Alumni Update: Walker Cook '17

When Walker Cook '17 reflects on his years at Carrollwood Day School, he sees the beginning of a journey that has taken him from organizing a campus voter registration drive to creating civic engagement content from Capitol Hill.

Today, Walker is based in the Washington, D.C., area, where he creates social media content that helps people better understand how government works and how they can engage with their elected officials. Through interviews with members of Congress, behind-the-scenes videos from Capitol Hill, and practical information about civic engagement, he aims to make government more accessible and help people better understand how they can make their voices heard.

Walker's passion for politics began while he was still a student at CDS. 

While at CDS, Walker discovered a passion for activism, politics, and civic engagement that inspired him to take action through grassroots organizing, political outreach, and even an internship on a presidential campaign. After graduating from Carrollwood Day School in 2017, he attended UCLA, where he earned a degree in Political Science and Government. He credits CDS with providing the environment to explore his interests, pursue his passions, and grow as a leader.

“The most positive aspect of my time at CDS was having the space to explore my passions and identity,” Walker said. “I founded and ran the CDS Human Rights Club, served on student council, ran the senior class voter registration drive, amended the school’s non-discrimination statement, created 2016 election PSAs, and so much more. CDS let me be my true self.”

After graduation, Walker gained experience in political organizing through roles focused on grassroots engagement, volunteer recruitment, and voter outreach in Florida. In 2019, he interned on a presidential campaign in Iowa, where he worked in volunteer coordination and caucus operations. He later held regional organizing roles in Florida before moving to Washington, D.C., in 2024 to intern in the U.S. House of Representatives, gaining experience in legislative affairs, policy research, and the day-to-day work of Congress.

That experience eventually inspired his current work as a content creator. Since November 2025, Walker has been building an online presence dedicated to explaining how the government works and helping ordinary people understand how they can participate in the political process. His videos cover topics such as contacting congressional offices, attending hearings, lobbying for issues, and engaging in civic advocacy. He has interviewed members of Congress, documented visits to Capitol Hill, and hosted webinars teaching immigrants how to advocate for themselves and communicate with elected officials. 

One of the themes that runs through all of his work is empowerment. 

“One of the things I enjoy most is knowing I’m helping people realize how much power they have,” Walker said. “People don’t need to be politicians or political professionals to make their voices heard. Individual people can influence government through advocacy, storytelling, contacting elected officials, and organizing.” 

While his career has evolved significantly since high school, Walker says the foundation was built during his 15 years at CDS.  He still remembers long conversations during homeroom, study hall, and lunch that stretched far beyond the classroom curriculum. 

“As a CDS lifer, I have 15 years of experience to consider when reflecting on my time here, so I’m just going to highlight the best part of all: my teachers,” he said. “They made every subject, even math, feel comprehensible. But more than that, they went above and beyond to help shape the person I am today. I was never lacking for mentorship or care.” 

“Their wisdom expanded my understanding of the world and my appreciation for the pursuit of knowledge in all its forms,” Walker said. “I still love learning new perspectives and researching new ideas, something that feels increasingly rare in this age of epistemic tribalism. I credit my teachers for always fostering that deep intellectual passion inside me.” 

Among his favorite CDS memories is the way his senior class supported one another during a difficult time.  “The resulting sense of camaraderie carries on to this day,” he said. “His name was Parker Hayes, and our everlasting friendship is one of my favorite memories of CDS.” 

And, like many alumni, he cannot resist sharing one lighter memory.  “My favorite CDS tradition was the senior prank,” Walker laughed. “Our class made all the chairs disappear. Like, all of them, in the whole school. We spent the first block of the day carrying them back to the classrooms, but it was totally worth it.” 

From organizing classmates on campus to engaging audiences across social media, Walker’s path reflects a consistent belief in the power of participation. Nearly a decade after graduating from CDS, he is using storytelling, advocacy, and digital media to help others better understand their government and discover that their voices matter.