The 2023 Alumni Convening in New Orleans from March 29th through 31st was a rousing success—and how could it not be? With such vibrant speakers, such committed attendees, and such a beautiful setting, the experience was bound to be extraordinary!
Our goal was to amplify…to amplify our alums and their talent in order to grow our knowledge and share our expertise. In coming together, we wanted to collectively reimagine our responsibility to Surge and to our youth, our communities, and our cities.
We would especially like to recognize and offer our thanks to all of our 2023 Alumni Convening sponsors—Barnes & Thornburg LLP, Innovare, The Mind Trust, McNulty Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, New Schools Venture Fund, Digital Promise, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Rubin Brown, and ASU + GSV Summit—for making this event possible. We couldn’t have done it without your support and commitment to the fundamental purpose of Surge.
Among others, Convening attendees enjoyed inspiring and educational presentations from Amanda Seales, comedian, creative visionary, and author of Small Doses: Potent Truths for Everyday Use; Terrence Pruitt, cofounder and Chief Healing Educator with Project Restore Initiative LLC; and Carmita Seeman, Surge’s own founder and CEO. In addition, numerous diverse speakers provided so many wonderful breakout sessions—leadership, advocacy, DEI, entrepreneurship, health and self-care, and so much more—it was difficult to choose among them.
In her afternoon keynote session, Amanda Seales challenged everyone: “Invigorating and empowering voices is a requirement for society because at what point will you feel complicit if you don’t speak up?”
SURGE AWARDS
During the Convening, awards were presented for philanthropists, partners, and alumni.
Surge Catalyst Award
The Surge Catalyst Award is presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution through their service or philanthropy to Surge andl has demonstrated a deep commitment to Surge through their service and alignment with our mission, vision, and values.
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Awardees |
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Kaya Henderson – Chief Executive Officer, Reconstruction US |
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Nneka Rimmer – President, Global Flavors and Extracts (Retired) |
Surge Vanguard Award
The inaugural Surge Vanguard award is presented to an organization that has supported Surge significantly through advocacy, connections, and strategic investments in the Surge Movement.
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Awardee – CZI, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative |
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CZI Representative: Jannah Garfio, Sr. Manager, Education Policy |
ALUMNI AWARDS
Rookie of the Year Awards
These alums are less than 2 years removed from their own initial Surge experience. They are beginning to explore their own Surge Alumni identity and connect with the incoming cohorts of Surge leaders. This is a person who is “On Fire” for Surge and the movement that we are building and is demonstrated by how they show up.
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Awardees |
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David McGuire – INDY22, The X-Factor |
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Naomi Wilfred – CHI21, The Disruptors |
Young Alumni Award
These alums are 2-4 years removed from their own initial Surge experience and have continued to support the movement by showing up through engagements and in community work. This is a person who continues to shine and is an “Intentional Fire Starter” with the incoming Surge leaders and beyond.
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Awardees |
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Lauren Horton – OAK21, The C.R.E.A.T.O.R.S |
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Ulric Shannon – CHI20, The ReSurgence |
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Christoper Williams – OAK2, The C.R.E.A.T.O.R.S |
OG Award
These alums are 5+ years removed from their own initial Surge experience and have continued to support the movement by showing up through engagements and in community work.
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Awardees |
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Halleemah Nash – CHI17, The Guardians |
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Kyra Marcano – CHI18, The Ascendants |
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AJ Watson – CHI18, The Ascendants |
Ambassador of the Year
These alums have been making some noise and stirring things up!! They have embodied the Surge core values of Authentic and Passionate advocacy and are helping us radically re-imagine what is possible for our young people, our communities and our leaders.
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Awardees |
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Naomi Fierro Peña – OAK22, The U.L.T.I.M.A.T.E. |
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Kim Riley – KC20, The Visionaries |
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Derrick Fleming Jr. – CHI20, The ReSurgence |
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Loreal Latimer – DC22, The Catalysts |
Innovator of the Year
These alums are “in the room where it happens” and shifting policy and practice in service of advancing equity and liberation for young people, our communities and our leaders.
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Awardees |
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Sanam Jorjani – OAK19, The Radical Collect |
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Tylie Mendoza-Robertson – INDY22, The X-Factor |
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Marcus Wilson – DC22, The Catalysts |
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Candace Moore – CHI15, The Insurgents |
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Stephanie Hernandez – CHI22, Ukombozi Comunidad |
Changemaker of the Year
These alums are casting a vision and helping others imagine what could be possible. They are expert connectors and facilitators of introductions and conversations necessary for it all to work. They are advancing our movement of liberation, justice and equity for our young people, our communities and our leaders!
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Awardees |
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Dr. Leslye Salinas – OAK21, The C.R.E.A.T.O.R.S |
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Bridget Lee – CHI18, The Ascendants |
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Chanelle Bell – CHI19, The Emergents |
Freedom Dream Award
This award recognizes all of the hard work, ingenuity and care put into building and improving programs to be a beacon of light and powerful resource for communities in the area of education.
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Awardee |
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Dirrick Butler- CHI19, The Emergents |
School Based Practitioner of the Year
These alums have identified ways around the policy and limitations of the system to create rich and equitable learning environments for our students that also provide them with more opportunity, exposure, and pathways to leadership that will continue to push the movement forward in the future.
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Awardees |
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Judonne Hemmingway – CHI19, The Emergents |
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Ma’at Lands – INDY21, The Colectivo Ase |
FINAL AWARDS
Alumnae Choice Awards
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Awardee |
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Will Collins – CHI17, The Guardians |
Alumni of the Year
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Awardee |
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Carolina Figueroa – INDY21, The Colectivo Ase |
“Surge is the realization of so many people with shared belief. We are grounded in the belief of the genius of our people,” said Carmita Semaan.
With amazing presentations and breakout sessions, wellness activities, meals together, and plenty of fun in NOLA, there was truly something for everyone at this year’s Convening. It was a joy for all of us to be about our business of identifying and examining what it takes to influence change and move mountains!
It’s time now to begin planning for an even more inspiring Convening in 2025!
Stay tuned for the exact dates to be announced soon!
