About the founder and director

“Growing up, I quickly discovered how unique I was for most young people my age, and I discerned what it meant to become complicit to the world’s social ills. I ‘rebelliously’ challenged complicity by acknowledging that the world did not have to be the way it was and that every choice I made could be an affirmation of my vision of a humane world. I asked ‘why’ frequently, and this curiosity helped me forge my way to my present path. Not much has changed from those days of saving ladybugs in the pool and stray animals in the neighborhood. These days I’m saving snails from my garden!

In 1997 I was drawn to an article in an ASPCA Animal Watch magazine regarding the interconnectedness of animal cruelty and other forms of violence in society. My curiosity was piqued as I read about the integral role that a field called Humane Education played in addressing this phenomenon.

Only then did it become evident to me that all social issues were connected and that paradigm shifts could be created, not by telling others what to believe or do, but by informing, encouraging critical thinking, challenging prevailing beliefs, and providing practical tools. Whereas the majority of people on the planet don’t knowingly support animal abuse, sweatshops, and environmental degradation, they often unwittingly contribute to violence, oppression, and a host of social ills. I have come to believe that humane education is about building relationships and bridges with people from all walks of life.

One of my many visions for this work is to help people become whole individuals; particularly young people. Helping individuals question our cultural stories, discover their voices, identify where and how they would like to affect social change, while developing life skills, self-esteem and self-worth is a magical process.”

Daniella Dennenberg founded Seeds for Change in 2000 and the project ran successfully for over seven years reaching over 15,000 college, 6-12th grade students, parents, youth leaders and educators throughout Southern California.

After five years of doing visiting programs in schools, she became inspired to teach a high-school level course that would intertwine service learning and social justice issues. With continued funding from The Komie Foundation, she pitched a year-long elective course to Cortez Hill Academy in San Diego. They warmly accepted and Dani experienced some of her most memorable teaching moments.

She designed service learning, leadership, and civic engagement-based curricula for the Education and Transformation Through Service departments of Shakti Rising, a cutting-edge non-profit organization dedicated to women's recovery from abuse, addiction and trauma. One of her courses "Passion into Action" prepared 15 women to attend the March for Women's Lives event in Washington D.C. to address women's right issues.

In her capacity as Director of the Humane Education Certificate Program at the Institute for Humane Education and Adjunct Faculty at Cambridge College, she planned, mentored and supervised graduate and certificate students.

Most recently, she served as the Director of Higher Education and Organizational Partnerships for the NW Earth Institute, here in Portland and helped campuses further their sustainability initiatives through innovative discussion courses .

Dani has spoken about humane education at a variety of conferences, including the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), the First Congress on Humanitarian Education in Sao Paulo, Brazil, the annual Unitarian Universalist Association Conference, the EarthSave International Conference, the California Teacher's Association conference, the National Organization of Women (NOW) California Regional Conference, the Educators for Non-Violence Conference, and at various animal protection conferences.

Dani is a visionary educator with an entrepreneurial and creative approach and possesses extensive experience in cultivating community partnerships, identifying needs and creating infrastructure to make the lasting social change. She has engaged in community service projects since she was 16, including: acting as a media spokeswoman for social justice issues, presenting to city councils, authoring columns and pieces for community publications and socializing abused and neglected shelter animals and community work continues to give her joy.

She was the first graduate in the U.S. with a Master's of Education degree in Humane Education and holds a Bachelor's degree in Sociological Studies with concentrations in Law and Society and Environmental Studies from the University of California San Diego.