Filmmaker Kevin Smith recently took WIREDs Autocomplete Interview to answer the Internets most searched questions about himself. During the interview, he discussed how to be vegan when you hate vegetables.

Smith is best known for writing, directing, and starring in the cult hit film Clerks (1994) as well as Mallrats (1995) and other related movies in the View Askewniverse. Most of Smiths films feature or reference the characters Jay and Silent Bob, played by Jason Mewes and Smith respectively. Smith is currently promoting the upcoming Jay & Silent Bob Reboot.

In the WIRED interview, Smith discusses his 2018 widowmaker heart attack and acknowledges how eating meat and dairy contributed to his poor health up to that point. He also discusses how going vegan had a transformative effect on his physical health and recovery.

The LAD is the artery that goes across the front of your heart, 100 percent blocked by cholesterol, says Smith. [Because] I used to eat a lot of animal food products. I used to drink two gallons of milk a day.

During his post-op recovery, Smith was supported to go vegan by his daughter and fellow actor Harley Quinn Smith and says that eating plant-based helped him to get healthy.

After I had a heart attack, my kid encouraged me to go vegan, says Smith. She had been a vegan for two, three years at that point. So she was like Ive gotta flip him, and she did, and I became vegan.

Smith explains that even though he still dislikes eating vegetables, the combination of fasting and a plant-based diet works well for him. I hate vegetables, [expletive] hate em with a passion, says Smith. Very hard to be a vegan when you hate vegetables and stuff. But what I do is now I intermittently fast.

Smith says that given the choice between broccoli and kumquats hed rather not eat. So he skips meals as part of ntermittent fasting. I dont eat breakfast. I break my fast at about 1 or 2 oclock in the afternoon, he says. I go as deep into the day as I can and I dont eat after 8 oclock at night.

Smith is extremely vocal about animal rights, animal welfare, and social justice issues. He is an animal advocate and appeared in a promotional video for Farm Sanctuary with Harley Quinn. The two encouraged viewers to abstain from Thanksgiving turkey and Smith said, I will never eat another turkey.

Smith donates $2,000 a month to the non-profit organization Women in Film in place of residuals from his Weinstein funded movies. Smith is also a co-founder of The Wayne Foundation; a charity that supports women affected by human trafficking and exploitation.

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How to Be Vegan When You Hate Vegetables, According to Kevin Smith

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Kevin Smith recently discussed how to be vegan when you hate eating vegetables and answered FAQs about himself, including "What is Kevin Smith's diet?"

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Liam Pritchett

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How to Be Vegan When You Hate Vegetables, According to Kevin Smith - LIVEKINDLY

When youre Alicia Silverstone, theres one career highlight that will follow you around forever: the 90s classic that is Clueless. When you think of the nineties hit coming of age movie, is it Cher Horowitz and that signature yellow plaid blazer skirt combo that sticks in your mind? Or maybe you love *that* freeway freakout scene with Dionne Davenport? Or Tai Frasiers iconic makeover? The movie, with all of its quotable moments, has a place in the hearts and minds of many.Its nearly 30 years since Clueless first hit movie theatres (Ugh! As If!), and it wouldnt be what it is today without its admired protagonist. So what is she doing now? Silverstone has been busy since 1995. Shes a successful entrepreneur, a passionate animal rights activist and environmentalist, and a mother to an eight-year-old son, Bear. But if theres one word that ties each of her endeavors together, its kindness.

Although she remains a passionate actor, the animals have Silverstones heart. It was around the age of 21 that she threw herself into the vegan lifestyle or the kind life as she refers to it. Like many before and after her, it started with looking from her plate to her pet.I watched the documentary The Witness and took a look at my dog and thought If Im not willing to eat you, how can I continue to eat these other creatures that have the same desire to live, are just as funny, and have the same reaction to pain as my dogs? she told LIVEKNDLY. I had a realization that I was an animal lover eating animals and it didnt feel ok to be aware of the terrible reality behind the animal agriculture industry and condone them by actively participating in it with a non-vegan diet, she says. I realized that until I stopped purchasing animal products, the suffering would never end.She was all in for the animals, but the health benefits surprised her. She lost weight, she recalls, and her energy levels increased dramatically. Her hair got thicker, and all of her allergy symptoms disappeared. She enjoyed the health benefits of veganism so much, she chose to extend her passion to others and created Mykind Organics.

The idea for the line of non-GMO, vegan vitamins first came about when Silverstone was pregnant with Bear. Every vitamin recommended to her was either packed with chemicals or not suitable for vegans, so she solved the problem herself. Despite her busy work schedule shes been filming in Vancouver recently, as well as meeting with politicians to request more vegan options on the menu in California schools her attention is still very much on the vegan vitamin line. In vitamin-land, Mykind Organics launched 16 herbal supplements last fall. Im so thrilled about this line, she said. These products are so special because we source ingredients from sustainable organic farms and use a groundbreaking organic, non-GMO extraction method without the use of conventional corn alcohol or other harsh chemicals commonly used.

In the spirit of wellness, she has also partnered with the deodorant brand Crystal Deodorant to become its brand ambassador. The company makes its products with natural, non-toxic ingredients. I am proud to partner with a company that shares my values and is committed to making healthier and kinder products, she said in a recent statement.

Silverstones clearly up on all the benefits of veganism, from animal welfare to human health. But does she see a world where everyone feels the same way as her? Potentially. I think were making significant strides, she says. I remember going on the Letterman show many years ago sharing that I was vegan and was received like I was an alien! Now its actually cool to be vegan and immensely valued from a health and environmental standpoint, she continues. The United Nations has even called for a massive decrease in animal agriculture! You can find vegan options and entire vegan restaurants at airports! Last year, the United Nations Environment Program labeled tackling meat consumption as one of the worlds most urgent problems. And its a good start, but those in power have to take it further, says Silverstone. I believe legislation and markets must raise the bar significantly so people wont have the option to be blissfully unaware of cruel consumption. We are at such a crucial tipping point, she says. According to the International Panel on Climate Change, we have less than 12 years before we can no longer stop irreversible damage from the climate crisis. Floods, heatwaves, wildfires, droughts, and many other forms of natural disasters will be commonplace, and millions of people will be displaced. Silverstone sums it up best. This is terrifying, she says. But there is potentially a way out: if we all live like her. The easiest and most effective thing any individual can do is adjust their diet to ditch animal products, she explains. Shes not wrong. The biggest-ever food production analysis conducted last year revealed that the single biggest thing a person can do to reduce their impact on the environment is to go vegan.

