Mildred Garcia Gomez is the Dean of Students at Chicago Public Schools.

“Being a Guatemalan immigrant woman in America is a daily challenge that I oftentimes feel like I am navigating on my own. I want to be a part of the Surge movement because I need a holistic program that supports the development and transformation of my complexities. I need elders and a communal space to guide me because I still have a lot to learn and a vision to clarify and develop. Surge will push me to a better understanding of myself and the vision that I am trying to piece together. Since a young age, I developed resilience and the understanding of fighting for the progression and liberation of myself and my people and Surge is an extension and reflection of that.”