Surge Institute

Virtual Lunch & Learn: Surge Academy Detroit Informational Session!
2025-03-25 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Detroit) | Virtual
Mark your calendars for March 25th at 12pm ET and take a step towards a transformative experience with Surge Academy Detroit. This engaging virtual event, hosted via Zoom, is your gateway to learning more about our fellowship program designed to empower and uplift emerging leaders in education and social impact.
Surge Academy is more than just a program; it’s a movement. Our mission is to cultivate a diverse community of leaders committed to creating equitable opportunities in education. In this session, you’ll hear from alumni, meet our Executive Director, and get a glimpse into the impact that Surge Academy Detroit has on its participants and their communities.

Virtual Lunch & Learn: Surge Academy Philadelphia Informational Session!
2025-04-01 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
Mark your calendars for April 1st at 12pm ET and take a step towards a transformative experience with Surge Academy Philadelphia. This engaging virtual event, hosted via Zoom, is your gateway to learning more about our fellowship program designed to empower and uplift emerging leaders in education and social impact.
Surge Academy is more than just a program; it’s a movement. Our mission is to cultivate a diverse community of leaders committed to creating equitable opportunities in education. In this session, you’ll hear from alumni, meet our Executive Director, and get a glimpse into the impact that Surge Academy Philadelphia has on its participants and their communities.

#LeadTheSurge 2025: The Next Chapter is Ours
2025-04-03 17:30 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | Hue Chicago, 67 E Cermak Rd, Chicago, IL, 60616, United States
We’ve been building, pushing, and leading—and we’re just getting started. As Surge Fellowship Chicago steps into the next decade of impact, this movement matters more than ever.
Join us at #LeadTheSurge 2025, where we’re celebrating Black and Latinx education leaders who are out here disrupting, elevating, and shifting the future of education.
Come through. Meet the folks doing the work. Feel the power of Surge Chicago Fellowship in real time. And if you’re ready to lead the next chapter? Let’s talk.

Ignite & Inspire: Alumni & Community Leader Roundtable Discussion - Detroit
2025-04-17 17:30 - 19:30 (America/Detroit)
Join us for a thought-provoking and impactful event that brings together Surge Academy alumni and other prominent local leaders in the Detroit education and youth-serving sector. This roundtable discussion focuses on the unique challenges and opportunities in the local education ecosystem, providing a platform for dialogue, networking, and inspiration.

Build Institute
1620 Michigan Ave., Suite 120 Detroit, MI 48216
Entrance on Trumbull Ave.

Ignite & Inspire: Alumni & Community Leader Roundtable Discussion - Philadelphia
2025-04-24 17:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York)
Join us for a thought-provoking and impactful event that brings together Surge Academy alumni and other prominent local leaders in the Philadelphia education and youth-serving sector. This roundtable discussion focuses on the unique challenges and opportunities in the local education ecosystem, providing a platform for dialogue, networking, and inspiration.

P4 Hub
4537 Wayne Avenue, Ste 202,
Philadelphia PA 19144

Surge Academy Detroit #LeadTheSurge Event
2025-06-05 16:00 - 18:00 (America/Detroit)
Join us in Detroit for our #LeadtheSurge event on June 5th! As we close out our recruitment season, we’re hosting a vibrant celebration to honor our incredible local partners and alumni. This event is also your chance to meet and engage with other prospective fellows, who are poised to make a significant impact in the communities they serve.
Enjoy inspiring stories, lively networking, and a chance to learn more about our fellowship program. It’s a fantastic opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and be part of our movement of change.

Surge Academy Philadelphia: Real Talk and Roadmap Virtual Event
2025-06-12 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
Join us on June 12th for an important virtual conversation about the upcoming Philadelphia Surge Academy cohort. During this session, we’ll openly discuss the recent shift in our program timeline, what this means for prospective fellows, and how we’re shaping the path forward to ensure a stronger, more impactful experience for everyone involved.This is your opportunity to ask questions, hear directly from the team, and learn about next steps and opportunities to stay engaged!

Surge Fellowship Chicago – Power to the People: Juneteenth Kickoff
2025-06-18 17:30 - 19:30 (America/Chicago) | Spaceish, 917 W. 18th St, Chicago, Illinois 60608, 917 W. 18th St, Chicago, IL, 60608, United States
​Power to the People
​Juneteenth is more than history—it’s a call to action. A reminder that our power, our voices, and our leadership matter now more than ever.
​Join us for Power to the People: The Juneteenth Kickoff, where we’ll celebrate Black excellence, resilience, and liberation with community, culture, and conversation. This is a space to honor the past, elevate the present, and build the future—together.
​Come through, connect with like-minded leaders, and tap into the energy of Black educators, innovators, and changemakers leading the charge for justice and equity. This is our time. This is our movement.

