Sage Bava at Rochester VegFest 2025

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Artist, Activist & “Bad Ass Vegan Advocate”

Sage Bava is a genre-defying musician, writer, and activist whose work blends soulful jazz, R&B, and poetic storytelling with a deep commitment to animal rights and environmental justice. Raised on an animal rescue and nature preserve in upstate New York, she adopted the moniker BAVA—an acronym for “Bad Ass Vegan Advocate”—to honor her roots and amplify her mission to speak for the voiceless.

A multi-instrumentalist and composer, Sage’s debut album In Whose Eyes was co-produced with four-time Grammy winner Larry Klein and features acclaimed artists including Christian McBride and Braxton Cook. The album, which weaves together jazz, R&B, and singer-songwriter elements, explores the question: “In whose eyes do we uncover ourselves?” Both the opening and closing tracks serve as environmental anthems, reconnecting listeners with their primal bond to the natural world.

Sage’s journey has taken her across the globe—from acting in London to traveling solo through Europe with nothing but a backpack and guitar. She holds a master’s degree in production from Berklee and is currently studying the psychology of spirituality at Columbia University. Her writing has been featured in Forbes, The Times Center, and TEDx, and she co-hosts the iHeart podcast In Service Of.

Catch Sage Bava Live at Rochester VegFest 2025

🕚 11:20 AM–12:05 PM
📍Speaker Tent, Parcel 5 – Downtown Rochester

Experience a soulful set from one of today’s most thoughtful and justice-driven musical voices.

Explore Sage’s work:

Free Yoga with Niki Januzzi at Rochester VegFest 2025

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Start Your Day with Movement, Breath & Intention

We’re kicking off VegFest 2025 with a free, all-levels yoga session led by local instructor Niki Januzzi of Yoga Love of Honeoye Falls.

Niki’s journey to yoga began with her background in dance, which naturally drew her to the practice’s flow and movement. After first exploring yoga in 2001, she deepened her practice in 2006 while navigating health challenges, experiencing firsthand the benefits for both body and mind. In 2010, she completed her Vinyasa teacher training at Sonic Yoga in Manhattan and has been sharing her love of yoga with the Honeoye Falls community ever since.

Her classes blend graceful movement with mindful alignment, offering an inviting space to reconnect, restore, and start the day feeling balanced and energized.

Yoga Session Details

🕙 10:00–10:45 AM
📍 Yoga Tent at Parcel 5 – Downtown Rochester (Exact location will be marked at the event)
🧘 Open to all levels of practice
🧺 BYOM – Bring Your Own Mat (Mats will not be provided)

To learn more about Niki and her classes, visit Yoga Love of Honeoye Falls.

Rochester Vegan Entrepreneurs Panel at VegFest 2025

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A Conversation on Community, Creativity, and Plant-Based Business

As part of this year’s “Compassion in Action: Eat Plants! Save the Planet!” theme, we’re proud to feature the Rochester Vegan Entrepreneurs Panel—a conversation with local founders who are building businesses rooted in ethics, sustainability, and bold creativity.

These inspiring entrepreneurs are proof that plant-based innovation can drive not only delicious food but meaningful change. From reimagined comfort foods to guilt-free indulgences and small-batch vegan cheese and ferments, each panelist brings a unique voice to the growing movement for conscious business and compassionate living.

The panel will feature:

Natasha Siplin

Founder of Soulistic Sweets, a beloved vegan bakery offering cruelty-free desserts made with love from the soul.

Rob Nipe

Co-Founder & Vegan Butcher at Grass Fed, Rochester’s neighborhood vegan butcher shop and deli.

Kaptah Xi-Amaru

Owner of B+Healthy Fresh Food Market, a family-friendly spot for smoothies, juices, wraps, and salads, with vegan options.

Ali Lawrence

Founder of Spirit & Abundance, with over 15 years experience crafting plant based cheese and ferments in the city of Rochester.

