Tara Haskins

  Tara Haskins – Founding School Leader at Kansas City Girls Preparatory Academy “A space where African American and Latinx leaders can connect, learn, grow, and be their authentic selves means more to me than words can express. As an Afro-Latina School Leader, I often believe I am in this work alone. Surge is a…

Marquis Hall

Marquis Hall – Manager of Student Diversity & Inclusion Programs at Kansas City Public Schools “Surge will allow me to move the educational landscape for children in my community. More than ever, we must provide opportunities for hope and healing in our schools and communities so that our students will experience the world on their…

Aryiel Everett

Aryiel Everett – Communications and Operations Coordinator at Kansas City Teacher Residency “What I seek to contribute to the Surge Experience is something that I think oftentimes goes unseen. Growing up I was a Black student in a majority White space, oftentimes being the only one, and academically I excelled but at a great cost…

Chelsea Conwell

Chelsea Conwell – Dean of Culture at Kansas City Girls Preparatory Academy  “Surge gives the opportunity to grow not only as a leader but as a person. I am intrigued by the intentionality used to create space for the development of Black and Brown leaders while cultivating meaningful relationships that will last beyond the fellowship…

Rashawn Caruthers

Rashawn Caruthers – Director of Educator Engagement at Getting Smart “I’m excited to be accepted into the Surge Family. Being a part of Surge will allow me to engage in deep identity work, connect more to the Kansas City community, and continue to serve as an advocate for black and brown students and teachers in…

Cecilia-Ananya Belser-Patton

Cecilia-Ananya Belser-Patton – Founder, Cultural Curator; Director, Leadership Development at JUST Systems; Alive & Well Communities “The Surge Institute means a commitment to collective freedom & liberation for me, honoring and celebrating the beauty, the magic, the Justice seeker, the wondrousness that it means to be an Educator of color, specifically an AfroLatinX womxn, today.”…

Travanna Alexander-Toney

Travanna Alexander-Toney – Director of Behavioral Health at Kansas City Public Schools “As an emerging female leader of color, dedicated to positively impacting diverse communities of color, I was devastated when I missed the opportunity to participate in the first Surge KC cohort. Surge Academy is committed to investing in and elevating leaders of color,…

Surge Institute Nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Chicago Nonprofit Sector

(Chicago, IL – May 10th, 2022) – The Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Chicago’s Annual Celebration Awards honor the outstanding achievements in the Chicago nonprofit sector. YNPN Chicago received dozens of nominations across four categories including Nonprofit of the Year, Associate Board of the Year, Supervisor of the Year, and Young Nonprofit Professional of the…