So how do you keep fighting in a world that feels like its doomed? You keep in mind who youre doing it for. The generation of tomorrow. For Silverstone, it starts with her son, Bear.

Its been the biggest inspiration to watch his innate compassion for animals and the earth unfold as he grows, she says. [He] inspires me every day and every moment. Silverstone says its a doddle raising a vegan kid. Because of the way he eats, she says he never gets sick, and living plant-based even has an impact on his behavior and personality. Because Bear feels so good he acts so sweet, she says. Theres no raising my voice or negotiating with him, just easy respectful conversations. Shes also inspired by her dog Sampson, any cow or pig that crosses her path, and the activists that put themselves on the line to fight for animal rights and for the planet. Its beautiful and encouraging, she says, referring specifically to the millions of young people who have recently protested for climate action around the world. Her inspiration isnt limited to those fighting for the planet, but those fighting for humanity too. She refers to Kendrick Castillo, the teenager who lunged at the gunman at STEM School Highlands Ranch, allowing others the time to run and hide. He was incredibly brave and heroic, she says. Kendricks selfless love and courage combined with my disdain for gun violence leaves a mark on my soul. Silverstones support and love for the planet and the people and the animals that depend on it is unrivaled. The star may be known for her iconic looks in Clueless, but she carries the passion and vulnerability that shaped Cher Horowitzs character with her to this day. She uses her platform, and her huge Instagram following as Cher may have had she have been a Millennial in 2019 to advocate for change, and above all, kindness. She recently posted a selfie to her Instagram account with the caption, Hi there friends. I was having a particularly happy moment when I took this. I was overcome with that very unique joy I experience when I think about all the love and support I give to my body and this planet (from the kind diet). She asked her 935,000 followers to consider flirting with veganism, to ditch the single-use plastic, and to become more conscious about the world that surrounds them. She continued, Im going to continue riding the highs that [the kind life] can bring, but boy does my heart break a little bit every day multiple times over all the unconscious acts of abuse to our earth and creatures and ourselves every day. We have so much more work to do!

And as for Clueless? Sorry to disappoint, but Silverstone says its unlikely there will ever be a sequel. Unlikely, but not impossible. No one knew what a cultural phenomenon Clueless would be when it was made, says Silverstone. But Im thrilled that it resonates with so many people! Even amongst a whole new generation. Ive run into teenagers who gush over it. Its so fun! According to the actor, Amy Heckerling who directed the original movie has said there wont be another. But who knows? You could be the one to change her mind. Silverstone says, if you have any ideas, Tweet her at @AmyHeckerling! Ha!

In the meantime, she has a few other projects up her sleeve. She recently filmed The Baby-Sitters Club for Netflix, as well as the new horror movie The Lodge, which will hit theatres this Fall.

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Alicia Silverstone: Going Vegan Is the Most Effective Way to Combat the Climate Crisis

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Actor and vegan activist Alicia Silverstone believes that ditching animal products will help fight the climate crisis and save the planet.

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Charlotte Pointing

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Alicia Silverstone: Going Vegan Is the Most Effective Way to Combat the Climate Crisis - LIVEKINDLY

Veganism is gaining momentum around the world. And vegan musicians are leading the trend.

Plant-based, cruelty-free living is becoming popular in industries everywhere; doctors are clocking on to the health benefits of vegan food, fashion designers are featuring animal-free leather in their work, and athletes are adopting plant-based diets to boost performance.

The music scene is just as involved. More and more artists are going vegan and many are keen to let their fans know about it.

Various factors motivate celebrities to go vegan. Health is a major motivator. A growing bank of research is finding links between meaty, dairy, and eggs, and disease. Animal products often contain high levels of saturated and trans fats, which can increase blood cholesterol. High cholesterol can increase the risk of peripheral artery disease, stroke, and heart attack.

More than ever, celebrities are doing their part for the planet by updating their diet. Animal agriculture is to blame for more greenhouse gas emissions than the entire transportation sector combined. It also uses vastly more land and water than plant-based farming.

Animal welfare is another leading reason that celebrities go vegan. The meat, dairy, and egg industries are typically rife with animal welfare violations. More musicians are making the connection between whats on their plate and the animal its sourced from, and boycotting animal products to take a stand against animal cruelty.

The decision to adopt a vegan diet could bring with it a range of health benefits. Plant-based food, by nature, contains no cholesterol; cholesterol is only found in animal products. Vegan food also contains good amounts of fiber, while animal-based foods have none. Cholesterol-free, fiber-rich diets lower the risk of disease and can extend lifespan. Data collected from 185 observational studies said that individuals who eat the most fiber are 15 to 30 percent less likely to die prematurely. Fiber-rich diets were also connected to a 16 to 24 percent reduced incidence of type 2 diabetes, stroke, and colon cancer.

Vegan lifestyles are good for the planets health, too. Eating animal-product-free can help clean the planet and save resources.

According to Cowspiracy, 70 to 90 percent of freshwater pollution in western countries is linked to animal agriculture. A study by the European Commission Joint ResearchCentre (JRC), which was published in Nature in 2018, found that a vegan diet uses five times less water than a meat-based one.

The most comprehensive analysis of farmings impact on the planet looked at data from 40,000 farms in 119 countries. Researchers found that if everyone on the planet went vegan, global farmland use would drop by 75 percent. This move would free up landmass the size of Australia, China, the EU, and the U.S. combined.

Oxford University researcher Joseph Poore, who led the study, stated: A vegan diet is probably the single biggest way to reduce your impact on planet Earth, not just greenhouse gases, but global acidification, eutrophication, land use and water use.

Former Beatles frontman Sir Paul McCartney has been living meat-free since 1975 but these days, the rock n roll legend is all-vegan.

