Fellowships - Mesa Refuge

Underwriting a named fellowship allows a writer or other creative
to create change in the tradition of your choice each year.

–Susan Page Tillett, Executive Director, Resident 2012

A legacy gift allows us to create lasting support
in one of the areas "at the edge" of
nature, the human economy, and social equity.

–Peter Barnes, Founder

In a world sorely in need of fresh perspectives,
the Mesa Refuge is a touchstone for the values we hold true.

–Susan Page Tillett, Executive Director, Resident 2012

Mesa Refuge residents are changing the conversation about
nature, human economy and social equity. Join the conversation!

–Kyra Epstein, Mesa Refuge Communications, Resident 2014

Create A Fellowship

We offer invitational fellowships to encourage cutting-edge work on pressing issues of our time.

You can establish a fellowship to honor an important writer or loved one, or to promote new work in a particular subject or genre.

To initiate a fellowship, we request a minimum commitment of three years, or $22,500. You can also endow an on-going fellowship for $150,000 (or more), ensuring a lasting impact. We invite you to click on any of the fellowships listed below to learn more about the donors, honorees and fellows.

To discuss creating your own fellowship, contact Mesa Refuge Executive Director Kamala Tully.

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Make a Donation

Current Invitational Fellowships

Heyday Roundhouse Native California Writer Fellowship

The Heyday Roundhouse Native California Writer Fellowship supports the diverse voices of Native California writers and celebrates Indigenous storytelling and culture-keeping. Fellows are chosen by Heyday Roundhouse and supported with a residency at Mesa Refuge to work on books or articles on California Indian culture and history. Heyday Roundhouse brings books by and about Native […]

2024: Terria Smith, Sara Calvosa Olson

Indigenous Knowledges Holder Circles

The Indigenous Knowledges Holder Circles offers a unique opportunity for (elder) language keepers and knowledge holders and (younger) knowledge learners to convene, exchange ideas, rejuvenate, and build meaningful connections. This project aims to share knowledge, culture and Indigenous language across generations in a sanctuary space. The project offers circles at Mesa Refuge. First, three knowledge […]

2024: Julia Kihi-Coates, Sandra M. Gonzales, Juana Leticia Ovalle Tum, Octaviana Trujillo, Otilia Lux de Coti

Leading Edge Fellowship

Leading Edge Fellows are progressive movement leaders who are pursuing bold visions for change for Black communities and communities of color. Their work is supported by several foundations including the Rosenberg Foundation. Kendra Fox-Davis, Chief Program Officer at the Rosenberg Foundation, established this residency soon after she visited Mesa Refuge in 2022. Kendra said, “Our […]

2024: Raha Jorjani, Taina Vargas, Tamisha Walker, Shimica Gaskins, Krea Gomez, Jessica Nowlan
2023: Cat Brooks, Shimica Gaskins, Chaney Turner, Malkia Devich Cyril

Manzanita Fellowship for Racial, Economic and Environmental Justice

The Manzanita Fellowship for Racial, Economic and Environmental Justice supports visionaries working at the intersections and edges of racial, social, and environmental justice who use their creative energy as writers, journalists, playwrights, and more to help catalyze a better future for all. Manzanita Fellows are selected by Mesa Refuge staff and alum Anna Lappé. The author or […]

2024: Latria Graham
2023: Lyla June Johnston

Toby Symington Sacred Advocacy Fellowship

The Toby Symington Sacred Advocacy Fellowship supports writers who are advocates of truth and equity—who have a deep connection with the sacred—and who apply the wisdom at the core of the major spiritual traditions to the cause of social, ecological, and geopolitical justice. The fellowship aims to support women of African, Asian and Indigenous ancestry […]

2024: Saraliza Anzaldúa
2023: Gwen Mitchell

Jennifer Egan Creative Approaches to Mental Health Fellowship

A generous donor created this fellowship in Jennifer Egan’s honor. Jennifer has chosen to direct the fellowship toward supporting writers in any genre whose work meaningfully addresses the struggles of the mentally ill. A journalist as well as a Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, Jennifer has written for the New York Times Magazine about self-injury, opioid addiction, […]

