“Belonging has always been at the heart of who I am—creating spaces where people feel seen, valued, and able to lead as their full selves. As a Surge Fellow, I’m seeking that same sense of belonging in my own journey. I want to be in a community where I don’t have to earn belonging through performance—where I can show up fully, without shrinking, and be seen. Surge feels like a space where I don’t have to explain why this work matters, and where I can uncover parts of myself I haven’t always had space to develop. I hope to grow in clarity and confidence, and keep building toward a world where difference is not just accepted, but celebrated.”
Destiny Allen | Interim Director of Implementation, TRAILS (Transforming Research into Action to Improve the Lives of Students)