The Surge Academy is a six-month fellowship…

…that develops and unites emerging education leaders of color. Designed to empower leaders to influence and innovate to transform education, the Academy delivers an intensive experience that blends executive leadership training with deep personal growth. Fellows engage in high-impact sessions covering finance, strategic planning, and change management while also confronting the realities of personal trauma, systemic inequities, and the true state of diversity, equity, and inclusion in America. These experiences are framed by core program pillars, research-based objectives that distinguish good leaders from great ones, ensuring that each fellow emerges equipped to create meaningful change within their communities.

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Announcing the PHILA25 cohort!

Surge Institute’s Philadelphia Surge Academy is thrilled to announce a powerful new collective of 14 brilliant education leaders beginning their Surge journey this month as they set out to accelerate their leadership and personal growth to become influential change agents in their communities.

Read more about the 2025 Philadelphia cohort and the incredible work they will accomplish.

Surge [surj] n.

a sudden powerful forward or upward movement.

The Surge Institute is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to educate and develop leaders of color who create transformative change for young people, their families, and our broader communities.

We support people who profoundly and directly affect positive change in the world. We elevate leaders of color in educational spaces. Their ideas and gifts, coupled with access, resources, and encouragement, transform the people around them. Students, families, and whole communities realize their potential. There’s no limit to the possibilities.

Engage with this movement and become an agent of change.

ELEVATING LEADERS

Surge was built by and for communities of color and designed to empower, educate and elevate our leaders in the education systems serving our communities. Our goal is to serve 5,000 leaders by 2030.

OUR STORY

BUILDING COMMUNITY

This work does not happen in silos. The Surge program suite has created a sprawling network of change-makers collectively building a brighter future for our youth.

OUR FELLOWS

ELEVATING VOICES

We are a megaphone for our people. Continued impact and heightened influence are the hallmarks of a true movement toward systemic change.