Deshawn McKinney, hailing from the Northside of Milwaukee, will graduate with a degree in Creative Writing and a certificate in African-American studies. His work focuses on the liberation of all intersections of Black people and their identities, and building coalition across peoples and movements to create sustainable, proactive, and effective bases of power. He utilizes art, grounded in hip-hop, as a tool to invite folks into the conversation and disrupt the status quo. Also a Truman scholar, Deshawn will pursue an MSc in Public Policy and Administration and an MSc in Social Policy.