In December we received a wonderful surprise from our friends and colleagues at Black Mountain Circle, a non-profit organization founded by Steve Costa and Kate Levinson, former co-owners of Point Reyes Books. Black Mountain Circle focused on the intersection of spirit, story and nature and produced nine remarkable Geography of Hope gatherings in Point Reyes. Numerous Mesa Refuge alums, including Robin Wall Kimmerer, Rue Mapp and Rebecca Solnit participated as Geography of Hope presenters. Hosting the pre-conference dinners gave us the opportunity to meet many outstanding writers and activists, like Lyla June Johnston, many of whom later became Mesa Refuge residents.

We also shared staff — Black Mountain Circle co-director Kamala Tully and communications consultant Kyra Epstein worked for both organizations, and this gift was in honor of their outstanding contributions. Kamala said, “Black Mountain Circle decided our remaining funds were best used supporting other ‘sister’ organizations, like the Mesa Refuge, whose work is integral in this moment, addressing social justice inequalities, uplifting BIPOC voices and the climate crisis.”

The Mesa Refuge used part of the funds to sponsor a week-long retreat for Ladybird Morgan, executive director and co-founder of the Humane Prison Hospice Project at Commonweal, and Angela Hennessy, an Oakland-based artist and associate professor at the California College of the Arts. Both women are focused on end-of-life care issues and grief, vital work in this year of the pandemic and social justice reckonings.

Executive Director Susan Page Tillett said, ”We are  so touched by the generosity of spirit which prompted this gift. It was like being handed a precious handful of seeds, that we in turn can use to provide the Mesa Refuge’s gift of time and space to emerging leaders.”