Tracey Kleber, an American expat currently living in the UK, has been an avid animal advocate and volunteer for decades, having given her time and financial support to both local and global animal rights organizations.
In early 2016 she left her job, sold her home in Los Angeles, and fulfilled a lifelong dream of moving to Italy where she would begin her entrepreneurial pursuits tied to her passion for animals. And at the end of 2020 she moved from Italy to her current home in Scotland, which she shares with her four rescued dogs, Natalia, Elisabetta, Mario and Luigi.
Tracey is Founder and President of the vegan advocacy non-profit, Toward A Vegan World, Inc., Founder of Four Dogs and A Fish Productions, host of The Unexpected Activist Podcast (launching in May 2023) and will soon be releasing her first vegan lifestyle book, “Mud, Grapes and White Linen: A Beautiful Vegan Life”.
Before setting out on her current entrepreneurial adventures, Tracey had 30 years’ experience in both the non-profit and for-profit sectors. She has worked as a fundraiser for higher education at some of the leading universities in the US including the University of Pennsylvania and UCLA and as a fundraiser for environmental conservation with The Nature Conservancy’s Latin America Program. She combines that experience with 12 years of work in the marketing/advertising industry, spending time with agencies both in the US and UK.
Tell us more about yourself, please
But I’m 58. And I still have this crazy idea that I’m going to change this world before I leave it. I just know that I will
Tracey Kleber
I am a vegan first and foremost for the animals. And my passion for making the world a better place for them drives all of my pursuits, both personal and professional. I became a vegetarian in 2000, and a vegan in 2016. I wish I had known more about the dairy and egg industries, as I regret not becoming 100% vegan much sooner.
I am very fortunate that vegan food is available just about everywhere in the UK. And I spend a lot of time traveling to places like London, Edinburgh, Los Angeles, NY and Rome, where each day the vegan food offerings are becoming more and more amazing. So that part of being vegan is not difficult. The hardest part of being vegan, for me, is the fact that so many of my friends and family continue to consume animal products, despite knowing everything that I have shared with them. Part of maturing as an activist has been to recognize that I need patience and persistence. And that you never know when you will have an impact on someone. Once in a while I get a message from a friend or family member, saying that they really are paying attention and that they are changing their behaviors. And that keeps me going.
One other thing that is very challenging for me is seeing farm animals, whose fate I understand all too well, on a daily basis. I live in a relatively rural location in Scotland. And the land surrounding me is used for animal grazing. I see cows, sheep and pigs in the fields and it breaks my heart. I also live across the street from a chicken “farm” and I know the horror that lies within their sheds. I have to keep focused on my efforts to end animal agriculture, knowing that I am doing my best to change things, or it would destroy me.
What approach would you take to encourage someone who is not yet following a vegan/vegetarian diet to try plant-based meals?
How much nicer is it to watch nature bring to life plants that nourish us vs the hideous, unnatural, cruel and unsustainable process employed to turn animals into food.
Tracey Kleber
I try to lead by example. I share vegan food and wine and travel photos. I get my friends and family to join me at vegan restaurants. And my primary message to them is that if you can live this well and prevent harm to animals and the environment, why wouldn’t you? I believe that most people, given the right circumstances, will surely opt out of causing death. It’s just presenting them with the evidence that vegan life is beautiful, and never a sacrifice. Education is key.
I’m always looking for products that I can share with pre-vegan friends and family (especially the stubborn, I could never give up meat varieties) to demonstrate that you sacrifice nothing and gain so much by adopting a vegan lifestyle.
Tracey Kleber
I’ll give you some of my favorites spots in cities I frequent:
- Los Angeles: Gracias Madre, Native Foods, Nic’s on Beverly, Margo’s Santa Monica and Crossroads
- London: 123V, Mildreds, Wulf and Lamb, and Mallow
- Edinburgh: Sora Lella Vegan Roman Restaurant and Harmonium
Why not do something unexpected. Surprise yourself. Surprise every around you. Make waves. Be the change. The world needs more rebels. Because the status quo sure isn’t working. 🌱
Tracey Kleber
As I mentioned before, I do believe that people operate under the assumption that there is a lot of sacrifice involved in adopting a vegan lifestyle. Or that your health is somehow compromised without meat and dairy. And that couldn’t be further from the truth. I always share with people that I suffer from an autoimmune disease…but I have been in clinical remission for years. I believe based on my heart and the research I have done that my vegan lifestyle is a huge contributor to the successful management of my disease. It’s not the reason I went vegan, but a HUGE benefit.
I also want to point out that many people look at veganism as a diet, not a holistic lifestyle. And they don’t understand the “why”. Once you have a “why”, you never go back.
Today’s the day we recommit as a community to coming together and changing the world and saving the planet!Why not do something unexpected. Surprise yourself. Surprise every around you. Make waves. Be the change. The world needs more rebels. Because the status quo sure isn’t working 🌱
Tracey Kleber
Dedicating myself to vegan and animal rights activism has opened so many new doors for me. All of my current projects revolve around my passionate pursuit of a vegan world. And having the animals as my driving force has given me so much confidence and persistence that in the previous chapters of my life I might not have had. Finding your passion and dedicating your life to it is an amazing thing. I did all of this after turning 50. And I’m very excited and grateful.
Join vegan communities, either online or in real life. So many of us have been on this journey for years and can provide counsel. Seek out vegan starter kits. Many non-profits like PETA and PCRM have assembled wonderful guides to help you get started. And finally, don’t beat yourself up. It always takes a while to change habits that have been part of our lives for many years. It gets easier and easier once you have taken the first step.
Tracey Kleber
Writer
🌱 | Vegan for the Animals
🌎 | Vegan for the Planet
✊ | Activist
📕 | Author
🎥 | Producer
✈️ | Expat 🇺🇸 to 🇮🇹 to 🏴
✉️ DM for collaboration
all images courtesy of Tracey Kleber