In the summer of 1969, the Stonewall Uprising ignited a fire that would become the global Pride movement, a rebellion led in large part by Black and Brown LGBTQIA+ trailblazers like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, who refused to be silenced, erased, or diminished. From those courageous streets, Pride was born. Every June, Pride Month honors that legacy by continuing to fight for a world where every person can live, lead, and love freely and fully.

This month, Surge Institute turns the spotlight on the LGBTQ+ leaders rewriting what is possible in Black and Brown education communities.

All month long, we are proud to present the Alumni Pride Leadership Success Journey, an exclusive spotlight series celebrating LGBTQIA+ Surge alumni who are making a meaningful, measurable impact across education systems, leadership pipelines, and the communities they serve. These are the educators, executives, and changemakers whose courage shows up in the policy room, the classroom, and every community in between.

Their leadership is anchored in three powerful pillars:

Courage — Leading authentically in spaces that were never designed for them.

Authenticity — Showing up fully: identity, purpose, and vision, all at once. 

Impact — Creating systems where every child can see themselves reflected and celebrated.

At Surge Institute, we believe that transformational education leadership begins with leaders who are fully seen, deeply supported, and boldly elevated. We are honored to celebrate the journeys of our diverse Surge alumni whose work continues to open doors, shift cultures, and expand possibilities for the educators and communities who follow in their footsteps.

Your journey. Your identity. Your impact. This is education leadership.

Explore the full Alumni Pride Leadership Success Journey and discover the leaders shaping the future of education at SurgeInstitute.org.

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