Ernesto Cortés, Jr.
The trailblazers in human, academic, scientific and religious freedom have always been in the minority… It will take such a small committed minority to work unrelentingly to win the uncommitted majority. Such a group may transform America’s greatest dilemma into her most glorious opportunity.
Background
Ernesto Cortés, Jr. is co-director of the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) and executive director of its West / Southwest regional network. Cortés earned his bachelor’s from Texas A&M University in 1963, and studied at Saul Alinsky Training Institute, which provides leadership training and civics education to poor and moderate-income people.
Interests
Cortés’ expertise lies in grassroots community organizing, public policy, political leadership and education, civic institutions, urban development and renewal. In San Antonio, he founded the first affiliate of the IAF, which provides leadership training and civics education to poor and moderate-income people across the US and UK, which then expanded to include organizing projects across ten states. Cortés also envisioned and launched the Alliance Schools strategy – a much lauded initiative to engage communities of adults in public education.
As an MLK Visiting Professor, he gave public lectures and taught a graduate course titled “Power Politics and the Revitalization of American Democracy Through Community-Based Institutions.” During his first year as visiting faculty, Cortés was one of five to be honored with the 4th Heinz Family Foundation Award for his civic and academic achievements.
