16 Education Leaders Ready to Change the Game in Philadelphia PHILADELPHIA, PA, UNITED STATES December 4, 2025 — Surge Institute’s Academy Philadelphia is thrilled to welcome its newest cohort, PHILA26,…
Detroit’s Newest Cohort: 20 Educational Leaders Ready to Transform Detroit’s Educational Landscape DETROIT (September 11, 2025) — Surge Institute’s Academy Detroit is thrilled to welcome its second Detroit cohort, a…
25 Emerging Education Leaders Join the 2026 Fellowship Chicago Cohort CHICAGO (September 4, 2025)—Surge Institute’s Fellowship Chicago proudly welcomes 25 emerging leaders into the 2026 Fellowship Chicago cohort. These individuals…
Sister. Brother. Changemaker. For too long, we’ve been the only ones in rooms that weren’t built for us. Translating our brilliance. Dimming our light. Making others comfortable while we suffocated.…
Black philanthropy isn’t new—we’ve always taken care of our own. Black Philanthropy Month (BPM), observed every August, was birthed in 2011 by Dr. Jackie Bouvier Copeland with support from Reunity,…
+BioMaria F. TownsendProgram Director, Alumni Impactmaria@surgeinstitute.orgMaria F. TownsendProgram Director, Alumni ImpactMaria is a passionate advocate for equity of voice and authentic narratives of student experiences, believing that centering the humanity…
We know that crisis doesn’t pause for our purpose. Whether facing climate-related disasters, school emergencies, or community trauma, Black and Brown leaders are often on the front lines—personally and professionally.…