The Latest Alumni News

It's that time! 2027 fellow recruitment is in high gear, and every year, Surge alumni help connect us to the next generation of Surge leaders. (Thank you!) Here's how you can help this year:

Nominate a Candidate
Surge is actively seeking strong candidates for the 2027 Fellowship and Academy cohorts in Chicago and Detroit. We invite you to nominate leaders who would benefit from the Surge community and contribute to our movement to transform the education of youth of Color. 

Application Deadlines: 

• June 12th, 2026 (Chicago) 

• June 21st, 2026 (Detroit). 

Become an Application Reviewer
We are also seeking alumni to support application review for the 2027 cohorts. If you are interested in serving as a reviewer, please complete the interest form by Monday, May 25th. 

All important links related to 2027 recruitment can be found here, and additional opportunities to get involved can be found here. 

Feel free to share with any prospective applicants! 

The Black Principals Network (BPN) is accepting proposals for presenters for the Eastern Regional Leadership Summit, which will take place in Greater Baltimore, Maryland, from October 9th to October 10th, 2026.

Guided by the theme, Grounded in Truth. Forward in Strategy, this gathering creates a brave, curated space for Black principals to name the realities of this moment, strengthen the systems that sustain the principal seat, and move with shared strategy across the region. We're planning to offer a variety of dynamic, engaging, and thought-provoking sessions focused on topics that matter most to Black school leaders.

Presenting at the BPN Regional Leadership Summit is a unique opportunity to showcase your expertise, elevate your voice, and share best practices with a national audience of Black school leaders and district leaders who are committed to empowering students and advancing equity in education. Our goal is to create transformative spaces where participants can learn, lead, and leave with actionable strategies that improve practice, strengthen schools, and sustain leadership longevity.

Proposal submissions are due by Friday, July 10, 2026. 

👉View the full RFP Guide 

Learn more about the Easter Regional Leadership Summit 

A special shoutout to our KC Surge Alumni! This past weekend, they came together for the 2026 Alumni Weekend to reimagine their collective impact across Kansas City.

Together, they explored the biggest barriers to cross-collaboration, unpacked systemic disruptors, and began shaping what collective action can look like beyond a single weekend. We’re incredibly proud of their thoughtfulness, their energy, and the joy they bring to being in community with one another.

A heartfelt thank you to our panelists and alumni speakers:

• Katie Boody-Adorno (KC19) 

• Aryiel Everett (KC23) 

• Jorge Fuller (KC20) 

• Charles King (KC19) 

• David Muhammad (KC20) 

• Cescily Phillips (KC20)

• Eric Wilkinson (KC19)

Kansas City’s Alumni Weekend also marked the close of a full year of alumni weekend programming across Surge cities in our off-year of Convening. We can’t wait to see what unfolds as alumni continue building, collaborating, and leading together. Together, we are a powerful community AND a movement for true collective impact.

Last year, during the Annual Surge Alumni Survey, PHILA25 came through full steam ahead—getting their entire cohort to complete the survey first. For their unity and enthusiasm, they earned a $500 cohort outing and decided to cash it in on a well-deserved dinner together in the new year.

Moments like this make us incredibly proud of our Surge community. PHILA25, thank you for your solidarity—keep shining! 

A special shout-out to each PHILA25 cohort Member: 

• Ansharaye Hines

• Brandon Hall

• Dia Jones

• Ervin Miller

• Faith Jones-Jackson

• Geneva Sloan

• Kristin Green-Hayes

• Leyla Lindsay

• Maritza Guridy

• Melissa Molina

• Namarah McCall-Spellman

• Raymond Roy-Pace

• Shakia Harris

• Tiffany Chalmus