Younger generations are more open to plant-based living than ever before. With growing awareness of the connections between food, ethics, climate, and health, a global shift is slowly taking root. At the forefront of this movement is Naomi Alicia-Hallum, CEO of Generation Vegan (Gen V), a nonprofit empowering people around the world to live more compassionately.
From Rural Roots to Global Advocacy
Naomi’s journey began in a farming village in northwest England, where she developed a deep bond with animals early in life. At just 10 years old, she gave up meat for ethical reasons. It wasn’t until she watched Cowspiracy years later that she fully embraced veganism, realizing that even dairy and eggs conflicted with her values. Today, Naomi is raising a vegan child who has never consumed animal products.
Her story reflects the power of awareness and personal integrity, and it fuels her mission to help others make the same connection.
Leading Gen V to Disrupt the Status Quo
Since stepping into leadership at Generation Vegan, Naomi has helped transform it from a bold campaign group into a globally recognized nonprofit. Gen V has delivered over 360,000 vegan meals and guided more than 160,000 people through their transition to a plant-based lifestyle. Their work is available in 10 languages and spans four major regions.
Gen V’s high-profile campaigns have challenged world leaders to walk their talk on climate and compassion, earning international media coverage and inspiring millions. Their core message is clear: our food choices have enormous power to shape a better world.
The Urgency of Ending Factory Farming
Naomi emphasizes that factory farming is not just an animal issue. It is tied to climate breakdown, human exploitation, global pandemics, and environmental injustice. While the scale of the problem can feel overwhelming, she reminds us that systemic change begins with individual choices and collective momentum. Ending factory farming starts with reducing demand and rejecting the illusion that personal actions do not matter.
Compassionate Parenting and Reaching Beyond the Echo Chamber
Naomi also hosts Raising Gen V, a podcast focused on plant-based parenting and living in alignment with one’s values. She explains that young people are naturally empathetic, and when given the truth, they respond with curiosity and care. Her advocacy includes religious and spiritual audiences as well, tapping into compassion as a shared value across belief systems.
Breaking out of the vegan echo chamber is one of Gen V’s core goals. That is why their work goes beyond recipes or slogans. They engage with omnivores, non-vegans, and skeptics, providing clear, factual resources to plant seeds of change.
Progress Without Perfection
With rising misinformation and backlash against veganism, Naomi stresses the importance of meeting people where they are. Not everyone can or will go vegan overnight. Gen V’s tools, like their Vegan for Humanity challenge, make it easier for anyone to take a first step. Real change happens when people feel empowered, not shamed.
Get Involved
Naomi’s call to action is simple but powerful: share the message. Amplify Gen V’s content. Talk to friends and family. Model compassionate choices. You do not need to be perfect to make a difference. You only need to begin.
Connect with Gen V:
Website: www.genv.org
Instagram: @genv_eng
Facebook, TikTok, YouTube: Generation Vegan
Episode Highlights
[00:00] Introduction.
[03:00] Where the vegan journey began for Naomi.
[06:00] Realizing farmed animals are the same as dogs and cats.
[07:00] Getting involved with vegan organizations… Naomi’s story.
[11:00] Meet people where they are at.
[14:30] Effective Generation Vegan campaigns.
[19:00] Gaining attention for important issues requires you take consistent steps.
22:30] Eating vegan “is expensive” is a myth.
[27:00] What motivates people to change is based on a number of factors.
[33:00] The connection between animal consumption and climate disruption.
About Naomi Alicia-Hallum
Naomi Alicia-Hallum is the CEO of Generation Vegan (Gen V), an international nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting plant-based living as a solution to some of the world’s most urgent challenges, including climate change, animal exploitation, food injustice, and global health crises. With over seven years of experience in nonprofit leadership, Naomi specializes in strategic growth, digital campaigns, and mission-driven fundraising. She has helped shape Gen V into a powerful voice for systemic change, evolving it from the campaign-based Million Dollar Vegan into a global platform for education, empowerment, and action.
Under her leadership, Generation Vegan has delivered more than 360,000 vegan meals in underserved communities and supported over 160,000 individuals in making the transition to plant-based living. Naomi has spearheaded bold media campaigns that garnered international attention, including Gen V’s offer of $1 million to world leaders—such as Pope Francis—to go vegan for one month to raise awareness of the ethical and environmental impacts of animal agriculture.
A skilled communicator, Naomi frequently appears in global media and speaks on issues of vegan advocacy, effective activism, and the intersections of food, justice, and sustainability. She is also the creator and host of Raising Gen V, a podcast exploring plant-based parenting, ethical living, and strategies for raising the next generation of compassionate leaders.
Naomi’s work is grounded in the belief that individuals have the power to drive collective change, and that compassionate choices can create a better future for animals, people, and the planet.
About Cheryl Moss
Cheryl Moss is the host of the Better Life for Animals podcast, where she shares uplifting stories from sanctuaries and highlights the work of vegan activists, ethical consumers, and animal welfare leaders. A passionate advocate for animal welfare, she is dedicated to ending factory farming and is working to raise $100,000 for Mercy For Animals to support underrepresented sanctuaries.
Beyond podcasting, Cheryl is a banking professional and an accomplished children’s author. A graduate of Main Street Vegan Academy, she promotes plant-based living through her books, 
Gabriel, Cluck, and Pickle the Pig, which inspire young readers to embrace kindness, sustainability, and compassion for animals.
When not advocating, she enjoys Pilates, and spending time with her rescue dogs and grandchildren. Through her work, writing, and activism, Cheryl continues to inspire positive change for animals and the planet.
https://www.facebook.com/BLFAnimals/
https://x.com/betterlife4anim
https://www.instagram.com/betterlife4animals/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylmossabetterlifeforanimals/
