“Empowering Plant-Based Accessibility in All Communities”

Plant-based food options are healthier, more environmentally friendly, and better for animal welfare than the mainstream options in our current food system. It is an ethical dilemma that these plant-based food options are not equitably accessible across communities. Plant Dining Partnerships is a non-profit organization working across the foodservice industry to ensure that no matter who you are or what community you live in, you are able to access plant-based foods which are better for your health, for the environment, and for ethical animal issues. Lana will speak about the Plant Dining Partnerships, a newly launched organization that has hit the ground running with plant-based menu item victories at Dunkin’ and Hardee’s and two current campaigns on Starbucks and Wendy’s.

Lana Weidgenant is a plant-based climate activist and advocate for community food justice as a means to combat the climate crisis. This year, she spoke at the United Nations about the food to climate connection and has been featured on media outlets including Fox News, The New York Post, MTV News, MSN, CGTN Global Television Network, and more. Lana led the campaign at Plant Dining Partnerships in which Dunkin’ agreed to launch a breakfast sandwich with plant-based protein at all 9,000 locations nationwide. She was one of the co-organizers of the national DC climate strike that first brought the school strikes for climate movement to the United States. Lana is also a full-time student in Public Health Studies at the Johns Hopkins University and an Ambassador for the Foodprints for the Future program leading up to Earth Day 2020.