The puzzles of building healthy and vibrant communities have always fascinated me. How do people get from point A to B and keep the air clean? What policies cultivate a dynamic economy that provides opportunity for all? How do parks revitalize neighborhoods and create thriving cities? For nearly 15 years, I have gotten to explore these questions and implement creative solutions to improve community health, create livable cities, catalyze economic development, and advance equity. As the Texas State Director for The Trust for Public Land, I have the privilege of leading an exceptionally talented team of colleagues and volunteers to implement our vision for Texas: to be a place where everyone enjoys the benefits of close-to-home parks and nature. I joined the organization in 2014 with the task of re-establishing our North Texas office. Since then, our team has grown to 9 people statewide and leads a $100 million portfolio of projects that is making Texas a healthier, more equitable, and livable state where all communities can thrive. We bring together community members, stakeholders, and donors to realize a shared vision for parks and public spaces that benefit all. It has been an exceptionally rewarding decade that has included transforming an illegal dumping ground next to a high school into a new community park, generating over $1.65 billion in funding for parks and conservation, and acquiring hundreds of acres of land for new greenspaces. I was raised to believe that everyone has a responsibility to help in this work of building a society where all can thrive, which has led me to volunteer with a number of fine organizations in Dallas. I currently serve as a trustee for the Dallas Parks Coalition. I am also a former board member with the Thanks-Giving Foundation, Union Coffee, and the Greater Dallas Planning Council, where I served as chair of their Urban Design Task Force.What else can I tell you? I once walked from Maine to Georgia on the Appalachian Trail, and still try to make it to the mountains as often as I can. My love for cooking led me to build a company called Kent Fine Chocolates, which sells artisan chocolate bonbons around the major holidays. Most weekends you can find me at the park playing with my family, or in the backyard fretting over tomato vines, or in the kitchen testing a new fried chicken recipe, or if I’m lucky, all three.