Virtual Lunch & Learn: Surge Academy Philadelphia Informational Session!
2025-07-23 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
Mark your calendars for July 23 at 12pm ET and take a step towards a transformative experience with Surge Academy Philadelphia. This engaging virtual event, hosted via Zoom, is your gateway to learning more about our fellowship program designed to empower and uplift emerging leaders in education and social impact.
Surge Academy is more than just a program; it’s a movement. Our mission is to cultivate a diverse community of leaders committed to creating equitable opportunities in education. In this session, you’ll hear from alumni, meet our Executive Director, and get a glimpse into the impact that Surge Academy Philadelphia has on its participants and their communities.

Surge Academy Philadelphia #LeadTheSurge Event
2025-08-21 17:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | South Side Events
Join us in Philadelphia for our #LeadTheSurge event on August 21st! This event is a vibrant celebration to honor our incredible local partners and alumni, and also your chance to meet and engage with other prospective fellows who are poised to make a significant impact across the Philadelphia educational landscape. Enjoy inspiring stories, lively networking, and a chance to learn more about our fellowship program. It’s a fantastic opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and be part of something meaningful – a movement of change.

Blueprints for Liberation: Keys to Building Your Freedom Dreams From the Ground Up.
2026-03-12 17:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | P4 Hub, 4537 Wayne Ave Ste 202, Philadelphia, PA, 19144, United States
Join the Surge Academy Philadelphia cohort at its mid-retreat for a special fireside chat. This gathering is designed to be an intentional moment for meaningful conversations within the community. Our theme is “Blueprints for Liberation: Keys to Building Your Freedom Dreams From the Ground Up.” The fireside chat will offer inspiration and be a safe space for insightful dialogue.

Clarity in Chaos: Practical Leadership for Staff Stability
2026-03-24 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago)
Join us for our upcoming PLS featuring guest speaker Nikki Grier (Recipient of Liberatory Leadership Award). In this session, leaders will engage in an interactive session focused on what it means to lead through chaos while strengthening staff belonging and retention mid-year. Amid national uncertainty, community stress, and school-based pressures, this session will explore practical leadership strategies to help staff feel seen, heard, and connected, especially as they begin making decisions about returning next year. Participants will learn concrete moves to reinforce trust, strengthen team culture, and create environments where educators feel valued and supported. This session will equip leaders with actionable tools to stabilize culture and sustain commitment during complex times.

2026 LV Alumni Weekend
2026-03-27 18:00 - 2026-03-28 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Las Vegas Alumni Weekend is almost here, and we are so excited to be in community with each of you! Each Alumni Weekend is curated especially for our alumni and their city. Your Alumni Weekend will be no different. Our hope is that you walk away from the weekend feeling grounded, connected, and inspired for your collective impact in the Las Vegas community. Take a peek at what is in store for Friday night and Saturday morning!

It Takes A Village: Open Forum and Virtual Networking Mixer
2026-04-08 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Chicago)
This event creates a space for Black principals to come together and engage in real-time conversations about current challenges in their roles, while also building community through meaningful, engaging virtual networking.

DET27 + CHI27 Ignite and Inspire
2026-04-21 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
This engaging virtual session, hosted on Zoom, is your opportunity to learn more about how Surge supports emerging leaders in education and social impact who are ready to grow their leadership, deepen their impact, and move in community.
This event will feature a dynamic conversation between two of Surge’s Executive Directors—Andrea Black Evans, Executive Director of Surge Academy, and Ulric Shannon, Executive Director of Surge Fellowship Chicago—both of whom are also proud Surge alumni. Together, they will share their leadership journeys, reflect on the impact of Surge, and offer insight into what it means to lead with purpose and in community.
Surge is more than a program; it is a movement. We are committed to building a diverse, values-aligned network of leaders who are working to create more equitable and just education systems. We hope you will join us and take that first step toward growing your leadership in community.

Leading Well to Lead Strong
2026-04-22 18:00 - 19:30 (America/Chicago)
The Black Principals Network invites education leaders to a virtual Wellness Wednesday event on April 22 at 6 p.m. CT.
“Leading Well to Lead Strong” is a soulful, dialogue-centered virtual workshop designed to help education leaders pause, reflect, and reset. Through guided conversation and peer connection, participants will explore their current wellness, unpack the hidden weight of leadership, and leave with practical strategies to sustain their energy and impact.
Register now for this free event.