Moderator, Dan Schrack

Morning anchor at 13WHAM News and committed vegan with a passion for storytelling and community engagement.

Panel Details

🕞 3:30–4:30 PM
📍 Speaker Tent at Parcel 5 – Downtown Rochester

Come hear what drives these entrepreneurs, what they’ve learned along the way, and how they’re using their platforms to make plant-based living more accessible, joyful, and impactful.

Kaptah Xi-Amaru at Rochester VegFest 2025

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Owner of B+Healthy Fresh Food Market

Kaptah Xi-Amaru, B+Healthy Fresh Food Market

Minister Kaptah Xi-Amaru is the visionary founder of B+Healthy Fresh Food Market, a thriving vegan juice bar and community health food store that has served the Rochester area for over 8 years. With three locations, his mission is to make plant-based nutrition and holistic wellness accessible to underserved communities. Minister Kaptah’s impactful work has earned numerous accolades and his leadership continues to inspire a movement toward healthier, more conscious living in Rochester and beyond.

For more information, visit Kaptah’s Facebook page.

Catch Kaptah Xi-Amaru at Rochester VegFest 2025

🎤 3:30–4:30 PM – Rochester Vegan Entrepreneurs Panel
📍 Speaker Tent, Parcel 5 – Downtown Rochester

Rob Nipe at Rochester VegFest 2025

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Co-Founder & Vegan Butcher at Grass Fed

Rob Nipe, Grass Fed Vegan Butcher

Rob Nipe is the co-founder and head vegan butcher at Grass Fed, a vegan butcher shop and deli located in Rochester, New York. Originally from New Jersey, Rob transitioned from his previous role as an analyst at the American Red Cross to pursue his passion for creating plant-based alternatives to traditional meats.

His culinary journey began with experimenting to replicate the flavors of his favorite comfort foods—like Philly cheesesteaks and breakfast sandwiches—which led to the development of a diverse range of vegan meats, including pastrami, bacon, and brisket.

Together with his wife, Nora Rubel—a Jewish studies professor at the University of Rochester—Rob established Grass Fed to offer delicious, cruelty-free versions of classic deli favorites. Their commitment to quality and authenticity has made Grass Fed a staple in Rochester’s culinary scene, appealing to both vegan and non-vegan customers alike.

Catch Rob Nipe at Rochester VegFest 2025

🎤 3:30–4:30 PM – Rochester Vegan Entrepreneurs Panel
📍 Speaker Tent, Parcel 5 – Downtown Rochester

For more information and to explore the menu, visit grassfedrochester.com, or follow @grass_fed_rochester on Instagram and Grass Fed on Facebook.

Natasha Siplin at Rochester VegFest 2025

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Founder of Soulistic Sweets

Natasha Siplin is the founder of Soulistic Sweets, a vegan bakery rooted in love, community, and a deep commitment to plant-based living. Her journey began over eight years ago alongside her family, and during the pandemic, she turned her growing passion for vegan baking into a full-time business.

Now celebrating five years in business, Soulistic Sweets offers delicious, nourishing, and cruelty-free desserts that prove indulgence can be kind. Every treat is crafted with love from the soul.

Catch Natasha Siplin at Rochester VegFest 2025

🎤 3:30–4:30 PM – Rochester Vegan Entrepreneurs Panel
📍 Speaker Tent, Parcel 5 – Downtown Rochester

For more information and to view her latest creations, visit soulisticsweets.com or follow @soulisticsweets on Instagram.

Chef Anthony Miller at Rochester VegFest 2025

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Founder of The Veg-E-Table

We’re excited to welcome Chef Anthony Miller of The Veg-E-Table to this year’s Rochester VegFest!

