Community Highlights: Meet Cordell Walker Sr of Helping Young People Elevate HYPE

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cordell Walker Sr.

Hi Cordell, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My story ain’t perfect, but it’s real.

In 2015, I made a decision that changed my life. I ended up spending eight and a half years in prison. While I was there, I had a lot of time to think about who I was, who I wanted to become, and what I wanted my life to stand for when I got another chance.

When I came home on June 14, 2024, I made myself a promise. I wasn’t coming home just to survive. I was coming home to make a difference.

I started Helping Young People Elevate (H.Y.P.E.) because I know what it’s like to be that young person who feels like nobody understands them. I know what it’s like to make one decision that changes everything. My past gives me the opportunity to connect with young people in a way that comes from experience, not just words.

Since coming home, I’ve been blessed to write two books, mentor youth more like a big Brother to them an I work inside juvenile detention centers, build partnerships across the community, and create programs that help young people see there’s another way. None of it has been easy but what I did was create a safe space for them and I know it sounds crazy but I wouldn’t change my past because this is what I believe God called me to do.

Today, my life is about giving back. Every conversation, every program, every young person I reach is bigger than me. If my story can stop one young person from making the same mistakes which I know I can reach more, I feel like I made or help them believe in themselves, then everything I’ve been through has a purpose.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges has been the lack of support from some of the people who are in positions to help organizations like mine grow. A lot of them have access to resources and opportunities that I don’t have right now, but instead of opening doors, some become gatekeepers.

I’ve also learned that some people turn this work into a competition. Me personally, I don’t look at it like that. If this is really about the youth, it shouldn’t be about who gets the credit or who gets the funding. It should be about who’s willing to show up and make a difference. At the end of the day, these young people don’t care about our titles or our egos. They just need somebody who’s going to be there for them.

Even with those challenges, I keep pushing because my focus has never changed. I’m here for the youth, and I won’t let politics or competition stop me from doing the work.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Helping Young People Elevate (H.Y.P.E.) is more than a nonprofit to me. It’s personal. I created it because I know what it’s like to make bad decisions, and I also know what it’s like to have someone believe in you when nobody else does.

What separates H.Y.P.E. from a lot of organizations is that we don’t wait for young people to come to us. We go to them. Whether it’s at a school, a park, a juvenile detention center, a community event, or just pulling up when a young person needs somebody to talk to, that’s what we do. We specialize in youth prevention and intervention by building real relationships before it’s too late and staying involved when life gets hard.

I think one of the biggest things that sets me apart is my consistency. The young people know I’m going to answer the phone. They know if I say I’m coming, I’m coming. They know I don’t just show up when the cameras are around. I’m there on the good days and the bad days.

Another thing that sets me apart is my heart and my humor. I can laugh with these young people, joke with them, and build trust, but when it’s time to have a serious conversation, they know I’m going to keep it real with them. I don’t judge them because I’ve lived through some of the same struggles. I use my story to give them hope, not excuses.

I’m most proud that H.Y.P.E. has become a place where young people know they’re loved, valued, and held accountable. We don’t just mentor them. We walk with them. We help them become leaders, make better decisions, and see a future that’s bigger than the streets or the mistakes they’ve made.

I want people to know that H.Y.P.E. isn’t just a program. It’s a commitment. This isn’t something I do for a paycheck or recognition. This is my purpose. I feel like as long as there are young people who need somebody to believe in them, H.Y.P.E. will continue to show up.

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I define success by the moments you can’t put a price on.

I’ll give you an example. One night around 3:30 in the morning, one of my young kings called me. He was on house arrest, frustrated, and ready to cut his ankle bracelet off. Instead of making that decision, he called me.

I got up, went to his house, and sat on his porch with him until about 5:30 that morning. I went home, got a little sleep, and called him back around 7:00 to check on him. He answered the phone half asleep and jokingly said, “Man, I’m sleep!” We laughed about it.

To me, that’s success.

Success is when a young person is about to make a bad decision, but before they do, they think about the conversations we’ve had or they pick up the phone and call me. That tells me the relationship is real. It tells me they trust me. It tells me something I poured into them stuck.

Those are the moments that matter most to me. Not awards. Not recognition. Knowing a young person chose to reach out instead of making one decision that could’ve changed their life forever. That’s success.

Pricing:

• All H.Y.P.E. youth mentorship and prevention/intervention services are provided at no cost to youth and their families.
• Community donations and sponsorships help us continue offering free programs and events.
• Businesses, organizations, and community partners interested in sponsoring a program or event are encouraged to contact us.
• Speaking engagements, trainings, and workshops are available upon request.
• Akronhype.org

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Akronhype.org
• Instagram: ceoofhelpingyoungpeopleelevate
• Facebook: Cordell Walker Sr orHelping Young People Elevate HYPE