Laura Lee Cascada

Laura has led environmental and animal protection campaigns for more than 15 years, overseeing victories like the protection of Virginia’s decades-long ban on uranium mining with the Sierra Club and putting vegan options on the menus of major chains including Starbucks and Subway with Animal Outlook. At the Better Food Foundation, she leads campaigns to build a sustainable and resilient food norm, one that’s plant-based by default. She’s worked with advocates and stakeholders to bring DefaultVeg to many institutions, from the University of San Diego to Austin’s Office of Sustainability. As a writer, Laura has been featured by outlets including One Green Planet and The Ecologist and published her debut novel, Dellie’s Run, in 2019. She also runs a true storytelling blog called the Every Animal Project, whose investigation of Hawaii’s greenwashing octopus farm led to its shutdown by the state. Laura holds a master’s degree in environmental science and policy from Johns Hopkins University.