EDTalks: How Young People Can Co Lead the Education Transformation We Need

Presenter: Walter Cortina, President and Co-founder, Bridgemakers By the time Bridgemakers co-founder and president Walter Cortina reached the age of 13, he had experienced poverty, trauma, homelessness, the murder of his best friend, and the deportation of both of his parents. In his EDTalks, Walter will draw on his personal and professional experience to speak to how schools, community leaders and policy-makers must engage with the experiences and leadership of young people when reimagining schools and systems, particularly youth who have faced trauma in their young lives. Walter will also discuss the transformative power of developmental, mentoring relationships, and the importance of centering BIPOC young people in these discussions and giving them a head seat at the table. EDTalks is presented by Achieve Twin Cities in partnership with the Citizens League, with generous support from the Bush Foundation. Learn more at www.achievetwincities.org/edtalks or follow us on Twitter at #EDTalksMN​. This virtual EDTalk was live streamed online on April 26, 2022. It was emceed by Amanda Koonjbeharry.