Care Initiatives," a conversation with Alessandra Navidad, Arizona Animal Welfare League, and Dr. Jyothi Robertson, JVR Strategies. 

    This presentation explores the innovative initiative spearheaded by the Arizona Animal Welfare League (AAWL), aimed at increasing access to veterinary care for the Latinx community in Central City Phoenix. Utilizing community-based research, inclusive methodologies, and strategic partnerships


    Through comprehensive community surveys, inclusive data collection methods, and strategic partnerships, this initiative marks a pivotal shift towards a more inclusive and community-focused approach in animal welfare.


    Participants will be introduced to the methodologies used for engaging underserved communities, the critical role of cultural and linguistic inclusivity in service delivery, and how assumptions about community needs were challenged and reframed. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies for implementing similar initiatives, illustrating the project's relevance and innovative approach to animal welfare professionals looking to make a significant impact.


    This session is ideal for adoptions and foster staff & volunteers, community clinic organizers, return to home & intake prevention staff, behavior staff & volunteers, grant writers/fundraisers, and operations & programs directors - but all are welcome. 

    🔑 Key Takeaways:

    • Understand the importance and impact of community-based research in veterinary care.

    • Learn strategies for engaging with underserved communities and incorporating cultural and linguistic inclusivity.

    • Recognize the role of strategic partnerships and internal data analysis in refining service delivery.

    • Explore the challenges encountered and how they were overcome, offering insights for other organizations aiming to adopt a similar approach.

    Don't forget! Maddie's Fund will be giving away up to $10,000 in grants each month! You can enter for a chance to win each time you attend a call or watch it on demand during the month by completing the monthly giveaway drawing entry form. 

    Register for Community Conversations hosted via Zoom. 

    🧠 Got Topic or Speaker Suggestions?
    We want to hear your ideas! If there's a topic you're curious about or a speaker you'd love to hear from, please share your suggestions with us on our Community Conversations Suggestions thread. 

    Looking forward to being in community with you! 


    #AccesstoCare
    #EducationandTraining
    #FieldServicesandPublicSafety*
    #Medicine,SurgeryandSterilization

    ------------------------------
    Sheila Kouhkan
    Senior Education Specialist
    Maddie's Fund
    CA
    ------------------------------



  • 2.  RE: Community Conversations - 04/27/2026 - Beyond Assumptions

    Posted 15 days ago

    Thanks to our speakers, @Alessandra Navidad and Dr. @Jyothi Robertson- and everyone who joined us today! 

    We would love to hear from you in response to today's reflection: Reflect on how you can leverage your community to further your mission.



    ------------------------------
    Sheila Kouhkan
    Senior Education Specialist
    Maddie's Fund
    CA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Community Conversations - 04/27/2026 - Beyond Assumptions

    Posted 15 days ago

    Thank you, Sheila, for getting this started and thank you, everyone, for joining us today! 



    ------------------------------
    Jyothi Robertson
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Community Conversations - 04/27/2026 - Beyond Assumptions

    Posted 15 days ago

    A response to today's reflection: Reflect on how you can leverage your community to further your mission: This one of the hardest things to get into and yet, one of the most important! Educating the community members is first and then getting them involved is 2nd. Your staff/volunteers must find ways to interact with the community. A little old school face-to-face at local fairs/festivals/events with a table is a good start. Definitely on-line access with a website and social media pages. Making the website user friendly to your audience with the info you are trying to share is a necessity. Posting regularly on your social media helps to keep  your audience engaged. Posts about what your doing behind the scenes, shout out appreciation for individuals or organizations that contribute to the cause, even if it wasn't a direct donation to your own organization. And yes, sometimes, the sadder posts about losses, frustrations, needs, is important, too. But, keeping it positive helps immensely if you are hoping to keep doing what your doing long-term. When engaging with the community help them see how what your doing relates not just to the community but to the individual themselves. I would also like to say that when a member of your community reaches out, be sure to respond in a reasonable amount of time. It makes the community member feel important and it reflects that you believe the cause is important enough to respond. These are just some quick ideas. Leveraging your community needs to be multi-faceted to reach as  much of the community as you can.



