Peter Franzen has dedicated the past 19 years to improving the quality of life for children, families, and communities in Saint Louis.  In 1991 Peter came to Saint Louis to perform a year of voluntary service with a local community agency serving children and families.  After accepting a full time position with that organization, his year as a volunteer turned out to be the beginning of a career.

Most recently Peter served as director of development for the online, regional news organization the St. Louis Beacon and before that as director of development with The St. Louis Black Repertory Theater.

After earning his Master of Social Work degree in 1999 from St. Louis University Peter was selected to start the St. Louis site of a national mentoring program called The EnvironMentors Project^© that targeted at-risk teens matching them with adult professionals working in science.  In 2002 Peter was named Executive Director for Mentor St. Louis, a school-based mentoring program in the St. Louis Public Schools.

Peter also holds a bachelor of arts in English literature.  He has worked extensively with urban children and teens through after-school programs, daycamps and a summer camps.  In 2001 he participated in Leadership St. Louis.  Peter has twice been recognized by The Organization for Black Struggle with the “Unsung Hero of Human Rights” award.  Peter resides in St. Louis in the Tower Grove Park area.