In 2017, social justice advocates who were part of the movement to install the San Francisco “comfort women” memorial founded the Education for Social Justice Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) NGO that promotes social justice education. ESJF is based in San Francisco, the unceded ancestral homeland of the Ohlone. In addition to advocating for social justice education, we are committed to supporting local and international communities experiencing educational and gender injustice.
ESJF is in special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council; it supports and participates in UN NGO platforms as part of civil society.
ESJF is in special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council; it supports and participates in UN NGO platforms as part of civil society.
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At ESJF, we incorporate lessons learned from history into dignity-affirming and critical-thinking-based curricula to address sidelined voices.
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We are committed to supporting local and global communities experiencing educational or gender injustice.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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Sung Sohn
Co-Founder & Executive Director Sung Sohn is a former bilingual classroom and resource teacher with the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD), where, in 1994, she pioneered Northern California’s first and only public school Korean/English Two-Way Immersion Program. In 2017, she co-founded the Education for Social Justice Foundation (ESJF), a San Francisco-based 501(c)(3) NGO, and has since served as its executive director. Since 2023, she has represented ESJF as an NGO in special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council. She also serves as director of feminist foreign policy for the US Women’s Caucus. Over the course of her career, Sung has authored the following works: Korean Two-Way Immersion Curriculum Guide (1994), “Comfort Women” History and Issues: Teacher Resource Guide (2018), “Comfort Women” History and Issues: Student Resource Guide (2018), and The Korean Independence Movement in San Francisco and Its Legacy (2025). SFUSD has twice distributed Sung’s academic work to its 18 district high schools: “Comfort Women” History and Issues: Teacher Resource Guide in 2018 and The Korean Independence Movement in San Francisco and Its Legacy in 2026. Her latest work is archived in the San Francisco History Center at the San Francisco Public Library’s Main Branch. Russ Lowe Co-founder Russ Lowe is a former office director at Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s San Francisco office and state liaison for Asian and Asian American Affairs for about two decades. He co-founded The San Francisco Journal, which ran from 1976 to 1980. The San Francisco Journal operated with an all-volunteer staff and focused on issues in the Asian American community, reflecting its struggles and progress, often ignored by the mainstream media. One of the main contributions of this journal was helping to dismantle the stereotyping of Asian Americans as a “model minority,” defining AAPI as a whole, instead of highlighting the diversity among different groups. Helen Kyungsun Youn Teacher Committee Chair Educational leader with over a decade of experience in K–8 education, instructional leadership, and systems-level school improvement. Currently serving as Assistant Principal at Claire Lilienthal K–8 in the San Francisco Unified School District, with prior experience as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, ELD coordinator, RTI facilitator, and teacher leader. Passionate about equity-centered leadership, inclusive school culture, and supporting both student achievement and educator growth. Experienced in curriculum and instructional design, intervention systems, teacher development, data-driven decision-making, and family/community engagement. Holds degrees from UC San Diego, California State University Northridge, and UCLA’s Women’s School Leadership Academy, and is currently pursuing an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership at the University of San Francisco. Committed to building collaborative, student-centered learning communities where all students and educators can thrive. Eric Mar Advisor Eric Mar is a former member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors (2008–2016), where he worked with local and international organizations to install the Women’s Column of Strength memorial in 2017. He is the past commissioner and president of the San Francisco Board of Education (2000–2008) and has been active in social justice movements for more than 35 years. He is an Emeritus Professor in Asian American Studies at San Francisco State University, where he has taught public policy, government, law, and social movements in the nation’s first and only College of Ethnic Studies. He is co-editor of Mountain Movers: Student Activism and the Emergence of Asian American Studies (UCLA Asian American Studies Press, 2019). |