Castanea Fellowship
Civic and Social OrganizationsCalifornia, United States2-10 Employees
The Castanea Fellowship is a two-year, multi-sector program based in Berkeley, California, that aims to cultivate leadership for a racially just and sustainable food system. It works across health, environment, agriculture, regional economies, and community development to expand the capacity of diverse leaders to shift structures and culture toward healthier outcomes for children, families, and communities. The fellowship provides time, space, and resources to foster collaboration and long-term problem solving, with support from a steering committee, an advisory council, and a network of food-system change-makers and alumni from related initiatives. Founded to advance racial equity and impact in the food system, the program emphasizes resilience and innovation drawn from a broad community of national partners and collaborators. A recent development highlighted is participation in the 2025 Sustainable Agriculture and Food System Funders Forum, including a live podcast conducted by the fellowship’s leadership.