The One Step Team
With well over 150 years of combined experience, One Step’s team remains Committed to helping as many animals as possible.
Anne Green, PhD, Co-Founder and Executive Director
Anne (left) is a long-time advocate for animals, starting as Outreach Coordinator for Students for Animal Rights in 1992 (please also see this). Anne was also Vegan Outreach’s founding Vice-President in 1993. While a Teaching Professor at Carnegie Mellon University, Anne’s salary underwrote that organization’s first years and allowed the group to become established.
During her tenure at Carnegie Mellon, Dr. Green published widely, was elected President of the American Association of Teachers of German, and received her college’s top award for excellence in teaching.
In 2007, she left academia to work full-time for the animals as Vegan Outreach’s Director of Development and Programs. Her efforts helped increase VO’s income more than 2.5 times and expand the Adopt a College program to reach nearly one million students in 2013's Fall semester. The next year, she co-founded One Step for Animals.
In 2023, Anne co-founded One Step for Activists. She has also worked for various other nonprofits, including Our Hen House and GFI. In addition to leading One Step for Animals, she works part-time with special needs students in the local school district.
When she’s not eating them, Anne enjoys learning about and growing plants, especially those of Tucson's Sonoran Desert.
EK Green, PhD, Director of Analysis
Dr. EK Green (above right), is an economist at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation. They are a graduate of Pomona College with a degree in Molecular Biology with an emphasis on Public Policy. EK also has a Masters and and a PhD in Economics, having previously spent two years at the Science and Technology Policy Institute in DC.
Anne (left) is a long-time advocate for animals, starting as Outreach Coordinator for Students for Animal Rights in 1992 (please also see this). Anne was also Vegan Outreach’s founding Vice-President in 1993. While a Teaching Professor at Carnegie Mellon University, Anne’s salary underwrote that organization’s first years and allowed the group to become established.
During her tenure at Carnegie Mellon, Dr. Green published widely, was elected President of the American Association of Teachers of German, and received her college’s top award for excellence in teaching.
In 2007, she left academia to work full-time for the animals as Vegan Outreach’s Director of Development and Programs. Her efforts helped increase VO’s income more than 2.5 times and expand the Adopt a College program to reach nearly one million students in 2013's Fall semester. The next year, she co-founded One Step for Animals.
In 2023, Anne co-founded One Step for Activists. She has also worked for various other nonprofits, including Our Hen House and GFI. In addition to leading One Step for Animals, she works part-time with special needs students in the local school district.
When she’s not eating them, Anne enjoys learning about and growing plants, especially those of Tucson's Sonoran Desert.
EK Green, PhD, Director of Analysis
Dr. EK Green (above right), is an economist at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation. They are a graduate of Pomona College with a degree in Molecular Biology with an emphasis on Public Policy. EK also has a Masters and and a PhD in Economics, having previously spent two years at the Science and Technology Policy Institute in DC.
Matt Ball, Co-Founder and President
For decades, Matt has been a globally-recognized authority on animal advocacy, factory farming, vegetarian diets, and applied ethics. Matt has been Director for Engagement and Outreach for Farm Sanctuary, as well as Senior Advisor for VegFund. In 1993, he co-founded a vegan advocacy organization, serving as the group’s Executive Director for more than 20 years. Matt’s vision and experience built the organization into a leading animal advocacy charity, with many thousands of active members around the world. In 2005, he was inducted into the Animal Rights Hall of Fame.
Matt has presented at and written for diverse forums over the past two decades. He is the author of many essays and several books, including The Animal Activist’s Handbook (2007) and The Accidental Activist (2014). The most recent is 2022's memoir+essays, Losing My Religions. Please also see this 2015 article.
Before working full-time to reduce suffering, Matt was a Research Fellow in the Department of Biology at the University of Pittsburgh while working on a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. Prior to that, Matt was a Department of Energy Global Change Fellow, during which time he earned an M.S. in Engineering and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University and an M.S. in the Department of Forest Ecology at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
For decades, Matt has been a globally-recognized authority on animal advocacy, factory farming, vegetarian diets, and applied ethics. Matt has been Director for Engagement and Outreach for Farm Sanctuary, as well as Senior Advisor for VegFund. In 1993, he co-founded a vegan advocacy organization, serving as the group’s Executive Director for more than 20 years. Matt’s vision and experience built the organization into a leading animal advocacy charity, with many thousands of active members around the world. In 2005, he was inducted into the Animal Rights Hall of Fame.
Matt has presented at and written for diverse forums over the past two decades. He is the author of many essays and several books, including The Animal Activist’s Handbook (2007) and The Accidental Activist (2014). The most recent is 2022's memoir+essays, Losing My Religions. Please also see this 2015 article.