His plant-based diet has powered him through his recent solo world tours where he performed two-and-a-half-hour shows featuring more than 30 songs.

The 77-year-old made a short documentary film with his daughters Mary and Stella McCartney which looked at the impact of animal agriculture on the planet. The film, which is called One Day a Week, also features vegan actors Emma Stone and Woody Harrelson and encourages people to reduce their consumption of meat. [If] we all join together in this effort, we can help improve the environment, reduce the negative impacts of climate change, and even improve peoples health,McCartney said.

He added, Through this campaign, I can say to people, Just try it and show that it can actually be quite fun when you look at what you do, what you eat, how you live and think, is this what Im gonna do for the rest of my life or would it be interesting to try making a change?

At the age of 17, American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish has taken the world by storm with hits like bad guy and bellyache. The musician went vegan around 2014. She wrote in a blog post that there werea lot of reasons for the lifestyle change, including the impact of dairy on health and animal welfare leave animals alone,she wrote.

In June, Eilish took to Instagram to urge people to think twice about the food on their plates. She shared undercover footage taken at Fair Oaks Farms, a facility in Indiana that supplies cows milk to dairy brand Fairlife. The expos, which said to be the largest undercover dairy investigation ever, showed farmworkers abusing calves.

If you can watch the videos that I just posted and not give a [expletive] that its YOU contributing by LITERALLY EATING the creatures that are being fully tortured just for your pleasure. I feel sorry for you, wrote to her 26.1 million followers.

I understand that meat tastes good and I know you think youre just one person and it wont change anything if you stop,Eilish continued.But thats ignorant and stupid.

Pop sensation Miley Cyrus went vegan in 2014, the same year she adopted a rescue pig named Bubba Sue.

By 2018, Cyrus had 16 animals living with her, including nearly 10 rescue dogs, one of whom, a beagle who was rescued from lab testing.

The musicians bond with her animals is a close one. She told Howard Stern in 2017 that her rescue pigs were stopping her from touring. Literally the only reason Im not touring is because of those [expletive] pigs. Thats how much I love those pigs,she said.

Cyrus has also been vocal about the need to save the planet. At the Tinderbox Festival in Odense, Denmark, the artist delivered a passionate speech about ocean pollution. I dont like that theres more [expletive] trash in the water than living [expletive] animals that deserve to be there, that have nowhere else to go, the She Is Coming artist said. And by the [expletive] way, we dont have anywhere to [expletive] go, either! Theres no planet B, so dont [expletive] up!

American rapper A$AP Rocky revealed his newly adopted vegan lifestyle in his latest single, Babushka Boi. He raps on the track, I aint ducking bullets either. Sh*t, I aint duck sauce since I became a vegan.

The musician became a pescatarian in 2011 and later stopped eating fish, too, telling Rolling Stone that eating meat-free helps him to clean my mind, body, and soul.

Animal welfare and health reasons were behind the change. He toldComplex in 2012, I started doing research and found out how they treat those animals before they, you know, service them. They inject them with steroids and drugs that enhance their growth. None of that sh*t is healthy, and on top of that those [expletive] animals were stressed and compressed the whole time, he said. That kind of food going into your body is unhealthy. I dont mean to sound like some weirdo, but it is what it is.

Will.i.am went vegan in 2017 after being diagnosed with high blood pressure and cholesterol. The change in diet helped the rapper lose 15 pounds and lower his cholesterol and blood pressure without medication. He also said it improved his nasal drip, energy levels, and acid reflux.

Will.i.am has since spoken out about the ethical side of plant-based living. If we didnt have these fancy utensils, would I have the ability to go up to a living creature and like, savagely kill it to eat it? Could I do that?he said in a video on his Instagram.

The Black Eyed Peas frontman said on a podcast with Arianna Huffington that going vegan changed my life.

Singer and dancer Ne-Yo was inspired to go vegan after watching What the Health. The 39-year-old said to Capital FM earlier this year, Initially, I watched the documentary What the Health, and to put it frankly, it p***ed me off. It really did, he said.I was like, let me get this straight: The person giving you the disease and the person fighting the disease are in bed together? To hell with yall.

The switch has paid off. I am loving it. I genuinely am. Its been about two years. More energy, my face clears up, weight falls off. I lost, like, 30 pounds!he said.

Ne-Yo is set to appear in Hungry for Justice, an upcoming documentary that explores the issue of food injustice, including food deserts, the link between diet and disease, and nutritional racism.

Sixty-year-old singer-songwriter Morrissey stopped eating meat at 11-years-old. As the frontman of The Smiths, Morrissey released the album Meat is Murder in 1985.

The musician hasnt been quiet about his lifestyle. He told Fiona Dodwell in an interview, I refuse to eat anything that had a mother, thats obvious.

Earlier this year, he began setting up booths at his concerts to collect petition signatures to urge winter clothing manufacturer Canada Goose to ditch down and coyote fur. Im writing to urge Canada Goose to act more like its namesake (e.g., smart, brave, and willing to fly off in a new direction) by making the bold ethical choice to remove coyote fur and down feathers from its parkas,the musician wrote in the petition, which will be delivered to Canada Gooses CEO Dani Reiss once the tour has ended.

Last year, Morrisseywrote a letter to the Irish Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine asking for a ban on fur farming in Ireland.

American rock singer Joan Jett has been meat-free since the 80s. The artist made the change for ethical reasons. Twenty years ago I thought: Whats the difference between eating a bloody steak and killing my dog, slitting him open and roasting him? Jett said to the Guardian in 2010. Ive always loved animals but it was around the late 80s that I realized I had to go vegetarian. A lot of things converged in my life then musically, emotionally but mainly it was my love of animals and spending so much time touring that made me decide I had to change my diet.

It was a change of pace for the frontwoman of the Runaways, who had grown up being a major carnivore. Now shes a major supporter of PETA, the largest animal rights group in the world. In a 2008 testimonial for the organization, Jett said, Cutting meat out of your diet is the best thing you can do for animals and your own health. Did you know its one of the best things you can do for the planet too?

When longtime vegetarian Ma went vegan, she experienced a world of benefits. She has since declared she is vegan for life. The R&B artist credits her plant-based diet for helping her beat anemia. I thought you had to have meat to have protein and get your iron, and thats just false information, she said in a video for PETA.

