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THE CHEN GROUP

SAN FRANCISCO, CA

💖 Experience of Justin Wu Chen​:

1. School President of MLK Middle School - SY 2024-2025 • View CARA 
2. Vice President of MLK Middle School - SY 2023-2024 • View CARA 
3. Founder, CEO, and Chair of The Chen Foundation
4. Leader of Agenda 24/25 (Presidential Agenda Initiative)
5. Consultant, Director, and Creator of MLK Student Gov Website • View PR
6. Member of the school site council (SSC) from 2023-2025
7. Peer Resources Educator Assistant, Peer Leader, Peer Mediator
8. SFUSD Student Advisory Council Assistant Representative 

9. Founder of Opportunity For All.

💻 Tech & Innovation

1. Creator and Developer of MLK Student Government website. The first student government website was launched on the SFUSD SEO website publicly! 
2. Founder of the Chen Foundation website and all organization platform websites launched by The Chen Foundation.

3. Founder of Chen News & Chen Social

4. Video productions and photography (Awesome Edits)

💸 Business and Finance

1. Secured 50k for new Chromebooks to MLK Middle School

2. Launching the Chen Foundation apparel

3. Passing two sets of budgets to enhance school resources and maintain equitable finances at the school.

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Justin Wu. Chen

CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF CHEN FOUNDATION

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The

ENHANCING COMMUNITIES THROUGH LEADERSHIP

FOUNDATION

CHEN

Justin Chen’s leadership journey began humbly yet ambitiously as Vice President of MLK Middle School. Witnessing firsthand the challenges students faced—from outdated resources to limited platforms for student voices—Justin knew change was needed. He took initiative and founded the Justin Chen Executive Board, a pioneering advisory board that brought together passionate student leaders committed to reforming their school community.

 

This board became the cornerstone of student advocacy, working closely with Justin to push for transparency, inclusivity, and safety. When Justin became School President in 2024, he reshaped the board into The Chen Foundation, transforming it from an advisory group into a nonprofit organization dedicated to student empowerment and educational innovation.

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Our Chair / Former President of MLK Middle School delivered remarks on the opening of MLK's New Sports Hub / Field. Next to him are the America Scores Director, Bay Area Host Committee CEO, Mayor Lurie (Mayor of San Francisco), and Mr. Fechter (Principal of MLK).

📘 Who is Justin Chen

Justin is a natural leader with an unflappable dedication, thoughtful empathy, and visionary thinking. He is seen by his fellow students and professors alike as possessing a cordial demeanor and genuine caring, and he blends humility with confidence as he stands poised to listen, learn, and act.

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Guided by a strong sense of duty, Justin is convinced leadership is not about authority but service: opening doors, giving others a lift, and building spaces where all students feel noticed and cared for. His personality is evident in his team-oriented approach; he prizes collaboration and variance in thought, realizing that meaningful change derives from togetherness and consensus.

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Justin's curiosity fuels his passion for problem-solving and innovation, and his ability to bounce back ensures that he is devoted to long-term goals despite challenging situations. Whether rallying students behind a cause or navigating complex school policies, he approaches every challenge with clarity, integrity, and unlimited energy that inspires others to act.

📗 AGENDA 24/25 - driving meaningful reform at mlk middle school

Justin Chen's signature project, Agenda 24/25, was conceived through his deep commitment to addressing the true interests of the students in MLK Middle School. This agenda touched on the key areas of mental health services, academic support, student engagement, and school safety. By carefully listening to the voices of students, faculty suggestions, and community opinions, Justin developed an agenda that was not a list of promises but an actionable plan for change.

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Under his leadership, Agenda 24/25 was able to effectively execute programs that saw tangible returns: securing a $50,000 budget for new Chromebooks to bridge the digital divide, creating the first-ever student government website in SFUSD middle schools to enhance communication and transparency, and organizing inclusive school events like improved carnivals and the AAPI celebration night that led to a higher level of community.

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The agenda also institutionalized the ongoing student government involvement in school announcements and budgeting, which continued to keep the students at the forefront of designing their learning environment. These changes not only enhanced the quality of student life but also increased trust and collaboration between the students, teachers, and administrators.

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Our Chair and Former President of MLK & Vice President of MLK officially and successfully advocated for 50k for new Chromebooks, and he said, "This is a major investment and thank you to our school principal and SFUSD for letting us upgrade and enhance the students' learning experience." - Justin Chen

Seeing measurable success and positive impact at MLK, Justin looked beyond his school's doors to a bigger mission — one that would spread district-wide. He came to understand that many SFUSD schools, and the high schools in particular, were facing similar challenges and opportunities. This inspired him to develop a strategic plan to disseminate the key values and successful practices of Agenda 24/25 district-wide.

 

Now, as The Chen Foundation's President and Chair, Justin remains committed to the advocacy of such reforms' propagation to all SFUSD schools. His work is straightforward: build an inclusive, equitable, nurturing learning environment in which every student, school or background, has access to the tools and representation needed to succeed.

 

This vision aligns with The Chen Foundation's greater purpose of leadership, equity, and innovation through initiatives like Opportunity For All and Equity in Education For All, setting a new standard for student advocacy and systems change across San Francisco.

📜 Executive orders & actions: delivering remarkable change, promises made, promises kept.

