We are beyond excited to welcome our newest Chicago cohort, CHI26. "Gold Standard" has officially stepped into Alumnihood! While their fellowship chapter has closed, their journey within our national alumni network is just beginning. We are energized by all that this cohort will bring to our network and hopeful about the ways they will deepen and expand their impact in Chicago!

Fellow Surge siblings, join us in welcoming CHI26 into Alumnihood! Be sure to reach out, show love, and help us wrap them in the strength of our community. 🧡

• Margarita Lachica

• Dr. Nicole Billings

• Kendra Turner

• Katrina Miller

• Jamie L. Enge

• Joshua Johnson

• Shinon Allen

• Kadeem Fuller

• Keviyona Ray

• Amber Henderson

• Lisset Rosales

• Román Ahmed 

• Eron Godi

• Jorge Alaves

• Tatiana L. Roberts

• Alejandra Sandoval Martinez

• Kristin Moore

• Edith Flores 

• Juan Pablo Esquivel 

• SaShay Butler

• Nino Rodriguez

• Shannon R. Keys

• Cheyane Bligen

• Eric Steen

• Darnell Motley

This past year, with support from EdForward DC, Surge Institute launched our DC Alumni Leads Pilot, an initiative designed to strengthen connection, leadership, and collective action among our 47 D.C.-based alumni. Led by alumni Rhonda Henderson and Arman Lakes, the pilot brought together three cohorts through eight alumni-designed experiences focused on leadership development, advocacy, wellness, community building, and reimagining education systems. The results affirmed something we've long believed: when alumni lead, our community grows stronger. Participants reported deeper relationships across the network, greater confidence in their leadership, and increased engagement in advocacy efforts that are already influencing schools, organizations, and education policy in Washington, D.C.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway wasn't just what happened in D.C. It was what it taught us about the future of Surge Alumni. We heard a clear desire for more opportunities to learn from one another, organize around issues that matter, and build leadership beyond our individual roles. We're incredibly grateful to Rhonda and Arman for their vision, leadership, and countless hours of work to make this pilot such a success. Their leadership has provided a roadmap for how alumni can continue shaping the future of our network.

Learn more about DC programming that happened this year! 

We're changing the way career opportunities reach our alumni.

Too often, the burden falls on talented leaders to constantly search for the next opportunity. We believe it should also work the other way around.

That's why we're intentionally building relationships with recruiters, executive search firms, and hiring teams who are looking for experienced, equity-driven leaders. Rather than simply sharing job postings, we want recruiters to think of Surge first when they're searching for exceptional talent—and to connect them directly with alumni whose experience and leadership align with their needs.

If you're actively (or quietly) exploring what's next in your career, know that we're working behind the scenes to create more opportunities for organizations to find you.

This is just one more way we're investing in the strength of our network and opening doors for one another.

Check out our announcement to recruiters.

Job opportunities will get posted on an ongoing basis on our Jobs & Career Supports page.

Affinity Groups are active! Meet your Affinity Group Leads and sign up today!

Surge Alumni Affinity Groups are officially here!

These alumni-led spaces are designed to bring our community closer—creating opportunities to connect more deeply through shared identities, experiences, and interests.

This year, we’re excited to introduce three new Affinity Groups:
✨ Parents & Caregivers
✨ LGBTQIA+
✨ Founders & Entrepreneurs

We are beyond excited to see these spaces grow and, most importantly, to celebrate the incredible alumni who are stepping into leadership to guide each one.

Meet Your 2026 Affinity Group Leads:

• Naomi Fierro Peña (OAK22) - LGBTQIA+
  Founder & CEO, Naomi is on a mission to help BIPOC adults ritualize creative self-care and break free from perfectionism and toxic grind culture. Her Georgetown University background in Government and Education underpins her approach to community healing through art and play. Naomi's innovative work earned her the 2023 Surge Ambassador Award and $20,000 in the 2024 Surge Angels Pitch Competition. Through monthly in-person and virtual play dates, she creates sacred spaces that honor the inner child while connecting participants to their creative power.

•  Danyelle Wright (TLC23) - Parents & Caregivers
  Dr. Danyelle Wright is a nationally recognized trailblazer in K-12 education and the first African American female administrator in the Monona Grove School District, where she served as Principal of Cottage Grove School. She holds a PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where her research centers on dismantling systemic racism through equitable hiring practices, districtwide professional development, and organizational design that helps every student, educator, and staff member thrive.

• Randy Seriguchi (OAK18) - Founders & Entrepreneurs
  Randy Seriguchi, Jr. is an attorney, nonprofit executive, and creative producer with nearly two decades of experience at the intersection of social justice, education, and community investment. As former Executive Director of Urban Ed Academy, he built a national model for recruiting, training, and housing Black male teachers from HBCUs. His recent work spans community investment campaigns, professional sports foundations, and youth civic engagement. He holds a J.D. from American University Washington College of Law and a B.A. from the University of Michigan.

Interested in joining? Sign up today!

The *NEW* Surge Alumni Hub is here! 🚀

We are so proud to finally share a version of a digital home space for Surge alumni that reflects our evolution as a an alumni community over the years!  

This new Surge Alumni Hub is a place where you can easily find the information you need for all things Surge alumni, including, but not limited to, exploring our alumni programs more deeply and keeping abreast of job opportunities, projects, applications, and upcoming events.

Inside the Hub, you’ll find:

• Announcements & updates

• Events

• Alumni Impact Programs

• Advocacy Tools

• Career Supports

• And more!

We look forward to this next iteration of our digital home base and are deeply grateful for all the feedback and care that you have poured into shaping this community! 

It is time for you to share your voice and help shape what happens next in alumnihood as a Surge alumni! 

Each year’s survey is unique and helps us understand how you’re doing professionally and how Surge is doing as a network. A particular focus of this 2026 survey is to measure the interconnectedness and strength of our movement. Participation from as many alumni as possible is important to us. To complete the survey, check your email for your unique survey link or email us at alumni@surgeinstitute.org. 

Learn more about the 2026 Annual Alumni Survey.

Surge Alumni Impact has entered into a new partnership with LEE to give our alumni free access to tools, training, and resources to make civic change by running for elected office or growing your impact with advocacy work or a career in policy. Through this partnership, all of our alumni and staff can access LEE’s support at no cost.

Here’s some of what LEE offers:

• Access to digital courses, virtual workshops, and more

• One-on-one career and leadership coaching

• Robust and expert candidate and campaign supports

• The Briefing Room: curated, evidence-based policy research

• Momentum: LEE exclusive jobs board for roles in the civic sector

• Cohort-based experiences and fellowships

• A national network of over 70,000 members working in education, advocacy, organizing, and public leadership

LEE is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering diverse leaders to drive change in their communities. This partnership will equip Surge Institute alumni to become highly effective civic leaders, enabling them to create the futures they want for themselves and their communities. The partnership also reflects our shared belief that strong communities are built by people who are committed, informed, and supported. LEE can help you take your next step with confidence.

Sign up today to activate your LEE membership and start accessing these powerful resources.