The empty classrooms held infinite possibilities…

Standing in what will become URBAN ACT Academy,  CEO and Founder,Nigena Livingston (Indy22) saw beyond the bare walls and concrete floors. She envisioned young Black and Brown minds ignited with purpose, students who would see themselves as scholars, leaders, and changemakers. Now, her place-based learning academy for students in grades K-5 in Anderson, IN, is becoming a living reality.
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This fall, she's launching "The Hive," a tutoring program serving students in grades 2-3.

These visions didn't emerge out of thin air. They were born from her transformative experience with Surge Institute Indianapolis '22, nurtured by a community that believed in her potential, and made possible by the collective power of people who invested in her dreams.

THANK YOU, Nigena! We are profoundly grateful to Nigena for embodying the very essence of transformational leadership—not just in the classrooms she transforms, but in her commitment as a monthly donor and Impact Community member who ensures this sacred work continues. Her consistent giving is a living testament to the power of paying it forward.

This is what happens when we invest in our own.

The Ripple Effect

This August, during Black Philanthropy Month, we're celebrating what our communities have always known: our liberation is bound together, and our power is collective.

Nigena's story proves this truth. When philanthropists invested in Surge Institute, they weren't just funding a program—they were planting seeds that bloomed into an entire academy transforming young Black and Brown lives.

"Philanthropic giving is an expression of voice and power," Nigena reflects, "because it's a way to turn my values and priorities into

The Beautiful Cycle‍

Here's what makes Nigena's story even more powerful: she's become a giver herself.

"I give to Surge because I want to honor the investments that people have made in me," she explains. "Surge has shaped me in ways I never imagined. It's given me community, expanded my leadership vision, and connected me to an incredible network. I want my gifts to keep this cycle going.

This is the mathematics of collective power: investment multiplies impact. Every dollar creates ripple effects touching countless students, families, and communities.

True Generosity‍

When asked what generosity means to her, Nigena reveals the heart of community-centered giving:

"Giving is an expression of empathy—not just financial gifts, but sharing time, talents, and resources. When we help others, we're helping ourselves."

This is our ancestors' wisdom: generosity is a circle, not a line.

Your Moment of Power On August 28th, Black Giving Day offers us collective action. This isn't charity—it's claiming our power to shape the future.

Every contribution to Surge Institute invests in the next Nigena Livingston. It funds the educator who will revolutionize teaching, the principal creating schools where every child sees excellence reflected, and the superintendent transforming entire districts.

Standing in URBAN ACT Academy's halls, Nigena envisions students who will soon fill these spaces with limitless potential. She thinks about donors who believed in Surge, the program that believed in her, and the cycle making transformation possible.

This is liberation: not waiting to be saved, but investing in our power to transform our communities.

Your gift isn't just a donation—it's a declaration that says, "I believe in our power. I invest in our future. I am committed to our collective liberation."

GIVE TO SURGE INSTITUTE for Black Giving Day

Somewhere right now, another leader waits to be supported, and another vision waits to be funded. It all starts with the power within us—activated when we invest in each other.

Together, we don't just make changes. We are the change.

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