Before working full-time to reduce suffering, Matt was a Research Fellow in the Department of Biology at the University of Pittsburgh while working on a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. Prior to that, Matt was a Department of Energy Global Change Fellow, during which time he earned an M.S. in Engineering and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University and an M.S. in the Department of Forest Ecology at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Joe Espinosa, Co-Founder
From his Unsung Hero award:
When Joe Espinosa discovered the hidden truth about farmed animals 20+ years ago, not only did he change his diet, he immediately became an activist.
No one has been seriously leafleting for the animals longer than Joe. Even before the formation of groups that promote leafleting, he was out in public, being a voice for the voiceless. In addition to his grueling social worker job, Joe has advocated for the animals without pause. In 2014, the year One Step was founded, he reached the milestone of having handed 500,000 people pro-animal booklets. [He's continued leafleting for animals to this day.]
“Total dedication to the animals” seems to apply to thousands, but, at the deepest levels, is not as common as one might think.
We are social animals, of course, and almost can’t help but crave the approval of others. We want our personal beliefs validated and we want to be popular — these desires are almost irresistible. The new, the "cool," the celebrated and crowd-pleasing all pull us, consciously and not. For most of us, these cravings shape our advocacy, tugging us toward actions that gain the approval of other activists, rather than what is the absolute best for reaching new people and getting them to take the first step on the journey of helping animals.
Joe has resisted the siren song of the popular, overcoming the yearning for approval. His dedication is unwavering, his vision unclouded: the animals are the bottom line, period. He is a true hero who has accomplished far more than any of us know or can adequately appreciate.
From his Unsung Hero award:
When Joe Espinosa discovered the hidden truth about farmed animals 20+ years ago, not only did he change his diet, he immediately became an activist.
No one has been seriously leafleting for the animals longer than Joe. Even before the formation of groups that promote leafleting, he was out in public, being a voice for the voiceless. In addition to his grueling social worker job, Joe has advocated for the animals without pause. In 2014, the year One Step was founded, he reached the milestone of having handed 500,000 people pro-animal booklets. [He's continued leafleting for animals to this day.]
“Total dedication to the animals” seems to apply to thousands, but, at the deepest levels, is not as common as one might think.
We are social animals, of course, and almost can’t help but crave the approval of others. We want our personal beliefs validated and we want to be popular — these desires are almost irresistible. The new, the "cool," the celebrated and crowd-pleasing all pull us, consciously and not. For most of us, these cravings shape our advocacy, tugging us toward actions that gain the approval of other activists, rather than what is the absolute best for reaching new people and getting them to take the first step on the journey of helping animals.
Joe has resisted the siren song of the popular, overcoming the yearning for approval. His dedication is unwavering, his vision unclouded: the animals are the bottom line, period. He is a true hero who has accomplished far more than any of us know or can adequately appreciate.
Kari Nienstedt, CVA, Board of Directors
Kari has been actively involved in animal protection issues since 1993. Her passion for protecting farm animals led her to the role of campaign manager for the successful 2006 state-wide ballot initiative in Arizona that banned the use of veal crates for calves and gestation crates for pregnant pigs. Following that campaign, she was hired as the Arizona State Director for the Humane Society of the United States. She served in that position from 2007–2014, addressing a wide variety of animal issues across the state. In 2014, she transitioned to managing a national program at HSUS that engaged volunteers and donors, building more robust volunteer and impactful opportunities. To further that goal, she attained her Certification in Volunteer Administration in 2021.
Kari is currently the Senior Director of Volunteer Outreach and Engagement at HSUS, responsible for developing and improving the structure for engaging volunteers, as well as expanding the volunteer programs across the HSUS family of organizations. Throughout her professional career, Kari has continued with her own volunteer work, including a current role on the board of directors for Wildlife Impact, a nonprofit organization working to advance wildlife conservation and welfare in developing countries. Adding a role on the board of One Step for Animals gives Kari the opportunity to go back to her roots – working to reduce the suffering of farm animals.
Kari is a life-long resident of Phoenix, Arizona. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, sci-fi books and movies, and traveling internationally.
Kari has been actively involved in animal protection issues since 1993. Her passion for protecting farm animals led her to the role of campaign manager for the successful 2006 state-wide ballot initiative in Arizona that banned the use of veal crates for calves and gestation crates for pregnant pigs. Following that campaign, she was hired as the Arizona State Director for the Humane Society of the United States. She served in that position from 2007–2014, addressing a wide variety of animal issues across the state. In 2014, she transitioned to managing a national program at HSUS that engaged volunteers and donors, building more robust volunteer and impactful opportunities. To further that goal, she attained her Certification in Volunteer Administration in 2021.
