Mount Washington Resident Joins Writing Fellowship
Lisa Aslan has been selected for a yearlong program supporting Jewish women of color in their literary pursuits.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Judaism
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Mount Washington resident Lisa Aslan has joined the Pomegranate Writing Fellowship for the 2026-27 term. The program, which selects six Jewish women of color annually, provides mentorship and creative community for its members.
Why it matters
The fellowship offers a structured space for writers to explore Jewish identity and personal history while balancing full-time employment. Participants gain dedicated support as they develop narratives centered on cultural heritage.
The Pomegranate Writing Fellowship maintains a cohort size of six fellows annually. This yearlong program is currently in its 2026-2027 cycle, with members having convened for the first time as of October 2026.
The players
Lisa Aslan
She is a Mount Washington resident and former journalism and English student who has joined a selective cohort of writers.
The details
Lisa Aslan, an undergraduate student of journalism and English, plans to use the fellowship to document her family history and Iraqi heritage. She intends to explore themes of motherhood within a Middle Eastern context through writing prompts and cohort collaborations.
Timeline
Lisa Aslan applied for the program in summer 2026.
The fellowship runs for the 2026-2027 term.
Culture Shift
This fellowship reflects the broader rise of identity-focused writers cohorts that prioritize marginalized voices in the arts. Such programs represent a growing shift toward community-based mentorship models designed to amplify specific cultural narratives.
For residents interested in creative writing or local cultural programming, this opportunity highlights the resources available to Baltimore authors. Engaging with these fellowships often requires significant preparation time during annual application windows.
The takeaway
Creative writing fellowships can provide essential infrastructure for professionals seeking to document personal and ancestral histories. Aspiring writers should consider how identity-based cohorts can support the development of niche literary projects.
Further reading
Learn more about local cultural initiatives on the Baltimore Judaism section page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Baltimore Jewish Times.
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