She explained that she no longer gets sick since ditching animal products and thanks her healthy diet for her clear skin and fountain of youth.

Its done wonders for my entire life.

American singer-songwriter Ariana Grande adopted a plant-based diet in 2013. She told the Mirror the following year, I love animals more than I love most people, not kidding.

But I am a firm believer in eating a full plant-based, whole food diet that can expand your life length and make you an all-round happier person, she said.

By 2017, Grande had adopted nine rescue dogs (one of whom, Toulouse, appeared in the music video for 7 Rings).

The entertainer has been spotted donning a faux fur coat by Marei 1998, a Tel Aviv-based luxury fashion brand.

Canadian musician Bryan Adams, the artist behind the 1985 hit Summer of 69, is a vocal supporter of the vegan movement. The singer-songwriter said last year that ditching animal products (and sugar) was the best thing I ever did for myself.

Adams frequently urges his fans to think twice about whats on their own plates (even his Instagram bio encourages people to go vegan). Earlier this year, he warned his fans to ignore meat industry propaganda, especially the myth that meat is needed for protein. In September he took a stand against whale hunting, saying theres no need to hunt the magnificent giants. He added, The future is recognizing that killing animals for food is [expletive] up the planet.

Jermaine Dupri has been vegan for more than 12 years. The American rapper first dipped his toes into plant-based eating by participating in a 25-day cleanse. The energy I had, the way I felt, I just tried to figure out at that point how could I keep this same feeling. People were like, well you should be vegan,'he said last year for a campaign that encouraged people to feel the beets, lose the meats, go vegan.

The vegan lifestyle, to me, is the best lifestyle. And I want to get the world into this, the Grammy Award-winner said.

Twenty-six-year-old singer-songwriter Gabrielle Aplin adopted a plant-based diet in 2014. Today, I embark on my fully vegan adventure. Trembling at the thought of no blue cheese. Or just no cheese at all. No. cheese. at. all, she wrote on Facebook.

But the British musician seems to be coping just fine. The Please Dont Say You Love Me singer now has her own vegan cooking show on YouTube called Food With Friends. The online series sees her whipping up dairy-free mac n cheese, eggless omelet, vegan Buffalo wings, and plant-based jackfruit tacos.

American musician Moby hasnt kept quiet about his animal rights activism and vegan lifestyle. The artist recently got a vegan for life tattoo on his neck. Ive been a vegan for almost 32 years, so getting this tattoo seemed like a pretty safe bet, he wrote on Instagram last month.

In 2018, Moby sold his personal record collection which featured more than 1,000 records and more than 100 pieces of music equipment and donated the money to PCRM, a non-profit research organization that promotes a plant-based diet for optimal health. The same year, he sold his house in New York which is worth $1,300,000 and donated a portion of the proceeds to his animal rights foundation.

Jason Mraz adopted a plant-based in 2011. The Im Yours artist wrote on his blog at the time that he felt stronger, fitter, healthier and more productive as a vegan. I ride longer distances on my bike, can do more pull-ups than ever, and my brain seems to have a larger capacity for new projects, problem-solving, songwriting, and fielding random questions, Mraz said.

My health and strength make me a better performer and all that combined gives me more confidence to go out in the world and shine my light. It also makes me a lot better in bed. Just sayin he added.

The musician also lives on a five-and-a-half acre avocado farm, which might be the most vegan thing about him.

Member of the Wu-Tang Clan RZA thinks veganism leads to a better tomorrow.

The American rapper was partly motivated by ethics to ditch animal products. He told PETA in 2014 that theres nothing on this planet that doesnt want to live.

Im quite sure [animals] do not wanna be on my plate When you eat [animal products] youre eating that stress, eating that sickness, eating that fear,he said, also adding, I dont need a dead animal or dead piece of flesh to go into my live body.

Last year, RZA launched his own vegan fashion line. The collection features shirts, jackets, CDs, hats, socks, and cruelty-free leather wallets.

American singer-songwriter Dawn Richard went vegan cold turkey following her fathers cancer diagnosis. Everything has changed for me and for the better, Richard commented, also saying that veganism is about more than just food, its a lifestyle.

She believes more people need to make the connection between whats on their plate and the animal their food was sourced from. People are forgetting that it starts with the animals and we have misused them as if they are not like us, she said. The mistreating of them, it comes into our food.

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Did You Know These 17 Musicians Are All Vegan?

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From A$ap Rocky to Billie Eilish the number of vegan musicians continues to rise as artists embrace a more compassionate and healthy lifestyle.

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Jemima Webber

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Did You Know These 17 Musicians Are All Vegan? - LIVEKINDLY

Last year we noticed the oat milk craze had hit North Texas, with Oatly flying off the shelves at supermarkets and being added to the alternative milk lineup at many local coffee shops. Since then, more oat milk options have popped up from big brands such as Silk, Pacific and Califia Farms.

And while oat milk is a favorite of baristas for the way it foams, just like regular cows milk, it also freezes well and makes a darn-good substitute for ice cream. Oatly, the Swedish brand that started it all, recently launched a line of frozen non-dairy desserts in flavors such as vanilla, strawberry, chocolate and salty caramel. Theyre made with an oat base, sugar, fully hydrogenated coconut oil, and emulsifiers and stabilizers. The texture is super thick and creamy, not chalky, and theres no weird aftertaste. Its 210 calories per serving, 11 g of fat, 2 g of protein and 18 g of sugar. Theyre available for $5.99 a pint at Whole Foods and Target.

Oatly also makes oatgurt," cream cheese-like spreads and whippable custards, but those are not yet available in the U.S. But were crossing our fingers.

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Oatly's new vegan oat milk 'ice cream' is now available in stores and it's almost as good as the real thing - The Dallas Morning News

Your vegan Full English awaits (Picture: Waitrose)

Vegans who miss bacon and want an alternative to satisfy old cravings may be interested in facon fake bacon.

Waitrose has launched its first own-label facon to cater to those on a plant-based diet.