Kari is currently the Senior Director of Volunteer Outreach and Engagement at HSUS, responsible for developing and improving the structure for engaging volunteers, as well as expanding the volunteer programs across the HSUS family of organizations. Throughout her professional career, Kari has continued with her own volunteer work, including a current role on the board of directors for Wildlife Impact, a nonprofit organization working to advance wildlife conservation and welfare in developing countries. Adding a role on the board of One Step for Animals gives Kari the opportunity to go back to her roots – working to reduce the suffering of farm animals.
Kari is a life-long resident of Phoenix, Arizona. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, sci-fi books and movies, and traveling internationally.
Dan Kuzma, Board of Directors
“When I was just 16 years old, I would have never expected myself to make a significant change, such as what foods I consumed. When I did, it wasn't based on health reasons, but was solely due to the fact that I could not stomach what was happening to animals on factory farms when I finally learned what was happening to them.
“Growing up, I didn't eat vegetables and wasn't too keen on beef or pork, so my previous diet in my teenage years consisted mostly of chicken and fish, you know, the 'healthier' meats. But when I eliminated meat, eggs, and dairy, I ended up adding so many more awesome foods to my diet. A couple months after my transition, I became an advocate for the animals in my high school. The advocacy continued throughout my college career, and currently I still leaflet and give talks when I have a break from managing a college recycling program and teaching Environmental Science part-time. In my free time, which I highly value, I do make time to explore and travel. My favorite hobbies are running long distances (marathons and beyond), backpacking, gardening, and spending time with my wife [Mandy], family, and friends doing many of those things.”
“When I was just 16 years old, I would have never expected myself to make a significant change, such as what foods I consumed. When I did, it wasn't based on health reasons, but was solely due to the fact that I could not stomach what was happening to animals on factory farms when I finally learned what was happening to them.
“Growing up, I didn't eat vegetables and wasn't too keen on beef or pork, so my previous diet in my teenage years consisted mostly of chicken and fish, you know, the 'healthier' meats. But when I eliminated meat, eggs, and dairy, I ended up adding so many more awesome foods to my diet. A couple months after my transition, I became an advocate for the animals in my high school. The advocacy continued throughout my college career, and currently I still leaflet and give talks when I have a break from managing a college recycling program and teaching Environmental Science part-time. In my free time, which I highly value, I do make time to explore and travel. My favorite hobbies are running long distances (marathons and beyond), backpacking, gardening, and spending time with my wife [Mandy], family, and friends doing many of those things.”
Mandy Tucker, Designer
“I have loved animals all of my life, but one day as a teenager it dawned on me that I was eating some of those very same animals that I loved, and that they were treated so cruelly. I could not support this, so I decided that I was going to stop eating meat. A couple years later I ditched eggs and dairy, and 16 years from that point on I have not looked back. I became an advocate in college in between working full-time and taking full-time classes. I actually met my husband [Dan] while leafleting, and since then we have leafleted many times together. I am a graphic designer, taking on many freelance projects across the United States [e.g., the cover of this book], and I also work in the Marketing department as a graphic designer with The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County. I don't necessarily like to be sitting still for very long, so in my free time you can find me paddle boarding, running, hiking, biking, roller skating (I played roller derby for 6 years!), and hanging out and traveling with my husband.”
“I have loved animals all of my life, but one day as a teenager it dawned on me that I was eating some of those very same animals that I loved, and that they were treated so cruelly. I could not support this, so I decided that I was going to stop eating meat. A couple years later I ditched eggs and dairy, and 16 years from that point on I have not looked back. I became an advocate in college in between working full-time and taking full-time classes. I actually met my husband [Dan] while leafleting, and since then we have leafleted many times together. I am a graphic designer, taking on many freelance projects across the United States [e.g., the cover of this book], and I also work in the Marketing department as a graphic designer with The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County. I don't necessarily like to be sitting still for very long, so in my free time you can find me paddle boarding, running, hiking, biking, roller skating (I played roller derby for 6 years!), and hanging out and traveling with my husband.”
Michelle Cehn, Videographer
“I'm on a mission to change the world, one video at a time. My goal is to help people align their actions with their values, and to provide inspiration and support to help make lifestyle changes easy and fun.
“I'm driven by compassion for animals and a passion for vegan food, photography, video journalism, social media, and creative activism. I have been creating bite-sized videos for many years now. Going forward, I want to help my fellow earthlings thrive, celebrate everyone's kind choices, and do even more to help animals.”
“I'm on a mission to change the world, one video at a time. My goal is to help people align their actions with their values, and to provide inspiration and support to help make lifestyle changes easy and fun.
“I'm driven by compassion for animals and a passion for vegan food, photography, video journalism, social media, and creative activism. I have been creating bite-sized videos for many years now. Going forward, I want to help my fellow earthlings thrive, celebrate everyone's kind choices, and do even more to help animals.”
