Walter is a father of three and a fourth-generation resident of Outhwaite (Case Court). He, along with his great-grandmother Lula Patton, grandmother Barbara Patton, and mother Tracy Patton, are lifelong residents of the Central community, with Walter having lived there since birth, for 35 years.

Walter was educated in the Cleveland Municipal School District and attended Alfred A. Benesch, Central Middle School, and East Tech High School. He is the creator of two community initiatives that support Central residents.

Create Art Not Violence is a youth art initiative that was formed to help youth overcome their traumatic environment through different forms of art, such as poetry, film, hip hop, and arts and crafts. Participants also attend exposure field trips to local museums and record songs in recording studios. The initiative has reached over 60 neighborhood youth.

Walter is also the creator of the award-winning mental health program Ghetto Therapy™. These free public therapy sessions are open to the public and include all age groups. Therapy sessions include a healthy dinner, facilitated discussions by guest speakers, and exposure to different forms of therapy, such as Reiki, sound therapy, art therapy, meditation, yoga, and foot detox. Ghetto Therapy is held on the second Wednesday of each month from 6 to 8 p.m. Over the past two years, attendance has increased from 30 to 100 participants.

Ghetto Therapy has received numerous awards, including the 2022 Anisfield Wolf Memorial Award for Community Service, the 2023 City of Cleveland Black Excellence Award, and the 2021 and 2022 Cleveland Public Library Unsung Hero Award.