You can now get your hands on smoky streaky slices made from seitan (which is made from gluten, the main protein of wheat).

Waitrose is hoping to encourage non-meat eaters to grab the stuff for a vegan fry-up or a facon sandwich.

The latest addition to the vegan has is said to have a rich earthy flavour and its been cured in maple syrup to add a hint of sweetness.

The move from Waitrose & Partners comes after an increase in demand for top-quality vegan products.

Waitrose reported that sales for the overall vegan category are up 35% compared to last year.

And specific searches for vegan bacon on Waitrose.com have seen a 94% increase.

So good news for anyone whos been looking for it, your reward awaits.

Other new additions to the vegan range include a mushroom & roasted garlic ravioli.

There will also be three new vegan ready meals: vegetable laksa noodles, Goan vegetable curry and a roasted butternut squash vegetable bowl Gill Sans.

Simona Cohen-Vida, vegan product developer at Waitrose & Partners said: Making delicious, innovative and great quality vegan products is a huge part of what we do.

Our vegan bacon strips have been carefully smoked to get a deep rich flavour and the spices used with the seitan makes them perfect for frying.

Try them in a sandwich with lashings of tomato sauce or pop them on top of your favourite vegan burger for the ultimate Friday night feast.

The vegan bacon streak should hopefully revolutionise the Full English. Because lets face it, some folks are getting vegan versions of the classic so, so wrong.

MORE: Vegans anger at replacing bacon with carrot in BLT Morrisons sandwiches

MORE: Banana peel could become new alternative to meat for vegans missing pulled pork or bacon

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Waitrose adds vegan bacon to its stores for the first time - Metro.co.uk

Jason Sattler, Opinion columnist Published 7:10 a.m. ET Oct. 16, 2019 | Updated 4:36 p.m. ET Oct. 16, 2019

Debate winners and losers, Warren on the defensive, and what we're watching for before the next Democratic debate. Hannah Gaber, USA TODAY

All 12leading Democratic candidates for president got a chance to demonstrate why they were able to meet the requirements to pack on the stage for the fourth debate Tuesday.

Sen.Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts stayed feisty and focused in her new role as front-runner.

Former Vice President Joe Biden was optimistic and self-congratulatory as he tried to win the John McCain name-dropping contest. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii confounded everyone by spreading the blame for the slaughter of the Kurds in northern Syria that Donald Trump invited to members of both parties. And Andrew Yang got to say lots of things as if no one had ever thought of them before.

But the winner of the night was older than the two youngest candidates on stage Gabbard, 38, and South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, 37 combined.

Vermont Sen.Bernie Sanders, 78, returned to the campaign trail after recovering from a heart attack to deliver his strongest debate performance of the campaign. He was lively, funny and persuasive. At onepoint, he even seemed to convince billionaire Tom Steyer that billionaires shouldnt exist.

Sanders also took on Bidens constant praise of bipartisanship and his pointed boast, I'm the only one on this stage that has gotten anything really big done.

The 2020 election is nearing and with that, comes the caucuses and primary elections. But whats the difference? Just the FAQs, USA TODAY

Joe, you talked about working with Republicans and getting things done, Sanders said. But you know what you also got done and I say this as a good friend you got the disastrous war in Iraq done. You got a bankruptcy bill, which is hurting middle-class families all over this country. You got trade agreements like NAFTA and PNTR (permanent normal trade relations)with China done, which have cost us 4 million jobs. Now, let's get to 'Medicare for All.' ... If we stood together, we could create the greatest health care system in the world.

A conservative's take: Winners and losers in the Democratic debate from columnist Glenn Harlan Reynolds

But Bernies biggest moment of the night didnt happen onstage. In the closing minutes of the debate, news broke that one of the brightest young stars on Americas left, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York,will endorse the 2016 Democratic primary runner-up this weekend.

This gives the democratic socialist from Vermont the chance to break the momentum of Warrens steady rise in the polls, though he notably hasnt taken a shot at the senator from Massachusetts on the debate stage yet. Instead, he sided with her several times as she was cornered, echoing her arguments for systemic change.

The format of the debate flowed much better than the previous three. Its unclear whetherthiswas because the moderators allowed the candidates more air to answer and rebut each other, or because self-help guru Marianne Williamson wasnt on the stage. Whatever it is, they should do more of it.

While there are still miles to go before anyone actually votes for a nominee, the race for the chance to oppose Trump will likely remain a tossup amongSanders, Warren and Biden. This is mostly because the rest of the candidates have done a better job of canceling each other out than breaking through.

While the debates have led to some blips in the polls most notably for Sen.Kamala Harris of California after the second debate the crowded stage format has the effect of blurring candidates together, especially since every debate seems to rehash the same Medicare for All contentions over and over until even Sanders seems a little bored by the fray.

Another huge winner of the night was impeachment, which is now polling50%.

Every candidate on stage backs the inquiry in the House, and no candidate showed any willingness to echo the attacks on Hunter Biden that Trump pressured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky into trumping up.

Unfortunately, the biggest loser of the night was human civilization.

While there was a question about Ellen DeGeneres defense of her kindness to former president and torture purveyor George W. Bush, there wasnt one question about climate change. Future generations will have to be satisfiedknowing that we were much too busy worrying about rich people getting along in luxury boxes to stop the planet from boiling.

Jason Sattler, a writer based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is a member of USA TODAYs Board of Contributors and host of "The GOTMFV Show" podcast. Follow him on Twitter:@LOLGOP

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Bernie Sanders is big Democratic debate winner, and only partly due to his performance - USA TODAY

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 30: Ali Wong attends The Hollywood Reporter's Empowerment in Entertainment event 2019 at Milk Studios on April 30, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images)

Ali Wong, the actress, writer and stand-up comedian known for her two Netflix comedy specials Baby Cobra and Hard Knock Wife, publishes her debut memoir Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets & Advice For Living Your Best Life, a chronicle of her life as an up-and-coming comic. Wong constantly gives advice in her stand-up routines and she instructs women to bring diapers (for themselves) to the hospital when theyre about to deliver a baby and to read self-help books if they feel like theyre a bad person, but now she has written down her advice in the form of a series of letters to her two daughters that make up her new book. Wong gives a large range of advice and covers numerous topics, and she gives a fair bit of career advice to aspiring stand-up comedians that can apply to any career. Below are five pieces of career advice she gives in her new book Dear Girls:

Fear Can Be A Good Motivator

Wong signed a prenuptial agreement before she married her husband, she says her in-laws insisted, and writes what they mean is, We still dont trust that b****. If she failed at stand-up and got divorced, she was basically left with nothing. She knew then she never wanted to rely on her husband to be the only source of income for their family. Wong writes, I was very motivated to make my own money because I signed a document specifically outlining how much I couldnt depend on my husband. My father always praised the gift of fear and that prenup scared the s*** out of me. In the end, being forced to sign that prenup was one of the greatest things that ever happened to me and my career.