2024: Rebecca Solnit
2023: Susannah Dainow

The May and Jack Elinson Public Health Fellowship

This fellowship honors the legacy of public health advocates May and Jack Elinson. May Elinson served as a public health nutritionist in the Prenatal and Family Planning Clinic at Martland Hospital in Newark, New Jersey (now the NJ College of Medicine). With compassion and skill, she helped high-risk mothers provide a healthier diet for themselves […]

2024: Achy Obejas
2023: Josephine Ensign

Judith Tannenbaum Teaching Artist Fellowship

Judith Tannenbaum was a Bay Area writer and teacher who was a national leader in the field of community arts. In addition to publishing numerous books of poetry, memoir, and creative writing curriculum, Judith worked passionately to train over one hundred teaching artists to work in community settings (prisons, libraries, schools) to encourage a writing practice […]

2024: Elena Botkin-Levy
2023: Duane Horton

Peter Barnes Long-Form Journalism Fellowship

The Peter Barnes Long-Form Journalism fellowship was created to honor Mesa Refuge founder Peter Barnes. A journalist and writer for much of his life, Peter wrote for Newsweek and the New Republic and developed a deep appreciation for long-form journalism.

2022: Maya Dusenbery
2021: Jeanne Carstensen

Refuge for Activists Fellowship

In these times, an ongoing, steady effort by activists of all kinds has become critical. Refuge for Activists is our first residency dedicated to supporting those who need a place where they can recharge their batteries before returning to the world with renewed focus and resilience.

2023: Erika Allen, Ayana Zaire Cotton, Karla Monterroso
2022: Shorlette Ammons, Dara Cooper, Navina Khanna

Howard and Phyllis Friedman Fellowship for an Inclusive Economy

Mesa Refuge Alum Bob Friedman created the Friedman Fellowship to honor his parents and to support the work of future residents working on issues of inclusive economy.

2024: Bhavna Shamasunder
2023: Natalie Foster

Michael Pollan Journalism Fellowship

The Michael Pollan Journalism Fellowship supports emerging journalists in print and other media who offer thoughtful coverage of connections between humans and nature.

2022: Alice Driver
2021: Geeta Maker-Clark

Terry Tempest Williams Fellowship for Land and Justice

The Terry Tempest Williams Fellowship for Land and Justice supports an outstanding writer focusing on our relationship with the natural world to work at the Mesa Refuge each year.

2024: Christina Castro
2019: McKenzie Long

Pamela Krasney Moral Courage Fellowship

The Pamela Krasney Moral Courage Fellowship supports Mesa Refuge residents whose writing shows moral courage.

2023: Kung Li Sun
2022: Susan Glisson

Human Rights Cohort

The Human Rights Center at UC Berkeley School of Law partners with the Mesa Refuge to create the Human Rights Fellowship, in which fellows are selected to participate in a two-week writing retreat at Mesa Refuge.

2022: Mara Kardas-Nelson, Natalie Cadwalader-Schultheis, Bhavya Joshi
2021: Audrey Taylor, Cortelyou Kenney, Suzanne Caflisch

Marion Weber Healing Arts Fellowship

The Marion Weber Healing Arts Fellowship supports writers working as healing artists or in the healing arts fields.

2024: Kenny Fries, Daniel Rothberg, Annie Leonard
2023: David Fenster, AriDy Nox, Rob Chaney, Redwing Keyssar

Alice Dorrance Spiritual Writing Fellowship

The Alice Dorrance Spiritual Writing Fellowship supports the interpretation of connections between our inner and outer worlds in all genres.

2024: Roy Remer
2023: Vijaya Nagarajan

West Marin Community Fellowships

The West Marin Community Fellowships support the creative projects of people nominated by West Marin’s rich network of non-profit organizations.

2023: Dewey Livingston, Elia Haworth, Theresa Harlan
2020: Molly Parent, Todd Plummer, Bonnie Guttman

Jacob and Valeria Langeloth Foundation Health Writing Fellowship

The Jacob and Valeria Langeloth Foundation Health Writing Fellowship supports writing on creative approaches to health and well-being.

2023: Dashka Slater
2022: May Jeong