One hundred and eighty-nine days ago, we all had this idealized picture of what 2020 would bring us.
“The year of vision,” we called it.
And considering what recent months have brought, to call this current period of our lives a rollercoaster would be an understatement.
In March, COVID-19 came as this novel giant that hit communities of color harder than any other group, and we remain in a period of uncertainty as cases continue to rise. And in recent weeks, we have seen the next chapter of the ongoing fight against white supremacy in our schools, neighborhoods, and systems. Yet amidst all of this, we have also seen some huge re-energizing victories for our
LGBTQA+
and
DACA
family through recent supreme court rulings.
And Surge Fellows and Alumni continue to be in this fight, from holding space for our collective healing, to providing necessary resources for our little ones, to speaking truth to power around our herstories and histories.
This has always been what our community has been about. Vision.
Though the 2020 Surge Academy and Surge Fellowship shifted virtually this year, the space remained one of
community building
,
collaboration
, and
collective growth
. Like many, we stumbled as we sought to make adjustments to provide responsive care to our communities. But we practiced the liberatory leadership we espouse, listened to the needs of our fellows and alums, admitted our challenges and oversights. and adjusted to ensure everyone in our community was cared for, well, and whole.
In the end, we kept moving forward because it’s what our communities deserve. Our national alumni community welcomed the 2020 Kansas City cohort following their recent graduation, and our Chicago and Oakland Fellowship cohorts continue to hold space for healing, learning, and growth.
We’ve also felt the love of our community through the wide support of the Surge Relief Fund. We received over $150,000 in donations and pledges, and all of it is going to communities in need whom Surge Fellows and Alums are serving!
The urgency remains high around telling the stories of our communities, cultures, and possibilities, spanning several digital spaces. This community of thought leaders has never been one to be silent on issues affecting our people and our youth, and through podcasts, blogs, and live streams, Surge Fellows and Alumni continue to invigorate this movement. We all have a role to play during this time to ensure that we don’t just go back to the “normal” of last December, and that includes you.
The Surge movement is made up of disruptors, builders, healers, and educators, and the collective vision of a just and free tomorrow for communities of color will only grow and strengthen through your support and voice.
For this community, 2020 remains the year of vision.
In community,
