Mission & Background

OUR MISSION To educate and develop leaders of color who create transformative change for young people, their families and our broader communities. OUR VISION We are the preeminent pipeline addressing the dearth of leadership of color at decision-making tables. Surge educates, empowers and energizes leaders of color who will create transformative change in the communities…

June 2018 William J. Collins

2017 Fellow William J. Collins has accepted the position of Vice President of External Affairs at OneGoal Chicago. In this role, William’s mission is to ensure OneGoal-Chicago maintains its financial stability by maintaining and growing a diversified and sustainable investor base, building efficiencies of scale to keep the revenue goal manageable and increase awareness and…

June 2018 Dominique McKoy

2018 Fellow Dominique McKoy has accepted the position of Associate Director at the University of Chicago’s To&Through Project, a project that aims to use research, data, and resources to give every student who aspires to earn a college degree the opportunity and support to do so. In this role, Dominique will lead local partnership strategy and work…

Surge Fellowship

The Surge Fellowship is a signature program of the Surge Institute and serves as a best-in-class, cohort-based experience that unites, accelerates, and empowers emerging leaders of color in education. Surge Fellows go on a journey, not just learning the skills needed to function at the executive level and navigate complex systems, but also joining a…

Curriculum

The Fellowship Curriculum The Surge Fellowship curriculum encompasses a combination of content areas and learning experiences to impact not just the mind but also the heart of each fellow. This experience is curated to generate both individual and collective transformation through a bold reclamation of our leadership narratives, centered on the power and strength of…

June 2018 William J. Collins, Ashlie Tyler and A.J. Watson

   2017 Surge Fellows William J. Collins and Ashlie Tyler and 2018 Surge Fellow A.J. Watson were named Agents of Change by Education Pioneers. Agents of Change are Education Pioneers alumni who work on behalf of underserved students and demonstrate results toward achieving educational equity and opportunities in many ways, including innovation, entrepreneurship and community advocacy and…

April 2018 Amanda Paz

2018 Fellow Amanda Paz has accepted the role of Continuous Improvement Work Plan Coordinator at Chicago Public Schools. In this role, Amanda is responsible for the management of the Continuous Improvement Work Plan site and coordinating processes that guide schools in meaningful data-driven reflection and analysis to positively impact the instructional core. Amanda also assists schools…