Throughout his presidency and prior leadership roles, Justin issued numerous executive orders and led impactful initiatives that reshaped student life and educational resources at MLK:

 

  • EO #001: Successfully advocated for a $50,000 investment in new Chromebooks, dramatically improving digital learning tools available to students.

  • EO #002: Authorized the creation of the first student government website for SFUSD middle schools, enhancing transparency and student-to-student communication.

  • EO #003: Instituted regular Student Government PA announcements, ensuring timely updates and stronger community engagement.

  • EO #004: Relaunched the Agenda 24/25 initiative through The Chen Foundation, focusing on student success advocacy and actionable policies.

  • EO #005: Launched the Opportunity For All initiative, marking it as a signature program under The Chen Foundation’s umbrella to promote equity and inclusion.

  • EO #006: Organized and led a student carnival, creating a memorable and fun school event that boosted morale and student participation.

  • EO #007: Pushed for on-campus fundraising events to support the Student Government budget, ensuring sustainable funding for future projects.

  • EO #008: Planned an advanced version of the school carnival, expanding its scope and impact based on prior success.

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Our Chair and Former President of MLK  participated in the launch of the Goodr Store at MLK, the first-ever store in a school in San Francisco. Picture of Ms. M and Justin during the press conference. Justin said, "This is a fantastic thing that has happened, and this will mark one of MLK's historic legacies of the first Goodr store in SFUSD middle schools!".

Beyond executive orders, Justin’s actions include:

 

  • EA #001: Delivered keynote remarks and helped organize the first AAPI celebration night at MLK Middle School, embracing diversity and culture.

  • EA #002: Collaborated with the School Site Council to finalize the next school year’s budget, prioritizing resources that support students directly.

  • EA #003: Submitted and reviewed the student government agenda to align initiatives with student needs and school goals.

  • EA #004: Advocated for and enhanced Peer Resources programs, supporting future peer mediators and mental health initiatives.

  • EA #005: Delivered an inspiring speech at the MLK Field of Dreams inaugural ceremony, alongside Principal Fechter and Mayor London Breed.

  • EA #006: Developed a system for students to directly contact their government leaders, strengthening accountability.

  • EA #007: Participated in the GLC planning meetings to establish clear rules for upcoming grade levels, ensuring smooth transitions.

  • EA #008: Advocated for increased school spirit and improved assembly feedback, fostering greater student involvement.

  • EA #009: Volunteered with the athletics department, showing leadership beyond academics.

📙 The Chen Foundation's programs on building a stronger future

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Justin Chen met with Mr. Phil Kim, the current board of education president, and also one of the former commissioners of the BOE. Justin presented his project on the school bonds of Proposition 2. This was his project for the Election night! It was an honor to meet Mr. Kim!

The Chen Foundation is the overarching organization for Justin's programs, committed to creating stronger education systems and more caring communities. Its signature programs include:

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  • Chen Leadership: Empowering students with leadership skills that will prepare them to be active citizens.

  • Opportunity For All: Eliminating barriers to equity and ensuring every student has access to the resources they need.

  • Clean Green Initiative: Promoting sustainability and environmental responsibility on campus.

  • Justin For Justice: Advocating youth advocacy and social justice awareness.

  • Appreciation Task Force: Honoring and appreciating educators, staff, and community members.

  • Equity in Education for All: Advocating fair and equitable educational opportunities.

  • Metovia: A cutting-edge student-driven innovation and technology program.


Through these initiatives, The Chen Foundation has become a model for student empowerment and education reform, with other schools and districts looking to it as an example to be emulated.

📚 Vision for 2025-2026 and beyond. expanding impact across san francisco unified school district

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Our Chair, Former School President, and Vice President meet with Mayor Lurie during the grand opening of the new sports hub at MLK Middle School! Thank you, Mayor Lurie, for your support, and thank you for coming to our event!

In the future, Justin's vision is not just beyond MLK Middle School. He is determined to take the achievement of The Chen Foundation and its board to every public school in the San Francisco Unified School District. His mission is clear: to create safe, warm, and inclusive learning environments where every student has the opportunity to thrive.

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Through collaboration with the SFUSD Board of Education and district administrators, Justin will:

 

  • Implement effective student leadership models across the district.

  • Offer comprehensive access to innovative, equity-focused programs for all schools.

  • Build lasting relationships between students, educators, and administrators.

  • Expand youth voice in informing education policy and culture.
     

Justin believes that the reforms and initiatives developed at MLK can serve as a model for replication to achieve success in all SFUSD schools.

🎯 Final word: leadership with purpose and impact

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Justin Chen's leadership path is a vision, commitment, and measurable results story. From creating a student advisory board as vice president to serving as the leader of The Chen Foundation as a nonprofit organization leading education reform, Justin is the epitome of the characteristics of a transformational leader.

 

His work demonstrates that true leadership is serving others—creating opportunity, fostering inclusion, and preparing students to be agents of change. Justin's legacy will continue on as a more equitable, active, and thriving student body not just at MLK but in San Francisco public schools overall.

The students selected me to impact and bring genuine reform, and that's what I did. I promised, and I kept my promises (promises made, promises kept). Every decision I made was intentional: to lift, to listen, and to serve with integrity. My experience was not just about leadership; it was about showing that student voices matter and that collectively, we could do better—for today, and for tomorrow." — Justin Chen, former President of MLK Middle School

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