For vegans, it’s more than just a diet. It’s a lifestyle. There are many different reasons for becoming vegan, including concerns about the treatment of animals, personal health, and environmental awareness.
According to the Pew Research Center, 8% of Black Americans are vegan or vegetarian, compared to just 3% of the general population, due in part to concerns about heart disease and a lack of healthy food options in some communities.
Before the pandemic, tens of thousands of people attended Cleveland’s vegan food festival, VeggieFest, which became an annual event in 2012. After being put on hiatus for a few years after the pandemic, the event is back this year and will take place Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Huntington Convention Center in downtown Cleveland.
On Thursday’s “Sound of Ideas,” we’ll join representatives from the Cleveland Vegan Society to discuss why so many people are becoming vegan.
Later in the hour, we’ll be talking about one of Northeast Ohio’s most iconic festivals taking place this weekend.
The Tri-C Jazz Festival began 45 years ago, and this year the festival returns to Playhouse Square, filling the various theaters with world-famous jazz players.
The festival will once again close Euclid Street to traffic and set up a stage beneath a giant chandelier.
There’s a lot planned for this weekend for jazz lovers and those new to the art form, so I wanted to take a moment today to give you a preview of the festival.
We break down the festival with Ideastream JazzNEO host and producer Dan Polletta.
We also hear from two local film giants who are stepping down from their current roles and retiring.
guest:
-Sunny Simon President of the Cleveland Vegan Society
-Chef Sonia “Vegan Vickie” SteeleOwner of Koncious Cuisine
-Dan PorettaHost and Producer, JazzNEO/Ideastream Public Media
-Marcy GoodmanOutgoing Executive Director, Cleveland International Film Festival
-John Ewingretired director of the Cleveland Cinematheque
-Kabir Bhatia Senior Arts Reporter, Ideastream Public Media