During the 100 Black Men of Indianapolis Dala (day-luh), India Johnson (INDY’21) and Keeanna Warren (INDY’21) were honored for their distinguished performance in the field of education as well as their outstanding service to the African American community in Indianapolis and beyond with the Dr. George W. Rawls Emerging Leaders Award. This award is giving…
Sonya Mehta (OAK’18) has started a new role as the new Chief of Staff at Families in Action for Quality Education (FIA Oakland). FIA Oakland is a community-organizing coalition working to build collective power around issues that impact equitable access to quality education in Oakland, by developing the leadership capacity of school parents, youth, educators,…
AJ DeLeón (CHI’15) was recently nominated and elected into membership of the ECC. Membership in this exclusive club connects him with the heart of Chicago’s C-Suite to learn from more experienced leaders and to enhance the brand awareness and impact of his organization, Innovare, locally and beyond.
Jonathan Chaparro (CHI’17) and Shenita Johnson (CHI’17) have been appointed to the BES National Board of Directors. BES is an organization that invests in leaders so that they can invest in their teams and students, delivering on the promise of an excellent education for every child.
Cristina Marquez (KC’20) has begun serving as an adjunct instructor at her alma mater, The University of Kansas (KU). “I have served and will continue to serve as a Field Instructor for MSW students and will also begin serving as a Field Liaison/Lecturer. This is a stretch assignment for me, but Surge gave me the…
India Johnson (INDY’21) was featured on an episode of Terrell Talks where she shares on her work and how she is lighting the path to the future through her educating and healing our youth. “This my favorite of all the interviews I have ever done because I was authentic in my expression of the joys,…
Keeanna Warren (INDY’21) has recently accepted the new role of Associate Executive Director of the Purdue Polytechnic HS Network. Read more here. “We want our students to be prepared with a 21st-century skill set so they are able to compete globally. We want them to be really excited and to help grow Indiana’s economy,” Warren…
Co-Led by Sanam Jorjani (OAK’19), the Oakland Literacy Symposium (hosted by the Oakland Literacy Coalition) will be a two-day virtual conference that will bring together educators, youth development professionals, leaders, design thinkers, and change makers together to learn, strategize, elevate, and collaborate. The idea for this conference also stemmed from Sanam’s 2019 Surge Fellowship capstone…
Osayuware (Tina) Enagbare (OAK’18) has been promoted to Head of Talent & Equity at Peer Health Exchange, and she now advises growing her capstone project, the organization’s Youth Advisory Board, nationwide.
Liam Bird (CHI’18) was promoted to Director of Racial Equity Initiatives at Chicago Public Schools. Launched in 2018, Liam is a founding member of the CPS Office of Equity: the only Office of Equity dedicated to solely to education in the City of Chicago. August 2021 Co-Led by Sanam Jorjani (OAK’19), the Oakland Literacy Symposium (hosted…
Jessica Sullivan-Wilson (CHI’21) has transitioned into her new role as Director, Community Affairs at Teach For America – Greater Chicago – Northwest Indiana.
Brittany Jones (CHI’20) served on a panel at the ASU GSV Summit 2021 for a conversation on how art, social justice, history, and philanthropy intersect to evolve ways of being at school, at work, and in community. See here for the full recording here.
Michelle Y. Bess (CHI’16) was quoted in Crain’s Chicago Business’s recent article on tackling the access/support gap within the technology sector. “I’m thrilled about the work I get to do because it helps me live my passion to connect more people of color to opportunity.” Read what she had to say here.
Jermaine Wilson, Ph.D. (KC’20) has accepted a new role as Executive Director of Student Support Services at DeSoto Independent School District.
Elisa M. Botello (CHI’16) has been appointed as Chief of Staff at Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS). In her new role, Elisa will serve as a member of the Superintendent’s Executive Leadership Team and will prioritize and facilitate the resolution of critical issues on behalf of the Superintendent.
Noble Network of Charter Schools has welcomed Dalonte Burns (CHI’21) as new principal of UIC College Prep. Crain’s Chicago Business also featured him on ‘People on the Move’. Read more here: http://ow.ly/YUhi50FEJPq
Jawann Pollard (CHI’17) has accepted a new role as Associate Director of Undergraduate Admission at Loyola University Chicago.
Bridget Lee (CHI’18) has been promoted to Director of Education Strategy. In her new role, she will support the Chief Education Officer in achieving the CPS Vision: Success Starts Here. Bridget will also design and facilitate professional learning and collective problem solving sessions for CPS senior leaders.
July 2021 “We hope that this [program] is just the beginning,” Collier said. “Our students need more of these opportunities to have paid work experiences in their own community. Our students need this, and they deserve it.” Game-changing work is happening in the Kansas City community. The Surge Institute is honored to highlight Jennifer Collier (KC’19)…
Robbie Curry (CHI’20) is bringing to life his Surge Fellowship Freedom Dreams Project, The Marcus Literacy Project, Inc., which is an education tech company that is building a video game designed to support 4th – 8th-grade students to become proficient readers while also developing a love for reading. If you are interested in partnering with…