Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, program participation is underwritten thanks to the generous support of Barr Foundation. Fellows are only responsible for their transportation to and from the program’s in-person events (Creative Community House and Launchpad).

Fellows must commit to attending both the Creative Community House and Launchpad in-person events, six Peer Exchange Group sessions (90 mins each, online), three online gatherings, and completing program evaluation surveys. Optional events include online workshops and online monthly “jamout” peer meet-ups.

Each Fellow will have access to a stipend of up to $10,000 to help offset the costs of participating in Creative Community Fellows: New England. It is not a grant. A fellow will receive the full $10,000 if they meet the conditions for full program participation listed in the FAQ item above (i.e. attending both the Creative Community House and Launchpad in-person events, attending six Peer Exchange Group sessions, the three online gatherings, and completing program evaluation surveys.

Stipends are taxable income and will be issued starting in 2026.

Yes, we require that all participants attend in full (see below on what full attendance looks like). In joining Creative Community Fellows: New England, you are making a commitment to your peers. Past Fellows have told us that when others don’t attend in full, it dilutes the peer-learning exchange and the experience overall. For future years, we are working on an online-only program experience designed for those who cannot attend in-person events.

The venue for this event was chosen for its beautiful, tranquil setting to learn together. It aligns with our values of accessibility, sustainability, and supporting cultural connectors.

Some Fellows may be paired in a room with another member of their cohort. Food will be prepared and provided by the venue team, with dietary restrictions accommodated when received ahead of time.

At the Creative Community House, you will spend a week building community and collaborating with your cohort. This is an opportunity to slow down, reconnect with yourself, and clarify your understanding of the work you lead in your community.

Each day opens and closes with peer-led Integration Circles, peer-led spaces for reflection, peer coaching, and discussion topics of your choice. Together, you will explore systems thinking, surfacing the ideas, arrangements, and effects that shape your work. You’ll examine and map the relationships and power dynamics in your community that must shift for your vision of change to succeed. From there, you’ll reflect on who you are as a leader and how you can apply those insights to maximize your impact.

Midweek, you and your cohort will pause to recharge and integrate your new learnings before diving back in, starting with identifying a concrete place in your work for experimentation. You’ll then work one-on-one with your mentor for tailored advice, coaching, and support.

As your time at the House comes to a close, you will bring it all together in an interactive design of your Theory of Change, a simple roadmap showing how your strategies lead to outcomes that advance your vision. After every workshop, you will add the day’s insights to your Theory of Change wayfinding map, so the pieces build across sessions into a clear, coherent, and testable plan for next steps.

Some Fellows will have one roommate during the Creative Community House.

No. The program is intergenerational and our participants come with a range of experience levels. The important thing is that the project has advanced beyond the idea stage.

Below is a growing list of accessibility standards that we practice at every in-person event:

• We strive to create events that meet a wide range of accessiblity needs. In some cases, recreational or outdoor spaces where we host events may not be accessible, but we begin conversations with on-site staff and owners as early as possible to provide a complete picture for attendees. If NAS provides lodging, we ensure that the chosen facility has rooms which are accessible.
• We strive for a smoke free environment and will assign designated areas for smoking away from the main activity spaces.
• We provide break time between sessions, ample time to check-in and get settled before event kick-offs, flexibility around speaking and sharing according to what’s comfortable for you, and always aim to provide advance information around schedules and activities.
• We provide wheelchair-accessible transportation for any off-site events.
• We provide food, drinks, and snacks that meet the dietary requirements that are shared with us.
• We provide designated quiet spaces and will provide low-sensory spaces and private spaces for religious accommodation upon request.
• We will provide CART, open-captioning, simultaneous translation, and other language support upon request.

We will do our best to accommodate any services needed above what’s listed. We are growing our accessibility justice knowledge and practices—we’re always open to feedback and learning new things. You can reach out to us here.