When the final school bells rang in May and June, kicking off summer break, a familiar and challenging transition began for millions of young people across the country. Because while summer offers a welcome reprieve from the classroom, it also signaled a period where critical resource gaps widened for youth. 

Without the daily structure of school, issues like learning loss, food insecurity, and economic barriers become urgent realities. Fortunately, the Surge alumni network has been doing its part, stepping directly into the gap and ensuring that this summer has been defined by opportunity, nourishment, and joy. Our dedicated leaders are leveraging their collective power to build a vital bridge of support when institutional resources go dark for the season.

The challenges our youth face during summer months are backed by sobering data. According to national child advocacy organizations, nearly 14 million children in the United States live in food-insecure homes. When school doors close, millions of these children lose access to the free or reduced-price meals they rely on daily. At the same time, students face the notorious “summer slide.” Research indicates that the average student loses 25% to 34% of their school-year progress in math, and 17% to 28% in reading over the summer. Left unaddressed, these learning losses compound; by fifth grade, a student can fall up to three years behind their peers, which disproportionately affects students of color and deepens pre-existing educational disparities.

For older youth, finding productive pathways is equally difficult. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the youth unemployment rate (for ages 16–24) typically climbs as school lets out, reaching 10.8% last summer, with Black youth experiencing a disproportionate unemployment rate of 14.3%. Without structured summer employment or access to safe recreation like sports and organized play, many teens find themselves isolated during a crucial phase of their personal growth.

Recognizing these systemic hurdles, Surge alumni—leading grassroots nonprofits, running innovative small businesses, or driving change within school districts—are taking action. In hubs like Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit, and Oakland, where the Surge Fellowship and Surge Academy have deeply empowered leaders of color, alumni have been deploying targeted summer programs. 

They’re mobilizing meal distribution networks to combat hunger, launching interactive math and reading camps to stem the tide of learning loss, and hiring teenagers for summer jobs and internships. Armed with the tools and solidarity cultivated during their Surge journeys, these leaders are proving that transformative leadership extends far beyond the academic calendar.