Surge Family,

It’s been a few weeks since we were all together in beautiful Scottsdale, AZ! We hope each of you has settled back into daily life with ease and are still carrying the best moments of Convening with you. The energy and connections forged in the desert continue to inspire us—truly—as we move forward in our collective journey.

The seeds planted in Scottsdale are already taking root. Thank you for being part of this transformative journey and for continuing to rise together.

With gratitude and anticipation for what’s next,

The Alumni Impact Team

Top Convening Moments … As Told By You!

 

Thank you for all the feedback we have received so far! It has truly been such a gift and affirming to know that the 2025 Convening was a space of intentionality, care, and community! Check out some of your fellow Surge siblings’ favorite highlights from Convening below.

The numbers speak volumes, too:

  • 169 alumni attended the 2025 Convening (183 total attendees).

  • 27 alumni awards were handed out, as voted on by their peers.

  • 98.5 percent of attendees agreed that the Convening met its objectives.

  • 83.8 percent of attendees had a strong overall satisfaction with the 2025 Surge Convening (9 or 10 rating on a 10-point scale).

  • 91.2 percent of attendees would highly recommend the Surge Convening to their peers (9 or 10 rating on a 10-point scale).

  • The Impact Community (Surge’s monthly donor initiative) saw a 49 percent increase during the Convening!

Relive the Magic

Want to experience the energy all over again?

Check out our Convening recap video – catch all the decisive moments, from Tricia Hersey’s transformative keynote to the intimate breakout sessions that sparked new collaborations.

View the 2025 Convening Photo Gallery – Browse through hundreds of photos capturing the joy, connection, and brilliance of our community coming together.

You can also add to and view our Community Photo Album hosted on Kululu through June 6th.

Check out the Convening Playlist – Keep the energy alive with the curated sounds that moved us through our three days together.

Check Out The Convening Directory – Don’t let those connections fade, see who was at Convening and reconnect!

Explore Our Suggested Reading List – Continue your growth journey with books and resources recommended by fellow alumni and session leaders.

Keep the Connection Going

The Power of Ascension continues through every step we take together.

Join The Impact Community

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View All Things Convening

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Upcoming Surge Events

COMING SOON

Where to in 2027?

The conversations didn’t end in Scottsdale! Our alumni are already planning regional meetups and collaborations, as well as the location of the next Convening. Here are the top cities mentioned as suggested host sites for the 2027 Convening!

  • Warm Coastal Destinations (24 mentions total)

  • Southern Cities (23 mentions total)

  • Southwest & Desert Resorts (21 mentions total)

  • Mountain/Nature Retreats (15 mentions total)

  • Northeast & Mid-Atlantic Cities (14 mentions total)

In the meantime, stay tuned for upcoming regional events in your area! Thanks in advance

For 10 years Surge Institute has diligently been providing a space for educational leaders of color to breathe, think, release, bond, see themselves and be seen. The outcome is a coalition of leaders that are strong, healthy, focused, energized and transforming the educational landscape as we know it. And now the real adventure begins. This is the Power of Ascension!

“The alumni convening was designed to further ignite and inspire the genius we have yet to birth by affirming the genius we already manifest. It is clear by the quality of experience that Surge both believes in our collective genius while simultaneously holding our history and humanity. I am better just by being in this space. The icing on the cake is that my daughter who was traveling with me gets to see me surrounded by excellent Black and Brown leaders whose legacy is pointed toward creating pathways for the emerging brilliance of her generation and the ones after her.”

— Aija Simmons (OAK20) – reflection from 2023 alumni convening

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ALUMNI IMPACT TEAM

Tiara Wheatley

Vice President of Alumni Impact

tiara@surgeinstitute.org

José M. Andre Iniguez

Program Director, Alumni Impact

jose@surgeinstitute.org

Autumn Bryant

Alumni Program Manager

autumn@surgeinstitute.org

We are beyond thrilled to announce Tricia Hersey—author, activist, and founder of The Nap Ministry—as the Keynote Speaker for our 2025 Convening!

Tricia’s work powerfully reminds us that rest is resistance and a pathway to radical transformation. At The Convening, she’ll lead a conversation on how embracing rest fuels liberation, disrupts systems of oppression, and sustains our leadership. Her vision aligns deeply with Surge’s mission to empower leaders of color in education and beyond.

Join us in welcoming Tricia Hersey to the 2025 Convening! Learn more about her leadership journey.