Elevating leaders of color

Surge Academy expands education leadership pipeline

Surge Academy is a six-month program that develops, elevates and unites emerging education leaders of color. Supporting the launch of Surge Academy in Indianapolis is part of The Mind Trust’s commitment to empowering and elevating leaders of color. Surge Academy Fellows can be currently working in schools or at a youth-serving organization in Indianapolis. 

In 2020, Sixteen Black and Latino leaders were selected for the inaugural Indianapolis cohort, with leaders from Indianapolis Public Schools, public charter schools, IPS’ Innovation Network Schools, Starfish Initiative, UNCF and more. See the full cohort list here (link to: Surge cohort announcement 2020).

There is a hunger in Indianapolis for a movement that will push people in the education ecosystem into a more creative and equitable way of educating youth. Noemi Cortes, Surge Academy Program Director

Fellowship experience

The Academy provides an intensive fellowship experience, packed with powerful content that explores executive skills like finance, strategic planning and change management. Fellows also explore  a deep and unflinching dialogue about personal growth, trauma and the true state of diversity, equity and inclusion in the education world and beyond. 

While the inaugural cohort participated in sessions virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, fellows still found the experience enriching and worthwhile.

Surge does what they do extremely well. It’s a rich, thoughtful program that caters to the group and the individual. Not one second has been wasted. Geoff Fenelus, Surge Academy Indianapolis cohort participant

Building a movement

Indianapolis is home to a growing number of schools founded and led by Black and Latino educators and diverse representation at youth-serving nonprofits is growing. However, more work is needed to build collective power and create opportunities for leaders of color to thrive and create transformative change. 

The Mind Trust is proud to support Surge Academy as they work to build this movement in Indianapolis.

Surge Academy offers a space for leaders of color to fully acknowledge their cultural identity, build each other up professionally, and join a national network of change-makers. Patrick Jones, Senior Vice President of Leadership and Equity, The Mind Trust