Chef Anthony is known for serving up bold, flavorful, plant-based comfort food through his local business, The Veg-E-Table. With a rotating menu that keeps fans coming back for more, he specializes in dishes like Vegan Oxtail, Stuffed Bell Peppers, Rasta Pasta, Vegan Garlic Butter Steak Bites, and other creative takes on soulful classics. He also offers fresh-pressed juices and delivery or pickup options through social media.

Chef Anthony’s passion for vegan food is rooted in flavor, community, and the power of plants to bring people together.

Catch Chef Anthony Miller at Rochester VegFest 2025

🍽️ 2:40–3:25 PM – Live Culinary Demo at the Food Demo Tent
Watch Chef Anthony share his signature style and skills live, and take home some inspiration for your next plant-based meal!

Follow The Veg-E-Table on Facebook and Instagram to check out his latest offerings and place your next order.

2025 Guest Speaker: Adam Durand

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Adam Durand is a filmmaker, web developer, and graphic designer who has spent the past two decades channeling his creativity into animal rights advocacy. He first gained national attention through his work with Compassionate Consumers, a grassroots group he helped found to expose cruelty in animal agriculture. Their 2004 investigation of a Wegmans egg farm sparked national controversy and was covered by The New York Times, ABC News, and City Magazine (formerly City Newspaper), bringing mainstream visibility to the realities of factory farming and the fight for transparency.

Since then, Adam has remained a steadfast presence in the movement, taking part in open rescues, organizing strategic campaigns, and challenging laws that punish people for acting with compassion. His efforts have been highlighted in National Geographic, Vox, and cited in legal scholarship such as Cornell Law Review.

Passionate and principled, Adam invites audiences to rethink what’s possible when we act with courage, strategy, and heart.

Catch Adam Durand at Rochester VegFest 2025

🕛 10:30–11:15 AM, August 24th
📍 Speaker Tent, Parcel 5 – Downtown Rochester

2025 Guest Speakers: Drs. Thomas and Erin Campbell

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Drs. Tom and Erin Campbell are co-directors of the UR Nutrition in Medicine Research Center. They work together to study the effects of dietary intervention on common chronic diseases and will discuss their findings related to type 2 diabetes, advanced breast cancer, and food costs.

Dr. Thomas M. Campbell II is a board-certified family physician and a certified diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine. He serves as the founder and co-director of the UR Medicine/Highland Hospital Nutrition in Medicine Research Center, where he leads clinical trials examining the effects of comprehensive dietary changes, with a focus on plant-based nutrition, on various diseases.

Dr. Erin Campbell is a board-certified preventive medicine physician at the University of Rochester. She has implemented clinical group programs to help individuals transition to a whole-food, plant-based diet and researches the role of plant-based dietary patterns as therapy in various diseases. She is certified in Lifestyle Medicine, by The American Board of Lifestyle Medicine, and Public Health and General Preventive Medicine, by The American Board of Preventive Medicine

Dr. Tom Campbell is the co-author of the bestselling book The China Study, written with his father, T. Colin Campbell, PhD. He also authored The China Study Solution, a practical guide to implementing the findings from The China Study. He is a graduate of Cornell University and earned his medical degree from the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. He completed his residency in Family Medicine at the University of Rochester, Highland Hospital.

In addition to his clinical and research work, Dr. Tom Campbell is the Medical Director of the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies, a nonprofit organization that promotes optimal nutrition through science-based education, advocacy, and research in partnership with eCornell, Cornell University’s online course provider.

Dr. Tom Campbell regularly presents on topics of nutrition and health for both professional audiences and the public. He has published in various medical journals and CME publications. He is also an avid runner, having completed seven marathons.

Catch Drs. Tom and Erin Campbell at Rochester VegFest 2025

Join Drs. Tom and Erin Campbell for an in-depth talk on Nutrition in Medicine, the connection between diet and chronic disease, and learn how plant-based nutrition can play a central role in transforming long-term health outcomes.

🕛 12:10–12:55 PM, August 24th
📍 Speaker Tent, Parcel 5 – Downtown Rochester