You Have To Want It

Wong has a theory for why stand-up comedy doesnt appeal to women: safety. She points to the alone time, and when she is on the road, the number of times a day she has to share a car with strangers, for women it increases the odds of harassment, assault, etc. exponentially. She discusses how she walks through parking lots after shows late at night with keys between her fingers and sleeps in cheap, unsafe motel roomsits not a glamorous life. You gotta want it really bad to constantly put yourself in those situations, writes Wong. You have to really love stand-up and embrace every s***** thing that comes with it.

Its Important To Fail & Enjoy It

No one is born a great stand-up comedian, or born great at anything really. People become great by trying and failing consistently, improving on those failures and not losing enthusiasm for the work. Nobody is great at stand-up comedy right away and its important to have room to experiment, find your voice and, most important, to fail, writes Wong. In stand-up comedy failing on stage is called bombing, and Wong relishes it. She believes aspiring comedians must love bombing in order to be a great comic. I think all you need to be a good stand-up is to have a unique point of view, be funny, and enjoy bombing in front of strangers. You really do have to learn to like bombing a lot.

Dont Take A Class, Do The Work

Wong writes that if you want to be a stand-up the one thing you should not do is take a stand-up class, she calls them hacky, and says its a widely held view in the stand-up comedy community. If you want to learn how to do stand-up comedy, you have to do stand-up: go out to small, gritty comedy clubs, try new material, bomb, then get up and do it again.

Doing the open-mic circuit is real stand-up comedy class. Thats when you really find out if you have the strength and stamina to make a real audience laugh. The audiences for those stand-up comedy class shows are made up of friends and family of the students in the class. Its not a real audience. Those laughs arent genuine. Those classes are a sham because theyre too safe and nobody will respect you if they ever learn you took them.

Move Away From Home

At several points in the book, from when she moves to college, to studying abroad, traveling after college to when she moves to New York to do stand-up, Wong champions leaving the nest and seeing the world. Not only to learn about the world, but to understand who you are outside of your family. At some point you gotta go. Mama loves you but its important to get out of your hometown and get the f*** away from your familyWhen I got away from them, I finally felt like I could be the person I was meant to be, she writes.

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5 Pieces Of Career Advice From Comedian Ali Wongs New Book Dear Girls - Forbes

I was in a small, unfussy coffee shop close to my cottage in rural Nova Scotia when I saw the poster advertising a womens empowerment retreat at a rustic lodge on the shores of the warm Northumberland Strait.

Ive become increasingly curious about the growing interest in new-age spiritualism, and in particular, how women are seemingly using it as a way to address chronic dissatisfaction. Without knowing exactly what I would get out of it I contacted the retreat organizers to ask if I could attend the weekends events. Two weeks later I was sitting in a chair with my eyes closed in the middle of a log-walled room. Around me, dozens of women circled, taking turns whispering affirmations into my ear: You are brave. You are loved. You are special. Even as I rolled my eyes, I felt myself start to cry.

Oh god, I thought. Its working.

I felt simultaneously defeated and relieved.

The retreat, called I Am Worth It, was hosted by three wellness practitioners: a healing touch specialist, a reflexology therapist, and a naturopathic doctor. In addition to healthy meals, beach walks, and yoga, there were guided sessions that addressed letting go of past hurt, setting intentions, prioritizing self-care, and harnessing energy centers. It costs around $333 per person to attend. The duration of the retreat is two days. Rooms were shared.

Over the course of the two days, from early morning until well into the evening, women shared stories, exhaled a lot, dabbed their eyes with tissues, and formed a drumming circle under the full moon. Throughout we received advice from the practitioners, intended to help budge participants out of a rut once they returned home: make sure to get out into nature, light some scented candles while soaking in a deep tub, observe your chakras, and tell your mirrored reflection youre beautiful over and over until you start to believe it. We whispered affirmations in each others ears. At some point the naturopath explained that she tells clients, Were not going to talk about weight loss, but about how your parents treated you when you were little.

It was a rollercoaster of practical and obscure, out-there woo woo nonsense and disarmingly astute observation.

Wellness retreats are nothing new. Since the 2nd century B.C. and its Roman baths, people have fled to spas and health-minded resorts in an attempt to feel better. These early incarnations eventually evolved into the spa model of Golden Door in San Marcos, California, and Canyon Ranch in Tucson, Arizona, both of which offered opulent surroundings coupled with rigorous training geared toward weight loss and physical transformation. By the mid 2000s yoga retreats filled up Instagram feeds with photos of virtuous-looking activities, sun salutations on the beach, and fit people inhaling huge amounts of avocado.

And todays retreat culture has moved past the lose weight, feel great mentality, beyond a week of yoga and vegan meals in Puerto Vallarta, and squarely into the realm of self-empowerment.

These new retreat goers arent focused on losing weight, rehabbing, or escaping their problems. Theyre packing their emotional baggage and heading to places like Renew Breakup Bootcamp in upstate New York, a broken-heart retreat that helps women address subconscious patterns that keep them from the love they really deserve. At a Purpose in Paris retreat, participants cast negative self-talk into the Seine and make self-worth vows at the iconic lovelock bridge. In Miami, there are vision-boarding and manifesting retreats to help pinpoint limiting beliefs and evict the resident shit-talker living in your head. And one Costa Rica retreat combines self-defense, mindfulness, and self-care with the promise that your inner warrior princess is waiting to be unleashed into the world.

