Ma’at Lands is the Executive Director and Founding School Leader at Rooted School Indianapolis at Eastern Star Church. “I am grateful and honored to join other education leaders of colors in this movement to build and transform our communities. As a leader of color it is important for me to be in space that allows…
Allissa Impink is the Manager of Community Engagement, K-12 Advocacy at the UNCF (United Negro College Fund). “The Surge Academy is geared towards equipping and empowering leaders in their journey. I interpret this movement as a way to enable reciprocity amongst leaders of color. I want to be a part of this unified space, as…
India Johnson is the Executive Director at Thrival Indy Academy. “I was born a passionate person, but I wasn’t always proud of my audacity. As I have learned over the years to lean into my audacious nature, I’ve become more comfortable in my role as a disruptor or systems. I believe that Surge will offer…
Carolina Figueroa is the Bilingual Community Organizer at Stand for Children. “I am currently a DACA recipient and it has changed my life in such a positive way, and I know it was only possible with the movement we fought for years. Organizing, action-taking, and being a part of that change takes time and patience.…
Geoffrey Fenelus is the Founder/Executive Director of PROMISE PREP. “Programs help individuals or a group of people learn ideas, actions, or theoretical frameworks on how to achieve a particular goal. However, a movement is a group of people that work collectively to advance their shared political, social, or economic beliefs or ideas. The key component…
Ava Fenelus is the Assistant Dean of Online Programs & Associate Professor of Science at Relay Graduate School of Education. “For me, the movement that Surge represents is the intentional and active creation of a collective community. This collectivism, by its very nature, lays the foundation for truly anti-racist work. To be part of the…
Theodore Brannum is the Director of Finance and Operations at URBAN ACT Academy. “I want to be a part of a movement that brings a change in leadership. I want to be an agent of change in the communities that I serve. During these times, it’s important that there is social equity in educational leadership and…
Javier Barrera Cervantes the Executive Director at The Latino Youth Collective. “In the fight for justice and equity in education we need to build a movement by people who see their roles in it as a civic duty, as a lifestyle, not as a career.”
Rick Anderson is the Founder & Head of School at Allegiant Prep Academy. “The Surge Institute is dedicated to the empowerment, advancement, growth, and achievement of youth and communities of color. They do this by educating and elevating leaders of color, preparing them to transform urban education and expand the opportunities for our youth. If…
Jasmine Rodriguez is the Director of Mentor Engagement at Starfish Initiative. “I feel very honored to have been selected for the first cohort of Surge Fellows in Indianapolis. I look forward to building relationships and learning from some of the amazing leaders that are part of our city’s educational landscape.”