Alumni Spotlight 07/23

Surge alumni are active, growing their careers, and making a difference all over the country. Many are living out their freedom dreams through new business ventures. Take a look at what these alumni have been doing and join us in congratulating them on their accomplishments! Jessica Sullivan Wilson, CHI21 Jessica was recently promoted to Managing…

April 2022 Dr. Brandalyn Hayes

“Our students can still get what they need as if they were in a physical classroom,” said Dr. Brandalyn Hayes (IND’22) in the Walton Family Foundation’s highlight of Paramount Online Academy, a new, virtual K-8 school created by Paramount Schools of Excellence, based in Indianapolis. Paramount Online Academy is an Innovation Partner of Indianapolis Public Schools, one…

April 2022 Vanessa Gutiérrez

“For me, the stories of our participants reminded me of the strength, creativity, and persistence that lives in our schools and communities, specifically Black and brown communities. There was an understanding that folks needed to have grace and flexibility for one another.” Chalkbeat Chicago highlights the recent study from the University of Chicago’s Consortium on…

April 2022 Edgar Palacios

“Latino students are rarely going to encounter a Latino teacher along their educational journey. We know that when they see themselves reflected in their teachers, they’re going to have better educational outcomes.” KC Cares recently highlighted the work of the Latinx Education Collaborative, an organization founded by Edgar Palacios (KC’19). The organization also recently opened…

April 2022 Halleemah Nash

Rosecrans Ventures Founder, Halleemah Nash (CHI’17), will join the Entertainment Industry College Outreach Program (EICOP) as an Executive in Residence in support of its signature program, HBCU in LA. The HBCU in LA Internship Program is EICOP’s signature initiative and the first Los Angeles based program of its kind to provide underrepresented students with housing…

March 2022 Carolina Figueroa

Naptown United, a new Indianapolis-based soccer club, was featured in a local news segment. Naptown United is led by Stand for Children bilingual organizer and Peruvian native, Carolina Figueroa (IND’21). Carolina also expanded on the project as part of her Freedom Dreams Project during the Surge Academy program. “We’re really concentrated on the youth in…