About the Open Call

The Seeds of Radical Renewal Fellowship investigates questions of leadership rooted in spiritual ecology and responsiveness to social and ecological challenges. The program aims to create an incubator of emerging leadership and creativity, integrating the ontology of spiritual ecology, the adaptive leadership framework, and the power of art and story. Participants will engage with guest teachers James Bridle, Dana Karout, and Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee through six online sessions and a five-day in-person retreat at Sharpham Trust in Devon, England. The fellowship focuses on cultivating a relational approach to leadership, applying spiritual ecology values, exploring art and story for regeneration, developing embodied practices, expanding listening capacities to include the more-than-human, and applying learnings to real-world projects with post-fellowship mentorship. Spiritual ecology is described as an ancient knowing recognizing the sacredness and interconnectedness of all living things, embodying kinship, reciprocity, compassion, and reverence. Adaptive leadership is a Harvard-developed framework for collective work when technical fixes are insufficient, focusing on mobilizing collective innovation and problem-solving.

What is Offered

Fellows will receive a full scholarship for the program, including tuition, single-room accommodation, meals, and travel costs (airfare to London and trains to Totnes, UK) to attend the in-person retreat at the Sharpham Trust. Post-fellowship mentorship is also offered.

Requirements

Mandatory attendance to all online and in-person components of the fellowship is required. Fellows must be able to obtain a visa to travel to the United Kingdom (Emergence cannot procure or sponsor visas). In addition to the in-person retreat, fellows are expected to dedicate an average of six hours per week from April to September to attend live Zoom sessions and complete related assignments, readings, listenings, and practices.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online via the provided link: https://emergenceinstitute.submittable.com/submit/337037/seeds-of-radical-renewal-fellowship-application. The deadline to apply is January 14, 2026, at 11:59pm (PST). Space is limited to 25 participants. Shortlisted applicants will be invited for a Zoom interview, and all applicants will receive a final decision by February 20, 2026.