Our Founder

Dr. Owen Kanwen Johnson Tuazama was born in Liberia, West Africa — a nation whose history, resilience, and spirit of community deeply shaped his worldview and life's purpose. At the age of fourteen, he made the transformative journey to the United States of America, arriving with little more than courage, conviction, and an unshakeable belief in the power of education to change lives.

Growing up navigating the challenges of immigration, cultural adaptation, and socioeconomic barriers, Dr. Tuazama did not merely survive these trials — he was forged by them. He came to understand firsthand what it means to be an outsider seeking access to systems of opportunity, and that experience became the bedrock of his lifelong commitment to equity, justice, and service.

Upon migrating to the United States, he made New York City his home. He later made Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, his home — a city of immense history, diversity, and civic energy — and it is from Philadelphia that he has built a legacy of leadership, education, and philanthropy that now touches four continents.