Benefits of Animal Conferences

Here are some benefits of attending animal advocacy conferences that you might not usually think about:

1. Inspiration and deeper commitment. One of the most valuable things I've gotten from attending conferences through the years is developing a deeper commitment to helping animals. We may know something intellectually, like that it's good to devote our time and energy to ending factory farming, but for many of us it's helpful to also develop a deep emotional connection to the work. Conferences are places where we are exposed to inspiring, dedicated advocates and a profound sense that this is a movement worth dedicating ourselves to. It's also incredibly inspiring to hear about the efforts that others are engaged in around the globe.
2. Meeting advocates. At larger conferences, there are hundreds of animal advocates who travel in from many different places. It's a great opportunity to meet all kinds of people who share the vision of ending animal exploitation. Some of these people may become future collaborators, coworkers, or fellow advocates.
3. Networking to find a job. If you're interested in getting a job in animal advocacy (part-time or full-time), conferences are a great place to meet folks who work at organizations and get a feel for what jobs are out there. You can also have lots of conversations about the types of skills that are necessary in different roles and find out where you might be a good fit.
4. Awareness of different types of advocacy. There are many, many forms of animal advocacy happening around the world, and most people only know about a few. Broadening your awareness of types of advocacy can help you find something that you're a perfect fit for.
5. Finding your niche. Finally, all of these reasons can combine into helping you find your niche in the movement—that place where your skills and interests and opportunities align to allow you to have the greatest impact for animals.

If you are able, I would highly recommend trying to attend some kind of animal advocacy conference in the future, if you haven't already. It doesn't have to be the Animal & Vegan Advocacy (AVA) Summit, although I think AVA is particularly good. There are many other conferences that you can find on the Connect For Animals Conferences page, or other places (like the IAA conferences database).

And if not this year, then maybe try to plan ahead for next year or the year after. It does take some planning, but in my experience it is well worth it.