Dr. Lateshia Woodley (KC’20) was featured in EdWeek’s 2022 Leaders to Learn From. The honorees are innovative district leaders who have showed resiliency and fortitude as they found ways to support students and families during a year of continued disruption. Lateshia was recognized for Leadership in Whole-Child Supports. Learn more about Lateshia’s work as featured…
The local Indianapolis news recently covered Thrival Indy’s hypnotherapy services and the impact that this focus on mental health has had on our school culture. India Johnson currently serves as the school’s Executive Director. Read the full story here.
(INDIANAPOLIS, IN – February 3, 2022) Last Fall kicked off the Surge Institute’s recruitment cycle to seek the next class of leaders of color in Indianapolis to #JoinTheSurge. After having the opportunity to connect with many education leaders and learn about the collective vision for transformative change in their communities, we are excited to welcome…
(CHICAGO, IL – January 26, 2022) – Surge Institute is excited to announce the “Let Us Write/Right Our Story” Summit, a virtual convening on February 21, 2022 that will focus on galvanizing Black Male & Masculine-Identifying talent across the country to choose and stay in the education profession. We are in a critical moment in…
The Poetry Foundation has welcomed Diego Báez (CHI’19) as a new Harriet Books reviewer. Named after Harriet Monroe, the founding editor of Poetry Magazine, Harriet Books centers the work of poets and serves as a portal to the latest poetry-related news. Read more here.
(CHICAGO, IL – January 12, 2022) We are excited to share the results from last year’s end-of-year giving campaign, #SurgeForMore. Through the support, generosity and love we received from our community, we were able to raise over $189,000 and received more than 230 individual gifts! We are eternally grateful to everyone who invested in our…
Aaron Harris (OAK’22) has accepted the role of Dean of Instruction at Aspire Golden State Prep. Aspire’s mission is to open and operate small, high-quality charter schools in low income neighborhoods, in order to: Increase the academic performance of underserved students, develop effective educators, share successful practices with other forward-thinking educators, and catalyze change in…
Dirrick Butler (CHI’19) has transitioned to a full-time role of Project OneTen. Founded by Butler as part of his fellowship capstone project, the organization that engages and mentors Black and Brown boys in Chicago during the transition to high school by empowering them to recognize and develop their strengths, academic confidence, and innate brilliance. As…
Ashley N. Leonard (CHI’17) served as a panelist for Forefront’s monthly Philanthropy Club convening titled “Black Philanthropy: Money, Mentoring, and More” in her role as a co-chair of the South Side Giving Circle at the Chicago Foundation of Women. This session was an opportunity to hear from Black philanthropists who support people, causes, and institutions…
Amanda Paz (CHI’18) has been promoted to Associate Principal at the Civic Consulting Alliance. In her new role, she will serve on management team, lead high-impact projects for the City of Chicago, architect and oversee implementation of solutions, manage partnerships with key clients and pro bono partners, as well as coach and supervise colleagues. Learn…
(WASHINGTON, DC – December 16th, 2021) In partnership with Education Forward DC, the Surge Institute expanded their Academy fellowship program to Washington, DC earlier this year, and today, the organization officially welcomes 12 leaders from across the area to its fourth Academy cohort & inaugural DC cohort. The Surge Academy is a best-in-class program for…
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…
AJ DeLeón (CHI’15) has completed the Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative – Education Scaling Program sponsored by the Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) and the Latino Business Action Network (LBAN). He was also selected as valedictorian for the cohort. Learn more about the initiative here.
Zuleica Lopez (OAK’20) was promoted to Senior Director of Program at OneGoal, an organization whose mission is to close the degree divide in America. Learn more about OneGoal at: www.onegoalgraduation.org
Ajia Morris (KC’20) was recognized as one of 20 to Know in Commercial Real Estate by the Kansas City Business Journal. Her first project is renovating a 3.7acre city block that is home to a historic elementary school which has been vacant for over 14yrs. Partnering with KCPS and Dr. Trinity Davis (KC’19), Founder of…
(Chicago, IL – October 13, 2021) The Surge Institute is excited to share that our National Leadership Team is once again growing in a very special way. Stepping into the movement are three leaders who will support #TheSurgeAhead into the future, expanding and supporting our work through their bountiful, rich experience in leading program and…
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.
(Chicago, IL – September 16, 2021) Cecily Relucio, Surge Chicago Program Director, was interviewed on Chicago’s WCPT 820 – Chicago’s Progressive Talk. During the segment, Cecily connected with Joan Esposito to speak on Surge’s national work, our fellow and alumni community and why this work is critical for young people and communities of color. You…
(Chicago, IL – September 15th, 2021) Over the summer season, Surge has continued to develop, expand and evolve into the next chapter as a national movement: last month the 2022 Chicago and Oakland Surge Fellowship cohorts were announced, and the organization is in the early stages of recruiting leaders for the inaugural Washington DC Surge…