Michala Bell is a Social Emotional Learning Specialist at Chicago Public Schools.

You got next is affectionately heard by our young people awaiting the opportunity to get into whatever game is being played at the time. In relation, this statement reflects where I am in my leadership journey. I applied for the 2019 Surge Fellowship to no avail. However, my drive to be active in this movement never wavered. I realized that one may have to observe first, as we don’t get in the game simply to play, but to win! I want to be effective in my purpose and believe fellowship within a community of empathetic black and brown educators amongst whom I can be vulnerable and authentic will be a game-changer.”