Magic places call to us, enchant us, leave lasting images of life’s treasured moments in our individual and collective memory. Writing with (not just about) a place or a cluster of places—a childhood playhouse, a lush green rainforest, the sight of our own house at the end of the road, a writing shed at Mesa […]
What creates a Healing Space? Light and air, colors and textures, palpable feelings of well-being, a magnetic energy of beauty and safety. The Gathering Room (pictured above) is just one of many healing spaces at Mesa Refuge. Surrounded by curvy coastal live oak trees, tidal wetlands, and fragrant wild grasses, sunlight and fog dance across […]
Come spread your wings and join us for a day of observation, creativity, and connection with nature! Join artist, avid birder, and Mesa Refuge alum Kacy McKinney for a leisurely exploration of the Point Reyes Mesa, above the headwaters of Tomales Bay, the 9-mile-long sliver of saltwater that separates the Point Reyes Peninsula from mainland California. […]
Kate Weiner and Kailea Loften discuss their new book, Compassion in Crisis: Building Disaster-Resilient Communities (Heyday Books) at this event presented in partnership with the Pt Reyes Books. "As we enter an era of climate shifts and more frequent, layered catastrophes, this is the book you want beside you to navigate the realities of disaster […]
Money, please! Fundraising and the Art of the Ask curated by Grotto Nights at the Library. Perfect for writers, grant-makers, and anyone who wants to see literary nonprofits thrive in Bay Area.
Save the date for our East Bay happy hour!
See where the magic happens! Join us for a morning of mulching and weeding. Visit Mesa’s serene property and support us by preparing the garden to look its best for the 2026 Garden Party. After tending to the garden, we’ll have lunch together overlooking Tomales Bay. Please email nkansky@mesarefuge.org to volunteer.
Join us for our annual Garden Party! Enjoy delicious local food (from Two Mamacitas and Elito's Pizza), desserts, beer, mead, and wine; and connect with Mesa alums and our larger community! The Garden Party is a unique opportunity to tour Mesa Refuge and hear about the timely and important work of our residents. Mesa alum, Annie Leonard, co-author (along […]
Bolinas-based artist, illustrator, and Mesa alum Sophie Wood Brinker joins Point Reyes Books at the Dance Palace to celebrate the publication of her new book, Birds of Santa Cruz. This event is organized by Point Reyes Books. This is a free event and no registration is required. Visit their website for more information. This charming, […]
Join us for an inspiring summer afternoon of writing at the Mesa Refuge led by former Mesa Refuge Executive Director and teacher Susan Page Tillett and author and teacher Elizabeth Fishel. Learn the history of the Mesa Refuge and find a place in the house or garden that resonates as an inspiration for your writing.
Mesa alums Jeanne Carstensen and Roberto Lovato discuss Jeanne's award winning book A Greek Tragedy: One Day, a Deadly Shipwreck, and the Human Cost of the Refugee Crisis On October 28, 2015, a boat meant for only a few dozen passengers capsized off the coast of the Greek island of Lesvos. Hundreds of refugees, forced […]
Join translator and performance artist Haleh Liza Gafori for a deep dive into the poetry of Rumi. In this interactive workshop, we'll hear Haleh recite translations from her highly acclaimed books Gold and Water, revealing how urgently and tenderly Rumi speaks to us in these times. Haleh will share dashes of the original Persian text, unpack recurring […]