November 2021 Ajia Morris
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…
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Meet the New Faces of the Surge Leadership Team
(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…
October 2021 Sonya Mehta
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…
October 2021 AJ DeLeón
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…
Chicago Program Director Interviewed on WCPT 820 – Chicago’s Progressive Talk
(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…
Celebrating Surge Staff Members in Transition!
(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…
September 2021 Jonathan and Shenita
Jonathan Chaparro (CHI’17) and Shenita Johnson (CHI’17) have been appointed to the BES National Board of Directors. BES is an organization that invests in leaders so that they can invest…
September 2021 Cristina Marquez
Cristina Marquez (KC’20) has begun serving as an adjunct instructor at her alma mater, The University of Kansas (KU). “I have served and will continue to serve as a Field…
Introducing the 15 Leaders of Color of the 2022 Chicago Surge Fellowship Cohort
(CHICAGO, IL – September 7th, 2021) As the Surge Institute approaches its seventh year as a national organization, the community is honored to welcome 15 emerging leaders of color who…
September 2021 India Johnson
India Johnson (INDY’21) was featured on an episode of Terrell Talks where she shares on her work and how she is lighting the path to the future through her educating…
August 2021 Dawn Hicks
Dawn Hicks (CHI’17) has accepted a new role as Senior Director of the BES Fellowship at BES. In this role, she will providing direction and strategy to the Fellowship, oversee…
Surge Institute Launches Abolitionist Design Lab with Seven Surge Chicago Alumni
(Chicago, IL – August 30th) The Surge Institute is excited to announce that seven Surge Chicago Alumni have been selected to join its inaugural Abolitionist Design Lab. Beginning in August…
Surge Institute and Education Forward DC Partner for Washington, D.C. Launch of the Surge Academy, an Executive Program for Leaders of Color in Education
Are you or a leader you know interested in learning more about the 2022 Surge Academy cohort in D.C.? All candidates can fill out this form to be notified of…
Surge Institute Welcomes Fifth Oakland Surge Fellowship Cohort
(OAKLAND, CA – August 18th, 2021) The Surge Institute is excited to welcome 17 leaders from across the Bay Area to join the 2022 Oakland Surge Fellowship cohort. As the…
August 2021 Keeanna Warren
Keeanna Warren (INDY’21) has recently accepted the new role of Associate Executive Director of the Purdue Polytechnic HS Network. Read more here. “We want our students to be prepared with…
August 2021 Sanam Jorjani
Co-Led by Sanam Jorjani (OAK’19), the Oakland Literacy Symposium (hosted by the Oakland Literacy Coalition) will be a two-day virtual conference that will bring together educators, youth development professionals, leaders,…
August 2021 Osayuware (Tina) Enagbare
Osayuware (Tina) Enagbare (OAK’18) has been promoted to Head of Talent & Equity at Peer Health Exchange, and she now advises growing her capstone project, the organization’s Youth Advisory Board,…
August 2021 Liam Bird
Liam Bird (CHI’18) was promoted to Director of Racial Equity Initiatives at Chicago Public Schools. Launched in 2018, Liam is a founding member of the CPS Office of Equity: the…
August 2021 Jessica Sullivan-Wilson
Jessica Sullivan-Wilson (CHI’21) has transitioned into her new role as Director, Community Affairs at Teach For America – Greater Chicago – Northwest Indiana.
August 2021 Brittany Jones
Brittany Jones (CHI’20) served on a panel at the ASU GSV Summit 2021 for a conversation on how art, social justice, history, and philanthropy intersect to evolve ways of being…