Kit Collins, Board of Directors, Co-founder
As a child, Kit cared for goats, sheep, horses, rabbits, chickens and a cow on her parents’ farm. Witnessing the slaughter of numerous farmed animals made her question the necessity of killing and eating her animal friends. Years later, when Kit’s older brother returned from Vietnam as a vegetarian, he vowed never to participate in the killing of anyone, human or animal. Impressed, Kit went vegetarian in 1976 and vegan in 2000.
John Collins, Board of Directors, Co-founder
In high school John read Henry David Thoreau’s story of planting extra rows of plants in his garden for the animals to eat. While other farmers chose to shoot the deer and rabbits that invaded their gardens, Thoreau chose compassion over cruelty.Several years later in 1970 watching a fish he had caught dying in the boat forced John to confront the reality of killing an animal and turned him into a vegetarian (and later vegan).
Jessika Ava, Board of Directors, Board Chair
Jessika Ava’s niche lies in coordinating global projects, statistically analyzing project efficacy, and guiding philanthropic support. Her notable experience includes grantmaking, biostatistics, NGO management, Asian street animal welfare, and Indian elephant conservation. She also offers consulting to nonprofit organizations, NGOs, and philanthropic endeavors. She holds an MPA in Nonprofit Management and an MS in Biostatistics.
Jessika went vegetarian when she was 10 years old and went vegan in 2007. She sits as Board Chair of Out to Pasture Animal Sanctuary and Help Animals India and is the International Programs Director for Farm Animal Rights Movement (FARM).
Chelsea Davis, Board of Directors, Fundraising Events Standing Committee Chair
It is clear that Chelsea dedicates her life to helping animals when you look at her involvement in the movement. Aside from her volunteer work with Out to Pasture, she volunteers and raises money for other groups like Portland Animal Save and Animal Hero Kids, attends protests against rodeos, circuses, and the use of animal skins, is a certified humane educator, and continues to harness the power of social media to drive change.
Chelsea brings lots of experience in vegan event and outreach coordination as the former coordinator for FARM’s Animal Rights National Conference, Portland VegFest, the Northwest Health and Nutrition Conference, and more. She has also coordinated national outreach campaigns, toured on Warped Tour doing vegan outreach and is currently working on starting a youth summit in LA that will celebrate and train those under 20 on how they can help animals. She sits as Chair of Fundraising Events Standing Committee for Out to Pasture Animal Sanctuary.
Matt Rossell, Board of Directors
Matt Rossell is the Director of Public Policy at Beagle Freedom Project. Previously he has worked with Animal Defenders International, In Defense of Animals, and as undercover investigator at an one of the nation’s leading animal research labs.
And all of our volunteers and supporters who make Out to Pasture possible!
Own or work here?