Kansas City Alumni Weekend
2026-04-24 18:00 - 2026-04-25 14:00 (America/Chicago)
Join us for our next Kansas City Alumni Weekend! This alumni weekend will create space for all Surge Kansas City alumni to deepen connections, recharge, and reimagine what collective impact can look and feel like in KC!

Surge Fellowship Chicago #LeadTheSurge
2026-05-12 17:30 - 20:30 (America/Chicago)
Surge Chicago—it is time to rise. #LeadTheSurge 2026 is here!
On May 12, we are bringing together the power, purpose, and people that make Surge Fellowship Chicago what it is. This is not just an event. It is a celebration of impact, a space for reconnection, and a moment to pour into the next generation of leaders. This year, the event will be bigger than ever as we return to the roots of what #LeadTheSurge is all about: authentic connection, collective power, and a shared commitment to transforming education.
Join us for an evening rooted in community, joy, and forward momentum. RSVP today to reconnect with fellow alums, engage with potential CHI27 fellows, and help shape the future of Surge in Chicago.

BPN Professional Learning Series: The Wealth We Carry
2026-05-19 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago)
Black principals carry remarkable wealth into every room and an unfair amount of weight. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and this virtual event is our intentional response to it.
This session blends research, reflection, and real talk to help you name what you’ve always brought to this work, understand why it’s been hard to claim it, and practice a concrete strategy for leading from your strength. In our last PLS event, 100% of attendees rated the session a perfect score and said they would recommend it to a fellow school leader, with participants describing it as “getting me through the hard times” and calling for more time together. This is your space.
REGISTER Today

Virtual Office Hours
2026-06-04 15:00 - 16:00, 2026-06-10 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Have questions about your application? We’ve got your back! There are two more virtual office hours left before the recruitment season ends for Surge Fellowship Chicago and Surge Academy Detroit. Join our virtual office hours for one-on-one support. Our team can answer your questions, offer feedback on your responses, and help you navigate the process from start to finish.
June 4, 2026, 3-4 pm ET (Zoom Link) | June 10, 2026, 3-4 pm ET (Zoom Link)

#LeadTheSurge Detroit
2026-06-17 17:30 - 19:30 (America/Detroit) | Owl & Oaks, 1314 Holden St., Unit D, Detroit, MI, 48202, United States
Join us in Detroit for our annual #LeadTheSurge event on June 17! As we close out this year’s recruitment season, we’re bringing together prospective fellows, alumni, and community partners for an evening of connection, celebration, and shared purpose.
This gathering is an opportunity to honor the incredible leaders and partners who make this work possible while creating space to engage with others who are stepping into their leadership and making an impact across Detroit.
Experience inspiring stories, meaningful conversations, and vibrant networking as you learn more about Surge Academy Detroit and the powerful community behind it. Whether you are exploring the program or looking to connect with like-minded leaders, this event offers a meaningful way to be part of a growing movement committed to equity and systems change.
RSVP Now

Eastern Regional Leadership Summit Informational
2026-06-18 18:00 - 19:30 (America/Chicago)
This will be a two-part event. The first half will serve as a networking opportunity where attendees can get to know one another. The second half will give an overview of the Summit’s purpose, objectives, and what attendees can expect to gain from this powerful experience. Register now.

BPN Eastern Regional Leadership Summit
2026-10-09 15:30 - 2026-10-10 17:00 (America/Chicago)
This October 9–10, we are gathering under the theme Grounded in Truth. Forward in Strategy. This 1.5-day intensive is intentionally designed in response to what we have heard from you—a profound need for a curated space where Black school leaders can be restored, affirmed, and equipped to sustain their leadership.
Whether you are looking to sharpen your instructional strategy, cultivate authentic connections, or simply protect the seat through wellness practices, this Summit is built for you.
Early Bird Registration & Pricing
Claim your $100 Juneteenth discount between June 8th and June 19th! After the 19th, prices will revert to standard Early Bird rates before General Admission opens. Early Bird Prices are as follows:

Summit Registration Only: $499
Summit Registration + Hotel: $699

Special Juneteenth Celebration Offer
The Black Principals Network is rooted in the liberation and restoration of Black leaders. To honor and celebrate Juneteenth, we are offering a $100 discount on your Early Bird registration!
Use the promo code JUNETEENTH at checkout to claim your Juneteenth discount. (Note: This code is only valid through June 19th.)
REGISTER TODAY
