"Kundiman has been a transformative experience toward courage and sensitivity. Never have I been surrounded by such an instant sense of family and fellowship, of bread-breaking over poetry. Writing and reading poems during the retreat were rare opportunities to be vulnerable without judgment. There are no words for the dams that break when we realize we don't have to apologize for ourselves as poets or minorities and can be our whole, complex selves. The Kundiman retreat and family exist in a pocket outside of real time for me, in a space where I learn to push myself beyond what I thought were grace and poise, to a new kind of balance, support, joy, and permission. Kundiman teaches me to live my poems; my successes are worth little without the celebration of this community." — Henry W. Leung, Kundiman Retreat Fellow
Applications are now open for the 2019 Kundiman Retreat! With master classes taught by nationally renowned poets and fiction writers, the Kundiman Retreat establishes a nurturing community for Asian American writers.
FORDHAM UNIVERSITY, ROSE HILL NEW YORK CITY JUNE 19 – 23, 2019
Application Period: December 1st – January 15th
Poetry Hala Alyan Myung Mi Kim Craig Santos Perez
Fiction Tania James Shawn Wong Third Faculty TBA
Find out more about the application process here. You can also read more testimonials from past and current fellows.
Good luck, we're so excited to read your submissions!