Carmita Semaan

Carmita Semaan named newest Bridgespan Fellow

The Bridgespan Group has announced Surge Institute founder and CEO, Carmita Semaan, as its newest Bridgespan Fellow. The Bridgespan Group is a global nonprofit that collaborates with social change organizations, philanthropists, and impact investors to make the world more equitable and just. Bridgespan’s services include strategy consulting and advising, sourcing and diligence, and leadership team…

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Surge welcomes 2024 Chicago cohort

The Surge Chicago Fellowship is thrilled to announce a powerful new collective of 21 brilliant educational leaders beginning their Surge journey this month as they set out to accelerate their leadership and personal growth to become influential change agents in their communities. During their time in the Fellowship program, the collective will hone their executive…

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Image reading Surge Academy Philadelphia 2024 to the right with Surge Academy fellows' headshots to the left.

Surge welcomes 2024 Philadelphia cohort

The Philadelphia Surge Academy is thrilled to announce a powerful new collective of 15 brilliant educational leaders beginning their Surge Fellowship journey this month as they set out to accelerate their leadership and personal growth to become influential change agents in their communities.  “Philadelphia is fertile ground for cultivating a community of leaders committed to…

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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…

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Surge Welcomes Three New Staff Members

Andre Smith Divinity Pittman Cecilia-Ananya Belser Patton The Surge Institute is honored and excited to announce three new staff members joining our team to further our mission and vision: Andre Smith, VP Marketing & Communications; Divinity Pittman, Institutional Giving Specialist; and Cecilia-Ananya Belser Patton, Chicago Program Director. Andre Smith, Surge’s new VP of Marketing and…

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Surge Institute statement on Supreme Court’s Affirmative Action ruling

Today’s Supreme Court ruling that colleges and universities can no longer take into account race as a specific basis in admissions is a saddening move, one that represents a step backward in creating equal educational opportunity in America. The Court’s decision ignores the realities of those who will be most negatively impacted by their decision…

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The Leadership Collaborative Celebrates with Opening Retreat

Over the April 29-30 weekend, The Leadership Collaborative (TLC) celebrated the beginning of their immersive learning experience together at their opening retreat in Houston, Texas. The Leadership Collaborative is a brand new collective experience designed for Black principals across the nation to co-create and learn together. Their weekend retreat programming emphasized community building, restoration, and…

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Giving Flowers to an Amazing Changemaker

This week we’re celebrating Amanda Aiken, a brilliant leader, experienced changemaker, and Harvard Doctoral Fellow, who is completing her impactful Surge residency. As an Innovation Doctoral Resident for Surge, Amanda has supported Innovation and New Projects for our organization—in particular, piloting the launch of our transformative Power Surge program. “For years, we heard from the…

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Surge Alumni Convening a Rousing Success in New Orleans

The 2023 Alumni Convening in New Orleans from March 29th through 31st was a rousing success—and how could it not be? With such vibrant speakers, such committed attendees, and such a beautiful setting, the experience was bound to be extraordinary! Our goal was to amplify…to amplify our alums and their talent in order to grow…

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Surge Academy welcomes the first cohort in Las Vegas, Nevada

(Las Vegas, NV – March 28, 2023) The Las Vegas Surge Academy launches its inaugural cohort for emerging educational leaders across Clark County. A powerful collective of 11 educational leaders will set out to accelerate their leadership and personal growth to become influential change agents in their communities. “I am so excited for our very…

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The Surge Institute welcomes four new Chicago Advisory Board members

(Chicago, IL- March 21, 2023) Four brand new members are joining the Chicago Advisory board to continue their work on expanding the impact of the Surge movement. Learn more about the incredible four board members joining the Surge community.  Candace Moore 2015 Chicago Surge Alumna, Candace C. Moore, has served as the first Chief Equity…

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Surge Academy Welcomes New Cohort in Washington, D.C.

(Washington, D.C. – March 14, 2022) A collective of 16 brilliant educational leaders set out to begin their Surge Fellowship journey this month during the opening retreat on March 23-25, 2023. Since launching, the Washington, D.C. Surge Academy has welcomed two cohorts of emerging leaders of color.    “Coordinated efforts by collectives of passionate change-makers…

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Surge Angels Program Funds Three Ventures Founded by Education Leaders of Color

The Surge Institute recently awarded $100,000 in funding to three early-stage ventures run by Black, Latinx, Asian, and Pacific Islander education leaders CHICAGO, IL (February 1, 2023) – The Surge Institute, a national nonprofit known for programming that creates transformative spaces for education leaders of color, recently awarded $100,000 in funding to three early-stage ventures…

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Black Principals Network Introduces Inaugural Cohort of New National Program

The Leadership Collaborative is a brand new collective experience, designed for Black principals across the nation to co-create and learn together.   NATIONAL — The Black Principals Network is proud to announce the inaugural cohort of its brand new program The Leadership Collaborative.  The Leadership Collaborative is a collective of twenty black school leaders from all…

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Surge Academy Welcomes First Cohort in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA – November 1, 2022—In partnership with Comcast & Spring Point, please join us in welcoming our inaugural Philadelphia Academy cohort of 14 brilliant leaders of color! The Surge Institute continues to expand its Academy fellowship program, and today, the organization officially welcomes its seventh Academy cohort. The Surge Academy is a best-in-class program for…

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Incoming CPO to Lead Surge Institute Programming into New Era

Janaia Nash brings unique experience and knowledge to a brand new role for the national nonprofit racial-equity organization serving leaders of color. The Surge Institute is honored and excited to announce more new faces joining our team to further our mission and vision. Janaia Nash has joined the team in the pivotal role of Chief…

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Introducing 16 Leaders of Color to the Surge Chicago 2023 Fellowship

(CHICAGO, IL – September 6th, 2022) As the Surge Institute approaches its seventh year as a national organization, the community is honored to welcome 16 emerging leaders of color who will join this movement as part of the 2023 Surge Fellowship cohort in Chicago. Joining the Surge family from all areas of work that serve…

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Surge Welcomes 2023 Kansas City Academy Cohort

(Kansas City – July 13, 2022) In 2018 the Surge Institute launched its traveling program, the Surge Academy in Kansas City and since graduated two cohorts in 2019 and 2020. On July 13, 2022, Surge announced its third Kansas City cohort of educational leaders who will begin programming in August 2022 and conclude with the…

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