Cathy Berlot, Advisor and Former Board Member
Cathy is “honored and excited to be part of such an experienced, wise, and effective group of animal activists.” She became aware of the vast suffering endured by animals used for food when she moved to rural Pennsylvania, where she observed their living conditions first hand during her runs in the countryside. This awakening is described in her first animal-related publication, “Striving for Peace in Every Step,” a chapter in Running, Eating, Thinking, edited by Martin Rowe. After reading up on animal agriculture, deciding to change her diet, and attending animal rights and protection conferences, she initiated her animal activism by hosting and leafleting with activists, and by providing financial support to worthy nonprofits like One Step for Animals. After living for 13 years in the environment that forever changed her views on eating, suffering, empathy, and justice, she, her spouse, and 11 primarily vegan rescued cats moved to Portland, Oregon, where she connected with the local animal activist community, including PDX Veg, to bring about meaningful changes for animals.
Cathy is “honored and excited to be part of such an experienced, wise, and effective group of animal activists.” She became aware of the vast suffering endured by animals used for food when she moved to rural Pennsylvania, where she observed their living conditions first hand during her runs in the countryside. This awakening is described in her first animal-related publication, “Striving for Peace in Every Step,” a chapter in Running, Eating, Thinking, edited by Martin Rowe. After reading up on animal agriculture, deciding to change her diet, and attending animal rights and protection conferences, she initiated her animal activism by hosting and leafleting with activists, and by providing financial support to worthy nonprofits like One Step for Animals. After living for 13 years in the environment that forever changed her views on eating, suffering, empathy, and justice, she, her spouse, and 11 primarily vegan rescued cats moved to Portland, Oregon, where she connected with the local animal activist community, including PDX Veg, to bring about meaningful changes for animals.
Peter Singer, Advisor
From his [earlier] Wikipedia page: Professor Singer is [Emeritus] Ira W. DeCamp Professor of Bioethics at Princeton University, and a [former] Laureate Professor at the Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics at the University of Melbourne. He specializes in applied ethics and approaches ethical issues from a secular, utilitarian perspective. He is known in particular for his book, Animal Liberation (1975), a canonical text in animal rights/liberation theory. On two occasions Singer served as chair of the philosophy department at Monash University, where he founded its Centre for Human Bioethics. In 2004 he was recognized as the Australian Humanist of the Year by the Council of Australian Humanist Societies, and in June 2012 was named a Companion of the Order of Australia for his services to philosophy and bioethics.
From his [earlier] Wikipedia page: Professor Singer is [Emeritus] Ira W. DeCamp Professor of Bioethics at Princeton University, and a [former] Laureate Professor at the Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics at the University of Melbourne. He specializes in applied ethics and approaches ethical issues from a secular, utilitarian perspective. He is known in particular for his book, Animal Liberation (1975), a canonical text in animal rights/liberation theory. On two occasions Singer served as chair of the philosophy department at Monash University, where he founded its Centre for Human Bioethics. In 2004 he was recognized as the Australian Humanist of the Year by the Council of Australian Humanist Societies, and in June 2012 was named a Companion of the Order of Australia for his services to philosophy and bioethics.
Ginny Messina, Advisor
Ginny is a dietitian and long-time animal advocate. She is the author of Vegan for Life and Vegan for Her, as well as author of the first textbook on vegetarian nutrition for health professionals and students. She writes about nutrition on her blog, The Vegan RD, is a frequent speaker at both advocacy events and scientific conferences, and has published papers on vegetarian and soy nutrition in medical journals. She is the world's leading nutritionist regarding ethical diets, and the author of Bad news for red meat is bad news for chickens - an absolute must read for everyone.
Ginny taught nutrition to dietetics students at Central Michigan University, was a dietitian for PCRM, and was director of nutrition services for a large medical center in Washington, DC. She lives in Western Massachusetts with her husband and an ever-changing population of rescued cats. When she’s not researching and writing about nutrition, Ginny volunteers for her local animal shelter and spay/neuter group, practices piano, gardens, collects vintage kitchen linens, and is learning to knit with plant fibers.
Ginny is a dietitian and long-time animal advocate. She is the author of Vegan for Life and Vegan for Her, as well as author of the first textbook on vegetarian nutrition for health professionals and students. She writes about nutrition on her blog, The Vegan RD, is a frequent speaker at both advocacy events and scientific conferences, and has published papers on vegetarian and soy nutrition in medical journals. She is the world's leading nutritionist regarding ethical diets, and the author of Bad news for red meat is bad news for chickens - an absolute must read for everyone.
Ginny taught nutrition to dietetics students at Central Michigan University, was a dietitian for PCRM, and was director of nutrition services for a large medical center in Washington, DC. She lives in Western Massachusetts with her husband and an ever-changing population of rescued cats. When she’s not researching and writing about nutrition, Ginny volunteers for her local animal shelter and spay/neuter group, practices piano, gardens, collects vintage kitchen linens, and is learning to knit with plant fibers.
