The Castanea Fellowship is looking for dedicated leaders ready to deepen the impact of their vision to build a healthier, more equitable, and sustainable food system through power and movement building. The Fellowship is for established leaders who are already equipped with a deep understanding of how the food system could shift in a meaningful way and have had considerable impact, yet know they could do much more. The leaders we seek are those who have demonstrated commitment to the work and to racial justice, believe in the power of diversity, and welcome collaboration. They show a commitment and openness to individual and collective transformation as a means of growing the food justice movement.

We welcome established visionaries with at least five years of leadership experience, who:

Align with our values of racial justice, diversity, and impact.
Lead in their field and have already demonstrated inspiring results.
Have experience working with communities or populations across a range of physical and cultural geographies.
Believe food systems change involves a multi-sector and multi-strategy approach.
Welcome being part of a diverse, robust, multiracial cohort.
Understand intersectionality of race, gender, class, ability, environmental, and health issues.
See themselves as constant learners and seek to be in a learning community.
Can commit to devoting the necessary time to be fully engaged in the fellowship.

About Castanea Fellowship

The Castanea Fellowship is an 18 month awarded program for diverse leaders working to transform the food system in a wide range of areas, including health, environment, agriculture, regional economies, and community development. Castanea Fellows will build power to shift structures and culture towards the creation of a more racially just, sustainable, and healthy food system for all communities. We further the work of established leaders from across the country and provide them with the time, space, and resources they need to connect and innovate on long-term solutions within vibrant communities.

Castanea Fellowship is nurtured by a stellar Steering Committee, supported by a powerhouse advisory council, and powered by an amazing and growing alumni pool.

The Castanea Fellowship Experience:

Space to build relationship and deepen connection with other food justice leaders through intentional restorative spaces.
Four in-person gatherings to build and learn as a cohort and benefit from diverse regional perspectives and tactics.
Virtual programming to support emergent topics and points of collaboration; may include training in communication, finance, leadership development, organizing, and policy, among other topics.
Space to explore leadership challenges and growth edges, and engage in transformative practices
$40,000 award to support the work and participation of Fellows.
An unparalleled opportunity to amplify the vision, influence, and impact of dedicated leaders.
Support, mentorship, and love from the Castanea community.

At least five years of demonstrated leadership to improve the food system in areas including, but not limited to: agriculture, community development, communications, culture change, entrepreneurship, environmental sustainability, food and farming, healthcare, organizing, labor, policy, and/or public health.
Demonstrated commitment to building power in communities of color, low-income communities, and other marginalized populations.
Track record of influencing and collaborating with a broad array of partners.
Residence within the United States, including outlying territories.

As a Castanea Fellow you will be provided with:

A $40,000 award
Travel expenses (hotel, flight, and meals) for all in-person immersions
Skill-based trainings and other development opportunities on a range of topics
Individualized support, such as mentorship, coaching, and professional development support
National recognition as a Castanea Fellow
Unparalleled connections with leaders within the cohort
Access to a rich alumni network and Castanea’s broader network of food systems leaders

Castanea Fellowship is a project of Earth Island Institute, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that supports activism around environmental issues through fiscal sponsorship providing supportive infrastructure for individual projects. Fellows who are selected will not be employed by the Castanea Fellowship, a project of Earth Island Institute.

**Please add apply@castaneafellowship.org and mahfam@castaneafellowship.org to your email account's contacts to ensure you receive all communications associated with your application.**

Castanea Fellowship remote jobs

Castanea Fellowship Application 2024