OUTREACH
Spreading
Compassion
Cruelty Free You + Me combines animal
advocacy with community support
VICK HAUPTMAN
knows firsthand that
people of all ages and
backgrounds are interested in
veganism. One of the reasons
she started her organization,
Cruelty Free You + Me, was to
help children and parents approach
the subject. “The word
vegan comes with a weird
stigma and often pushes people
away,” says Hauptman, a
teacher and vegan for more
than a decade. “We wanted to
create a space where families
felt comfortable being curious
and excited to engage with
others on the topic.”
Another objective was to
cultivate an open and welcoming
community for vegans,
animal rights activists and the
veg-curious — which she did.
But what began as a cruelty
free club of sorts that combines
Hauptman’s passion for
education and veganism soon
branched out to helping disadvantaged
communities, where
residents are open to, if not
seeking, plant-based options.
“We initially envisioned
CFY+M focusing on education
and outreach for children and
families, but it was clear within
months of starting that we
needed to reach a bigger audience,”
says Hauptman. “I have
personally met people living in
under-resourced communities
who are vegetarian or vegan,
and so many of the options
they are given don’t align with
their morals or dietary needs.
From this, I realized we could
help fill a gap.”
It was during the early
months of the Covid-19 pandemic
that Hauptman recognized
an opening to make
plant-based options accessible
to a variety of communities.
Before social distancing was the
norm, CFY+M held children’s
story times and activities, hosted
book clubs and potlucks, and
provided informational materials
at local events. With some of
the group’s usual plans on hold,
Hauptman and her team sought
new opportunities. In came
the Englewood advocacy nonprofit
I Grow Chicago, which
she learned about through her
work with Mercy For Animals,
an international farmed animal
rights organization.
“I knew one of our missions
was to connect with and support
various communities
across Chicago,” she says. “I
instantly knew I Grow Chicago
was a perfect match to
begin our partnerships in under
resourced communities.
We have similar missions that
advocate for a more compassionate
Chicagoland.”
In May 2020, CFY+M joined
forces with I Grow Chicago for
Ken Johnson,
left, and Vick
Hauptman at
a food and
supply drive.
Mother’s Day, the first of many
joint efforts. Hauptman says
her group gifted Englewood
mothers with plant-based
meals and desserts, as well as
75 gift bags filled with vegan
foods and cruelty-free beauty
products, all donated by local
businesses. A huge success, the
groups repeated the effort a
month later for Father’s Day.
“These projects were extremely
special because not
only were we able to ensure
individuals felt celebrated on
these occasions, but we were
able to personally help deliver
and engage with members of
the Englewood community,”
Hauptman says. “At CFY+M,
we don’t believe in just dropping
donations to our partners’
doors but getting to know our
PHOTO COURTESY OF VICK HAUPTMAN
partners and their community.”
Ken Johnson, chief operations
officer for I Grow Chicago,
can vouch for Hauptman
and her crew’s desire to connect
with Englewood residents
in a sincere way.
“It’s not just giving things;
it’s the intentionality behind
what CFY+M does,” he says.
“Sometimes you get people who
come and work in a challenged
community, and it seems like
they’re doing it just to ease
their conscience in some way.
With Vick and her crew, you
can sense the honesty and the
reality of what they’re doing.
Their true heart comes out in
everything they do.”
Johnson says I Grow Chicago
first embraced CFY+M because
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