Rising Stars: Meet Jena Lee of Chandler

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jena Lee.

Hi Jena, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
In the summer of my freshman year, Take Her Places was founded with a mission: to create a world where every child—regardless of socioeconomic status, gender, or ethnicity—has the opportunity to pursue their passions. As a preschool teacher, Korean school teacher, tutor, and babysitter, I have witnessed firsthand the immense potential children possess to chase their dreams. Even when faced with daunting challenges such as financial hardship or language barriers, children demonstrate remarkable resilience and drive to overcome obstacles.

Our logo reflects our belief that life is much like climbing a mountain—filled with hardships that can sometimes seem insurmountable. Yet, when we join hands and climb together, forming a community that lifts each other up, no summit is too high. Will you join us on this journey? Will you use your talents and gifts to uplift others? Let us come together to empower children as they set out toward the summit of that glistening mountain. Together we climb, together we soar.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Getting our non-profit to where it is today was far from easy, but the challenges along the way taught me to truly value collaboration and the hard work it takes to create lasting change. As a high school student, navigating the complex paperwork required to form a non-profit was daunting. With the guidance of my dad and the unwavering support of our team, we tackled each step together until we officially became a non-profit, ready to make a meaningful difference in our community. Because our team is led entirely by students, we often had to work even harder to connect with schools, organizations, and partners willing to join our mission. These experiences taught me not to give up in the face of obstacles, and showed me that, with determination and teamwork, we really can make a positive impact in the world.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Take Her Places is a 501(c)3 non-profit where we help bridge education gaps and alleviate financial barriers to education so that we can equip young children with the skills to become the next generation’s leaders. Initially created to help young girls, as they are at a disadvantage in education, we have expanded our impact in aiming to help all students who are facing barriers to education. Within two and a half years, we have hosted 10 free summer camps (SnD, Econ, Writing, Music, Medical, etc.), provided individualized ESL and math tutoring to 30+ students, hosted career webinar series with professionals, high school Q&As, and operated She Climbs Higher (storybook platform to share struggles and experiences). We have had 50+ volunteers, facilitated over 1,635+ hours back to our community, supported 2,160+ kids’ education, raised $1,000+ to fund underprivileged children’s educational resources in rural communities in Amazon, and Manaus, Brazil. Through our collaborations with Speak Up AZ, Linked With, Church of the Cross Chandler, IReach, ACP Middle School, ACP High School, and Hamilton High School we have been able to make the impact that we have today. We are looking to grow with the launch of our tutoring program where we have high school & middle school students (8th grade) tutor elementary & middle school students (6-7th grade). The tutoring is completely free and students can earn volunteer hours. If students (8-12) have an A in a subject or qualifying experience to teach, which our team decides, they can fill out a google form at our website, where our team can match up tutors and tutees and then we can connect the parents of the tutees with the tutors can get them to set up a time and tutor.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Reading the Bible every day has truly helped me grow in my faith and reminded me that, no matter what challenges I face, God is always in control of my life. I also find it helpful to use apps like ScreenZen to limit my screen time and stay present in the moment, especially when I’m with family and friends (though I’ll admit, there are definitely nights when I end up scrolling until midnight!).

One of my favorite ways to end the day is by journaling. I write about things I could have improved on, what’s stressing me out, moments that didn’t go as planned, and prayers—whether for myself or for my friends. Prioritizing faith and intentional living has made a big difference in my life, and I highly recommend making time for self-reflection, no matter how busy you are!

Contact Info:

• Linktree: https://linktr.ee/take.herplaces
• Instagram: take.herplaces