Aimee Rodriguez
“I am inspired to work in education due to my experiences growing up in an immigrant household. While I began my education by learning English at CPS, my hard work…
Nina Smith
“Being part of the Surge Institute would help me to become more confident in my leadership skills and more willing to take on challenges such as seeking out larger-scale collaborations…
Jordan Owens
“I want to be a part of the Surge Fellowship movement because I wholeheartedly believe in the power of collective work and the power of like-minded individuals to affect significant…
Myra Winding
“I chose to be part of Surge to achieve my desired outcome of equity among people of color and to have the opportunity to have a positive impact on those…
Terrence Pruitt
“The Surge Fellowship is doing that Fannie Lou Hamer and Ella Josephine Baker work – empowering a generation of leaders with the tools necessary to change the education system, thereby…
Helen Loving
“I chose Surge because of my desire to take charge and make change. As an African-American woman, born and raised on the Westside of Chicago, I often find myself afraid…
Jessica Jones-Lewis
“I grew up with the firm belief that education is one of the greatest equalizers in our society. I also grew up acutely aware that the educational structures and systems…
Cecily Langford
“As a school leader committed to pushing teachers to value alliance across difference, I am hopeful that Surge will support my work of building spaces for a counter-narrative for black…
JuDonne Hemingway
“As a member of the 2019 Chicago Surge cohort, I believe that I will be pushed and affirmed by like-minded leaders who all aspire to change the educational outcomes for…
Janene Ingram
Janene Ingram is the Director of Program at Pitch In – Wood Family Foundation