    ------------------------------
    Heather Livingston
    Assistant Director
    Bailey's Human Rescue
    NC
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Community Conversations - 04/27/2026 - Beyond Assumptions

    Posted 15 days ago

    So excited to be part of this important conversation!  Part of our mission at Arizona Animal Welfare League is to take a leadership role in promoting humane values for the benefit of all animals and people.  I see this community-building work in East Maryvale with our community health workers (a.k.a promotoras) as critical to that mission because we're investing (in the short term) in increasing their knowledge and capacity around caring for animals and connecting promotoras and pet owners with animal welfare resources and directly providing them with vet care services. However, (long-term) I envision this work being led my community members themselves who will be able to advocate and lobby their own elected officials for more resources around things like TNR , s/x funding.  dog parks, or more accessible vet services in their neighborhoods.  This is what true community engagement looks like where we're moving away from simply informing and connecting them with resources to empowering them to drive lasting, impactful changes in their communities that improve the health outcomes of pets and the people who love them.  That's how I see it?  How do others see this work?  



    ------------------------------
    Alessandra Navidad
    President/CEO
    Arizona Animal Welfare League
    AZ
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Community Conversations - 04/27/2026 - Beyond Assumptions

    Posted 13 days ago

    I would have to say there are numerous of ways for LC'S Foundation, but what has been on my heart is: Knowledge Exchange and Global Mentorship
    ​The mission extends beyond local borders into a global classroom. By tapping into the collective expertise of pet industry professionals,from Detroit to Accra. We can build a global mentorship pipeline. This community of practice allows us to standardize professional grooming education and animal welfare advocacy, empowering local leaders in every city to elevate the standard of care within their own neighborhoods.



    ------------------------------
    Tonya Smith
    Founder
    LC'S Foundation
    Michigan
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Community Conversations - 04/27/2026 - Beyond Assumptions

    Posted 15 days ago
      |   view attached

    Thanks to the 122+ people and paws who joined us on today's Community Conversations call! The recording is now available to watch on-demand. Below you'll find a recap of today's call and the resources shared. 

    Call Recap

    Welcome from hosts


    Question of the Day:      What is making you laugh these days? What are you watching or listening to?


    National Updates

    • From Community Cat Central:  If you're looking to level up your TNR skills, we have a LIVE TNR Certification Workshop this Saturday, May 2nd from 2:00–4:45 PM ET. Led by the team at Neighborhood Cats, it's packed with practical techniques for new and experienced trappers alike. Just $10 to attend, and NACA CEU-approved! Register here. 
    • Maddie's Community Conversations Giveaway: Now you can enter for a chance to win up to  $10,000!  Enter here for a chance to win.  Open to all who are watching live or on-demand! Be sure to enter each week you attend! You must be registered in Maddie's Pet Forum to enter. 
    • Maddie's Pet Forum Monthly Giveaway: Maddie's Fund® is giving away a $3,000 grant each month to one lucky Maddie's® Pet Forum member. You'll automatically be entered to win each month when you start a new discussion, reply to a new post. Learn more here. 
    • We would love to hear from you! Have an idea for Maddie's Community Conversations? Interested in hosting? Have a topic or speaker you would like to hear from? Let us know on Maddie's Pet Forum via the Community Conversations Suggestions discussion thread. Or, you can contact us directly by emailing CommunityConversations@maddiesfund.org.


    Presentation:     Beyond Assumptions - A Case Study for Engaging Underserved Communities in Veterinary Care Initiatives


    Highlights from the Chat

    • "For those who might not be aware, Arizona offers some generous loan forgiveness for recent vet med graduates: https://www.azregents.edu/programs/scholarships-assistance/veterinary-loan-assistance-
      program "- Peter Wolf
    • "I applaud your efforts to offer a pronged strategy and communication to access to care. The AVMA is seen as protectionist. I know this firsthand from helping a colleague achieve a license here. It took years of process and even the test proctor in Las Vegas was less than hospitable to the vet applicants. In this political climate, I applaud your efforts to welcome International and Mexican Vets. I wish you well!" - Lisa Pearce
    • "Excellent presentation. Sol Dog Lodge and Training Center is working on plans to build a veterinary center in Marana hopefully opening by the end of 2027." - Mary Flores
    • "Thank you so much!! Great to know how you not only came up with the survey questions but how you did the surveys!" - BJ Adkins
    • "At a struggling rescue with all the abandoned dogs in Pinal County, AZ. it's encouraging to see that progress is possible." - Laurie Myers
    • "Just a side note: wildfires are wreaking havoc in GA and FL. Rescue agencies are working together to keep animals safe and housed as many families are evacuating. Prayers requested for Emergency Management Personnel, First Responders and RAIN!" - Debra DeVries
    • "That was great y'all! Shout out to the beautiful slide deck too." - Bridgid Twomey


    ------------------------------
    Sheila Kouhkan
    Senior Education Specialist
    Maddie's Fund
    CA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


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