2025 Academy
Webinar
Sign up for
Detroit Updates
Why I Became A
Surge Fellow
2027 Detroit Academy Application opened on March 16, 2026
VIRTUAL
EVENTS
Virtual Office Hours
Office Hour 1: April 23, 2026, 3 – 4pm ET (Zoom Link)
Office Hour 2: May 13, 2026, 3 – 4pm ET (Zoom Link)
Office Hour 3: June 4, 2026, 3 – 4pm ET (Zoom Link)
Office Hour 4: June 10, 2026, 3 – 4pm ET (Zoom Link)
APPLICATION &
SELECTION DATES
Application Opens: March 16, 2026
Priority Application Deadline: June 5, 2026
Application Closes: June 18, 2026
Selection Days: August 6-7, 2026
Cohort Announcement: September 2026
IN-PERSON
EVENTS
Coming soon!
SURGE DETROIT 2027 ACADEMY SESSION DATES
Session 1 & Opening Retreat (in-person):
October 8-10, 2026
Session 2:
November 5-6, 2026
Session 3 (in-person):
December 10-12, 2026
Session 4:
January 14-15, 2027
Session 5:
February 18-19, 2027
Session 6 & Closing Retreat and Graduation (in-person):
March 11-13, 2027
The fellowship cohort participates in monthly full-day sessions: 9 AM to 5 PM (virtual sessions) and 8 AM to 5 PM (in-person sessions). Fellows are expected to attend all retreats and monthly sessions.
CANDIDATE
CRITERIA
- Detroit-based education and/or youth-serving leader. The fellowship is designed with the perspectives of Black and Brown communities at the core, because those are the voices and experiences that shape our city’s classrooms and futures.
- Bachelor’s degree (minimum)
- Minimum of five years of demonstrated leadership in education and/or youth-serving roles
- Passion for positively impacting the lives of young people and their communities
FELLOWSHIP
EXPECTATIONS
- Attend all sessions
- Complete all requisite pre-work before sessions (approximately 5-10 hours per month)
- Get your supervisor’s support
- Show up for yourself!
APPLICATION
REQUIREMENTS
- Completed application, including a résumé and responses to four essay questions
- Two recommendation surveys: one must be from current supervisor
- Memorandum of Understanding signed by applicant and employer
Surge Fellows leave this experience having enhanced their competency in both technical and adaptive leadership skills, including relationship management, problem-solving, negotiation, conflict resolution, communication, anti-racist design, and project planning, management, and execution. Surge Fellows also gain a deeper understanding of the sociopolitical and economic context, history, and structure of public education. And, importantly, Surge Fellows rediscover themselves, their power, and their dreams and become a part of a community of leaders who see, support, and affirm each other.
If you have specific questions, contact Surge at surgeprograms@surgeinstitute.org.