Meet the Tour Guides
Lenore Braford
Lenore Braford is the Founder, interim Executive Director, and Animal Care Director at the Refuge. Her drive to advocate for populations in need began in middle school when she began worked with children with disabilities. That work continues today, but her circle of compassion was widened to include farm animals when she began to question how our society views and treats them during her studies at Oberlin College.
Since that time she has been steadily working to advocate for farm animals while educating the general public about the truths behind their treatment and their worth as individuals. Lenore has been vegan since 2007 and enjoys playing music, being outdoors and spending time with her friends and family.
Josh Baldwin
Josh found the Refuge during the 2020 Durham Vegan Mac & Cheese cook-off while meeting some Refuge volunteers tabling at the event. He quickly signed up for volunteer efforts and started with house cleaning shortly after. His first day at the Refuge turned out to be the last day for tours due to shutting down for COVID-19, so he never officially went on a tour. Now he gives tours! You will find Josh with his wife Taryn at the Refuge nearly every Sunday.
Josh grew interested in animal liberation after becoming vegan in 2020. In addition to the Refuge, he works with Counterglow to help organize activists and shed light on the cruelties of our animal agricultural system.
When not working to remedy the plight of the animals, Josh can be found reading or listening to heavy metal music. He lives in Cary with his wife and three cats.
Nathalie Martin
Nathalie began volunteering at the Refuge in early 2016. She has always been an animal-lover and immediately felt right at home at the Refuge. Initially, she was an animal care volunteer, but over time her role at the Refuge has diversified. She currently helps with guiding tours, landscaping, gardening and various Refuge projects. You may find her working on projects with her partner, Rich, who also volunteers.
As a tour guide, Nathalie enjoys meeting new people, discussing the mission of the Refuge, animal facts and the stories of individual residents. She is excited to help others learn about the residents, the impacts of factory farming, and veganism. Apart from volunteering at the Refuge, she enjoys spending time with her partner and dogs, photography, hiking and painting. One of her favorite sayings is “we must speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.
Jenna Quinn
Jenna became a tour guide in 2022. Originally from Buffalo, NY, Jenna has called North Carolina home since 2008. She lives in North Raleigh with her husband, Branden, and two rescue cat-daughters, Stella & Lola.
Jenna started volunteering at Piedmont Farm Animal Refuge because of an invite to join friends one weekend in March 2021. This was her first time at a vegan animal sanctuary and her only regret is not coming sooner. She joined Patreon that same month and the Refuge has been an important part of Jenna's monthly routine ever since.
Jenna has been vegan since January 2019 when it finally clicked that all living beings deserved bodily autonomy and the right to live out their lives in peace, not just as pets. The inclusive environment, the dedicated volunteers, and the loving animals are just some of Jenna's favorite things about Piedmont Farm Animal Refuge.
When not at the Refuge, Jenna can be found enjoying live music, strength training at the gym or watching Buffalo Sabres hockey. Jenna is excited to be a bigger part of the Refuge family and help more people from the community become involved in this wonderful organization.
Ronnie Morson
Ronnie loves all animals but right now goats are probably her favorite. Ronnie also loves watching Pixar movies, hanging out with friends and relaxing. She has been volunteering with the Refuge since 2021 and it has changed her life. Ronnie is vegan for the animals and loves that she is able to give back to the animals she once took from while educating herself on their individualism.
Jules Barone
Jules embraced veganism over a decade ago while in NY, and relocated to NC a couple of years later. They quickly discovered a sense of belonging at The Refuge, where they now engage as a potluck host, tour guide, and outreach volunteer.
They live in Chapel Hill with their spouse John, cat Rosie, and many rescued fishes and frogs!
Jules balances animal advocacy with nurturing their plants, exploring in nature, and indulging in horror movies.
Trish Soysal,
Our Check-In Table Hero
After being vegetarian for a few years, Trish decided to go all the way and become vegan. She joined a local meet-up group to meet like-minded people. This is when she learned about a fundraiser for “ Building the Hen House” at the Refuge. After meeting Lenore and hearing about her dream to build a refuge for abused/neglected farm animals, she was hooked. Since 2012, she has been supporting the Refuge and all of the incredible work. She especially likes brushing the goats and representing the Refuge at different events.
She lives in Raleigh with her husband, Oral, and their three “foster failures” Roxanne the Pitbull and Sweetpea & Wendy, their two little Beagles. In her free time, she enjoys reading, quilting and going for hikes on the Raleigh greenway. Most of all, she enjoys spending time with her new granddaughter, Daphne.