As we continue to celebrate Latinx Heritage Month at the Surge Institute, we honor the profound impact of alumni like Laura Palacios (KC20), whose lived experiences fuels her dedication to educational equity and community empowerment. Laura completed the Surge Academy Kansas City in 2020, and her leadership is intrinsically tied to her roots.

“I do not lead despite where I come from. I lead because of it,” Laura shares. “My culture, lived experience, and community are the source of my strength, and I carry a responsibility to open doors wider for those coming behind me.”

This sense of responsibility is the driving force behind LIA Inspiration (which stands for “Life is Amazing”), the Kansas City-based consulting firm Laura leads as president and CEO. With a career rooted in education nonprofits, she partners with mission-driven leaders to enhance operations, develop new products, and build the systems needed to turn ideas into impact.

Her leadership approach was inspired by Edgar Palacios, founder of the Latinx Education Collaborative and Revolución Educativa. “His bold approach to building community power showed me what is possible when Latino leaders create our own tables, challenge systems, and turn a shared vision into collective action,” Laura says.

That commitment to challenging systems drives her vision for education equity. For Laura, true equity is a mandate to "move beyond inviting communities into existing systems and instead build better systems with them.”

As she continues to champion marginalized communities, Laura offers a powerful reminder to the next generation of Latinx leaders:

“Your culture, lived experience, and connection to community are leadership assets. Trust your voice, build with others, and remember that you are not simply earning a seat at the table. You have the power to reshape the table and create space for those coming behind you.”