Dr. Nicole Billings
“Being part of the Surge Fellowship is both an honor and a responsibility. I chose Surge because it creates space for leaders of color to be authentic while working for…
“Being part of the Surge Fellowship is both an honor and a responsibility. I chose Surge because it creates space for leaders of color to be authentic while working for…
“Surge is more than a fellowship—it’s a space to sharpen my leadership while staying rooted in the work that matters most: empowering Black youth and building systems that reflect their…
“I chose Surge to stand with, learn from, and grow alongside fearless leaders who are boldly reshaping education and communities, sparking hope, and building a future where every Black and…
“Surge, to me, is a radical act of love. It is a space where I can rest from the weight of proving, performing, and justifying—and instead root myself unapologetically in…
“Surge, to me, is where leaders of color come together to strengthen our capacity to transform the educational experiences of Black and Brown students. As a first-generation Latina who grew…
“The Surge Fellowship is an opportunity to create space for myself and other leaders of color to access the professional development we need in order to lead the change we…
“I have seen firsthand the inequities in our educational system—how quickly Black and Brown students are treated as if they are not worth the investment, or displaced instead of supported.…
“Through Surge, I hope to sharpen my leadership voice and gain the tools to create sustainable collective impact. I want to deepen my understanding of equity-centered leadership and learn strategies…
“I see Surge as a multiplier effect because when leaders of color grow together, our impact radiates far beyond our individual roles. For me, Surge is a spring that propels…
25 Emerging Education Leaders Join the 2026 Fellowship Chicago Cohort CHICAGO (September 4, 2025)—Surge Institute’s Fellowship Chicago proudly welcomes 25 emerging leaders into the 2026 Fellowship Chicago cohort. These individuals…