[3] He attended Franklin High School and became involved in the Congress of Racial Equality his senior year.
In 1968, Owens helped found the UW's Black Student Union and participated in a sit-in that led to the creation of the university's Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity.
Owens later became a manager for the city's Neighborhood Matching Fund, which provided support to community organizations for specific projects.
[1] During his career at the City, Owens was a member of IFPTE, local 17, and served as a shop steward for the union.
[4] In his later life, Owens shifted his activism to focus on empowering and mentoring young people, who he saw as the leaders of the future.
[1] In 2018, Owens helped Franklin High School students create a mural celebrating the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Seattle Black Panther Party.