I believe people are understanding their need to turn focus inward and shine a light on the dark parts of themselves that maybe they weren't willing to face before, says Jennifer Sembler, whose Yemanya Travel company offers retreats for women with a 360-degree approach to mind, body, and spirit, including hiking, meditation, and life coaching sessions. This search for inner peace and truth is one of the driving forces behind this retreat movement, she says.

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Women's Retreats Are Changing Their Message From Weight Loss to Self-Empowerment - Bon Appetit

You only live once, but readers, in that one life, gain the wisdom of thousands. When you are reading a great book, you imagine yourself in that place the writer described as a little piece of heaven. You feel happiness, sadness, excitement and nerve-wracking anxiety all at once as you turn the pages of your favorite book.

A good read flushes adrenaline in veins and keeps one sane but some classic self-help books have something more to offer; they give you an insight to thoughtfulness, a thrill of creativity, imagination and personal growth as well. They light up your brain and help you grow morally, intellectually and physically with their nature of timelessness, universality and resonance with the reader.

From my personal to-read list, here is a list of 5 classic self-help books you wouldnt want to miss reading.

Note: You can read these books for free on BookMigo app or from a free online repository of classic books, Project Gutenberg.

Theme: Self-Mastery

This autobiography is the masterpiece to take inspiration, and, to actualize that inspiration. Fairly every page in this book is motivational enough to light the spark of chasing seemingly unachievable goals and leaving no stone unturned to achieve those goals.

The theme of this classical piece is mastery and the storyline is based on real events of Ben Franklin; a little boy born in a poor family of 17 children with limited resources. However, nothing came in his way of quest for knowledge and hustle for curiosity, which made him one of the most influential people. This is a real story of passion, combined with hard work and persistence.

Here is a chunk from his book showing how fond he was of reading despite having no resources:

I had such a thirst for knowledge, more proper books had not fallen in my way So, he proposed to his brother to be paid for him boarding. .. I could save half what he paid me. This was an additional fund for buying books

Theme: Self-Preservation

If wisdom and wit appeal to you, you must give a read to this ever-living classical novel, with self-preservation theme; The Prince.

Written originally in the Italian language, this bestseller is much more than a simple practical guide on how-to-rule, or (on a lighter note) a satire on how-not-to-rule.

In this classical hit, Machievalli tucks the diverse historical era into the words of wisdom by analyzing the reign of great rulers and criticizing their mistakes which caused their downfall. The universality of what he preaches to be a good ruler are yet synonymous with being a good leader, from which you can learn a great deal.

One of my very favourite passages from this classic novel is of chapter XVII: Cruelty and Clemency, and whether it is better to be Loved or Feared in which Machievalli writes:

and he must proceed in a temperate manner with prudence and humanity, so that too much confidence does not render him incautious, and too much diffidence does not render him intolerant

Theme: The Good Life

One of its own kind, this classic book Meditation is certainly a piece of literature that brings positive energy to you, the energy you might not even know already existed in you.

This book, based on the theme of good life, originally was not meant to be published, rather it was a collection of self-correction and continual-betterment thoughts of Aurelius. More of an assemblage of philosophical ideas, private thoughts and alleviating exercises to stay humble, empathetic, motivated, patient and generous.

Here is a beautiful piece of his writings:

If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.

Written years ago, this book still resonates with thousands of readers as the insights, based on stoicism philosophy, are practical, calming and life changing as the witty comprehensiveness is hypnotic enough to bring the best out of yourself, to channel the positive thoughts and to make your life happier and satisfying.

Theme: Solitude

The idea of wandering in the land of nature, all by yourself, exploring wildlife and embracing deep thoughts is fascinating. This is what is reflected in this classic book, Walden Pond, written by Thoreau, based on the theme, solitude, with main focus on individualism. It revolves around the idea of sufficiency of a man, himself, to survive and most importantly to be happy.

You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment. Fools stand on their island opportunities and look toward another land. There is no other land, there is no other life but this.

The love of nature, self-conscious thoughts and strength of ones self is what we all are deep down missing in this racing world of technology, despite being happy superficially. This book is an insight, in fact a reminder for us to start cherishing the little moments, the small things and the few resources we have, and trust in the self power.

Theme:Discipline

Ideas, hard work, discipline, faith, consistency, good morals and disregard of competition is what this classical book is full of and we have a lot to learn from it.

Based on the theme of discipline, this autobiography of Henry Ford is not a lifestyle but the mindset we need to get motivation from. Written beautifully, it is the story of an assiduous man, Ford, who changed the world by his vision and hard work and still always preferred public benefit more than his own profit. Reading this book will give you chuckles and loads of inspiration.

Heres a passage from this everlasting classical hit:

I will build a car for the great multitude. It will be large enough for the family, but small enough for the individual to run and care for. It will be constructed of the best materials, by the best men to be hired, after the simplest designs that modern engineering can devise. But it will be so low in price that no man making a good salary will be unable to own one

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Five Wisdom-filled Classic Books You Should Not Miss Reading - Thrive Global

Cathi Kims office is just a few blocks from Wall Street, but she isnt managing investment capital like most of her neighboring investment managers are. Shes putting money exclusively into credit unions that are doing community development work in some of the hardest places to do community development, places that mainstream banks have long neglected.

Kim pitches to some of the same investors Wall Street financial firms do, like foundations and insurance companies, but her portfolio at Inclusiv (formerly the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions) includes 24 credit unions, such as Hope Credit Union based in Jackson, Mississippi, and the Self-Help family of credit unions based in Durham, North Carolina.

These investments, known as secondary capital in credit union parlance, arent about taking over credit unions. Rather the money helps credit unions grow larger, and faster, than they would be able to grow without it. Hope Credit Union had seven branches before the Great Recession, and now has more than 30 locations across the Deep South, from Jackson and the Mississippi Delta to Memphis, Tennessee, to Little Rock, Arkansas, to New Orleans. This past summer Hope opened its second branch in Montgomery, Alabama. Meanwhile, over the past decade Self-Help has expanded outside North Carolina to six other states including California.

