Help Jamie Attend Napa Valley Writers Conference

Yá'át'ééh, my name is Jamie. I am Navajo from Fort Defiance, Arizona. Currently, I am a student at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, NM. I am working my way through the Creative Writing graduate program and plan to graduate in May 2026! I am also working as part-time adjunct faculty for the undergraduate program.

I have recently been awarded a scholarship for tuition to attend the Napa Valley Writer's Conference in California. The conference runs from July 20th through July 26th. The scholarship takes care of tuition, but travel and lodging are up to me.

After a lot of research and pricing, I have estimated that lodging is between $1,100-$1,400 for 8-9 days (including travel days), transportation is about $500 while there, plus flight, and gas is just expensive and varies, but I estimate around $300 as an overestimate. Food cost is also needed. Lunch is provided; otherwise, I am on my own.

I intend to save what I can between then and now, but given the touch and go of my income at the moment, I am not sure I could save enough to cover a quarter of what I need.