Owen Franklin

Biography: The Trust for Public Land is a national nonprofit organization that creates parks and protects lands for people, supporting healthy and livable communities for generations to come. Owen directs TPL's field programs in Pennsylvania, which includes urban park redevelopment programs in Philadelphia, Scranton, and Pittsburgh, and statewide policy development and land protection. As Regional Director, he guides mission delivery in Minnesota, Illinois, and Ohio. Owen previously worked with the City of Philadelphia, where he directed the Promise Zone anti-poverty strategy. He is passionate about the role parks and open spaces serve in connecting and strengthening communities, particular where racism and inequality have been concentrated for far too long.