In September, Inclusiv launched the Southern Equity Fund, with the goal to double down and reach even deeper into the South, the poorest part of the United States. Inclusiv has raised around $45 million in capital so far for the new fund.

When you look at where the deeper pockets of persistent poverty counties are, and where we see this very tragic and complicated story of racial wealth gaps, we couldnt deny that theres this huge pattern, its concentrated in the South, Kim says.

More than a third of Inclusivs credit union members are already in the 17 states it defines as the South. But secondary capital investment remains largely concentrated in Hope and Self-Help. Those two credit unions alone account for a majority of all secondary capital invested in credit unions across the country, based on data from the National Credit Union Administration, the federal regulatory agency and deposit insurance provider for credit unions. With the Southern Equity Fund, one of Inclusivs goals is to bring more of its members into its secondary capital investment portfolio.

There are less than 100 credit unions currently in the country that have secondary capital, but we know far more are able to leverage it successfully, Kim says.

Secondary capital isnt for every credit union. First of all, its only available to those certified by the National Credit Union Administration as a low-income designated credit union meaning at least half the members come from low-income households.

It is an unfortunate reality of where our country is that almost half of all credit unions in this country are now low-income designated, Kim says.

In addition, secondary capital investments require prior approval from credit union regulators, including the National Credit Union Administration at the federal level and also a state regulator if the credit union is state-chartered. To obtain regulatory approval, eligible low-income designated credit unions submit a business plan showing how they will use the external investment to reach new members through new strategies, new branches, new products, or some combination of all the above. Thats often where Inclusiv can help, using its decades of experience making secondary capital investments in credit unions across the country.

Inclusiv has found secondary capital only really works when the credit union is already doing at least some of the groundwork required to reach deeper and further into communities that remain largely disconnected from the mainstream financial system.

Earlier this year, Inclusiv made a $2 million secondary capital investment in Park Community Credit Union, the fourth largest credit union in Kentucky. It was the credit unions first-ever secondary capital investment, and it illustrates the kind of groundwork that Inclusiv really looks for in potential candidates for secondary capital.

They were already doing the work, says Kim.

Park Community Credit Union was chartered by the state of Kentucky in 1955, originally serving as the credit union for employees of the General Electric Appliance Assembly Park in Louisville, Kentucky. It has since expanded its charter to serve the geographic areas of the Louisville metro area, southern Indiana and the Lexington area. With nearly a billion dollars in assets, Park Community is already the fourth largest credit union in Kentucky. But a few years ago its leadership and board who have always been predominantly white realized that they werent reaching certain parts of their region.

We saw that we are deficient in reaching out to some of these neighborhoods, especially the ones to be honest with you that we might have had some ignorance about as far as the prejudice, racial redlining, some of the things thats occurred historically, says David Shadburne, executive vice president at Park Community Credit Union.

Specifically, the credit union realized it wasnt reaching the nine predominantly black neighborhoods of Louisvilles West End the childhood home of Muhammad Ali which has historically been redlined and denied the same access to home mortgage lending and small business lending as white neighborhoods.

When you go into these communities where promises have been made and not been kept, you have to sit there and you have to listen, and you have to learn. You have to go in with a humble attitude and listen to the problems people are encountering every day, Shadburne says. Theyre problems I might not understand or have had to experience in my lifetime because I have privilege that others dont.

Park Community Credit Union is trying to back up conversations with action. For example, the credit union wanted to make a commitment to provide home mortgages that would meet the needs of current West End residents and help keep them in place. They decided to lower their credit score threshold for a home mortgage to 585, the lowest in the city. Then they figured out a way to offer the mortgages without requiring private mortgage insurance which can be a prohibitive cost barrier in Louisvilles West End because the number of vacant lots or abandoned houses makes these neighborhoods look like riskier investments requiring more costly private mortgage insurance policies.

Initially Park Community was going to offer these mortgages with adjustable interest rates until a conversation with local stakeholders convinced them to offer them at fixed interest rates instead.

One of those local stakeholders was Russell: A Place of Promise, a joint effort by the city of Louisville and the national nonprofit Cities United, co-led by Anthony Smith, who has been working for 25 years in community development, most of it focused in Louisvilles West End.

I dont know of any other credit unions or banks in my world, [who] have come out and made these relationships with folks who are not their members yet but theyre hoping they will be, says Smith. When we think about Park, their commitment, talking to them, they keep figuring out how to make this better. Theyve been just a key partner as an institution.

The credit union ended up making a public commitment to $7.5 million in home mortgages to families in the Russell neighborhood and its already met $1 million of that commitment, Shadburne says.

As part of its strategic growth into the West End, Park Community Credit Union also began offering commercial micro loans, up to $10,000, at just 3.99 percent interest, for small businesses looking to start up or expand. If the small business repays the loan on time, the credit union refunds the interest to the borrower. The credit union also began offering a new payday-loan alternative product that is already up to $1.5 million in outstanding loans, according to Shadburne.

The secondary capital investment from Inclusiv has allowed the Park Community Credit Union to be even more responsive to community needs than it might have been otherwise.

Without the secondary capital we wouldnt be able to have some of these innovative products. We would not be able to have the same magnitude of impact or go as quickly into some of these areas, Shadburne says. Were already talking about more secondary capital thats going to allow us to go deeper, farther into these areas.

Besides a bit of a cash cushion up front to go out and experiment with new products or new markets, the secondary capital also helps the credit union overcome the hidden barrier of regulatory oversight that often keeps mainstream financial institutions away from historically redlined neighborhoods because regulators believe those areas are too risky even if the financial institution is willing to take on the risk.

Secondary capital helps you to overcome some of the concerns that regulators have that goes back to some historic bias, Shadburne says. In a lot of cases, the history has sort of built on itself to cause some of the issues we have today.

Oscar is Next City's senior economics correspondent. He previously served asNext Citys editor from2018-2019, and was a Next City Equitable Cities Fellow from 2015-2016. Since 2011, Oscar has covered community development finance,community banking, impact investing, economic development, housingand more for media outlets suchas Shelterforce, B Magazine, Impact Alpha, and Fast Company.

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New Credit Union Fund to Boost Outreach in the South's Historically Redlined Neighborhoods - Next City