Oppression feeds on exhaustion. Freedom takes root in rest. The 16 leaders awarded this year’s Castanea Fellowship are keeping alive a bold vision for how we should farm, fish and feed society. But they do so under unprecedented attack on …
Food, Land, and Liberation
Register Here!A virtual conversation series on re-building systems for our collective liberation As a fellowship rooted in supporting the power and movements of leaders in the food system, one of our main mandates is to cultivate and uplift the good …
A Recipe for Liberatory Leadership
by Krysten Aguilar An hour before sunrise on the island of Kauai, two dozen food and farming justice leaders gathered in the inky twilight of March’s new moon, wading silently, waist-deep into an ocean bay tucked alongside a sacred salt …
Cohort 4 Informational Webinar
Join us for an informational webinar about Castanea Fellowship’s open applications for our fourth cohort (2025-2026). We will share general information about Castanea, our application process and timeline, a sense of the fellowship experience, and have time for Q&A. We …
Applications for Cohort 4 Are Now Open!
Applications are now open for the next cohort of Castanea Fellows! If you’re looking for an opportunity to deepen your leadership and root your work for food justice in joy and community, this opportunity is for you. Applications are open …
North Carolina Immersion Report
In September, we came together for our first place-based immersion for Cohort 3 in Durham, North Carolina. Our trip started with a powerful grounding in place and context setting at Stagville Plantation, led by indigenous leaders and descendants from Stagville. …
2023 Castanea Update
Cohort Three Opening Retreat – May 2023 2023 is proving to be a year of meaningful connection, learning, and restoration. Our third cohort of Fellows came together for an opening retreat in May, at the Barn at Boyds Mills in …
North Carolina Partners
KAMAL BELL, SANKOFA FARMS Sankofa Farms LLC is a multifaceted agricultural entity working to create a sustainable food source in both rural and urban areas located in Durham and Orange County, North Carolina. Kamal led us on a farm tour …
2023 Opening Retreat Partners
ALVINA WONG, Asian Pacific Environmental Network Alvina is the Basebuilding Director at Asian Pacific Environmental Network and a facilitator, somatic coach, and generative somatics teacher. Alvina was a retreat co-facilitator. HOLIDAY SIMMONS, MSW Holiday is the founder and Lead Practitioner …
Castanea Fellowship Selects 24 Visionary Food Justice Leaders for its 2023 Cohort
The Castanea Fellowship today announces its 2023 cohort, 24 of the boldest leaders transforming our country’s food web. The cohort includes farmers, chefs, community organizers, entrepreneurs, storytellers, policymakers and more from across 14 states, territories and tribes, drawing from the …