“I consider the Surge Fellowship as part of a larger education equity movement. We need people who look like our communities to lead in our communities and our classrooms. In being a Surge Fellow, space is provided to have open honest conversations about the politicizing of our communities and what we can collectively do to support our young people and their education. By investing in leaders of color who are focusing on education you change the assumptions and beliefs of not only the direct participants but of the young people, we come across in our everyday. As educators and people who work with young people if we are equipped with resources to develop our leadership skills, we can help cultivate those same skills in more people from our communities.”

Cheryl Flores is the Director of Academic and Social Emotional Supports at Golden Apple Foundation.