DIRECTORS
Mahika Gupta
Director
Mahika Gupta (they/them) is a gender-fluid Indian American chef, artist and community organizer. For the past seven years, they have been a part of various human and non-human justice movements. Mahika loved in Philadelphia with their companion chicken Corrie, who was liberated from a slaughterhouse in June 2018. Together they attended protests, marches and community gatherings to advocate for both human and non-human liberation.
Roz Van Kleeck
Co-founder
Roz Van Kleeck (they/them), a graduate of Columbia University, is a passionate vegan who has been rescuing and caring for non-human animals since 2009. They and Alastor started Triangle Chicken Advocates in Chapel Hill, North Carolina in 2014, where they are the head caregiver and photographer extraordinaire.
Gavin Wolf
Gavin Wolf (he/him or they/them) is an activist and longtime animal caretaker based in rural New Hampshire. In early 2017, after becoming aware of the increasing issue of rooster homelessness, Gavin founded Sun and Moon Microsanctuary to focus on the rescue, care, and advocacy for farmed birds. They currently share their home with an assortment of survivors from various industries, from small local farms to cockfighting. A strong believer in the value of caretaking and microsanctuaries as activism, Gavin is excited to contribute to the board and see the movement grow.
Alastor Van Kleeck
Co-founder & Executive Director
Alastor Van Kleeck (they/them) has a Ph.D. in English and is a freelance writer, educator, and community organizer. Alastor spends most of their time working at the Triangle Chicken Advocates sanctuary, which they and Roz founded in 2014, and which inspired them to start The Microsanctuary Movement together later that year.
STAFF
Bird
Outreach Assistant
Bird (they/them) is a microsanctuary operator and longtime activist for total liberation. Bird started their microsanctuary in early 2018 with the adoption of their first hen resident, Cluckey, after volunteering at sanctuaries and quickly recognizing the need for vegan homes and individualized care. Their microsanctuary is now home to hen residents Cluckey, Peppy Pauline and has moved from the Midwest to the PNW where they currently live and volunteer at sanctuaries. They earned a BFA in Illustration from Kendall College of Art and Design and use their skills to advocate for total liberation causes, including creating custom designs for sanctuaries and operating their small business, Liberation Design. Bird has been a longtime believer in MRC’s core principles and is looking forward to contributing to their important and life-saving work.
PAST PARTICIPANTS
- Carolyn Bartczak, Director
- Maura Cummings, Director
- Rachel Hipp, Director
- Hana Low, Director/Executive Director
- Quincy Markowitz, Director
- Michelle Carrera, Director
- Kaden Maguire, Director
- Rocky Schwartz, Director
- Kelsey Atkinson, Program Assistant