Episode Notes

To find out more about the deeper learning conference visit the website, deeper-learning.org.

Walter Cortina, 19, is Bridgemakers President and Co-Founder. Led by Minnesota youth from backgrounds of extreme adversity, Bridgemakers amplifies the voice and mentors the leadership of under-resourced youth to bridge America’s toughest gaps. Walter became homeless at 13 after his parents were deported to Mexico. The Minneapolis native worked three jobs to support himself and his family and encountered the juvenile justice system. Experiencing trauma and poverty at an early age, Walter discovered his passion to channel anger and pain into action and purpose. At 15, he created and led Venture Academy’s Changemakers team to advocate for student-centered school improvement. At 17, he interned for the Minneapolis Foundation CEO and co-keynoted the Teacher-Powered Schools National Conference. After losing their jobs in the 2020 pandemic shutdown, Walter and other youth built a bipartisan statewide coalition that generated 65 media features, successfully sued the State of Minnesota and permanently changed state law, bringing $33 million in unemployment benefits to 20,000 eligible students. Walter’s journey is featured in Sam Seidel’s Hip-Hop Genius 2.0: Remixing High School Education (Rowman & Littlefield, 2022). The first in his family to graduate high school, he graduated from the High School for Recording Arts (HSRA) in St. Paul last May. Walter’s life purpose is to create a world in which youth have the resources, mentorship, access, and opportunities to be leaders of their destiny to create a better tomorrow for everyone.

You can learn more about Bridgemakers at Bridgemakersmn.org

Also, read the article “Building Bridgemakers” in Unboxed!