WASHINGTON TWP. (April 25, 2017) – Bakari Lee, Esq. has been recognized several times over for his legacy of service to the Greater Community. On Saturday May 20, he hopes to inspire graduates of Warren County Community College to create their own legacies of service.
WCCC’s commencement is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. WCCC continues to be among the leading community colleges for success in graduation rates and this year is no different. In addition to Lee, Congressman Josh Gottheimer will also be part of the ceremony as a featured guest speaker.
The Chairman of the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) and a Trustee at Hudson County Community College, Lee began his “collegiate” legacy modestly enough through his involvement with HCCC. In an article published shortly after he became the ACCT Chair, Lee recalled that it was “a chance connection with a client that ultimately led the public finance attorney to join the college’s governing board — at first, as a quiet trustee, but soon as a state and national leader.” And then he took over as ACCT chair earlier this year.
“Our mission is to ensure affordable, universal higher education for all,” Lee said. “My goal as your chair is to promote service to our country through the improvement of our nation’s community colleges.”
Beyond the education front, Lee is involved in many other volunteer efforts. He is active in several social and civic organizations. Lee is also the Volunteer Program Administrator for the Morristown Neighborhood House Rites of Passage Program. Lee is also the proud recipient of the 2015 Boy Scouts of America Whitney M. Young Service Award.
Service has been a family tradition for the Lees (his dad, Dr. Gerard W. Lee, Jr. was a guidance counselor, his mother, Wilma Lee, a registered nurse). Lee himself focuses a great deal on helping at-risk youth succeed in education, and also in supporting working mothers.
When not volunteering his service, Lee is a member of the law firm McManimon, Scotland & Baumann, LLC. His primary practice area is public finance, having served as bond counsel to multiple clients at the state, county and local level, as well as providing underwriter and trustee counsel services. Lee also provides special counsel services for affordable housing transactions, involving low and moderate income housing tax credits and other federal programs including the Rental Assistance Demonstration program, for public housing agencies and private developers alike. In addition, Mr. Lee provides general counsel services to public and private entities involving a wide array of issues. Lee has represented various clients in redevelopment matters as well.
But its his service to the community that perhaps makes him a truly special person.
“It’s incumbent upon us to craft our own narrative of who we are,” Lee said.
It is a message he is looking to spread to as many as he can, including those graduating from WCCC.
