By: The People’s Paper Staff
For Bridgett Lee, the Raleigh Annex Apartments in Magee, Mississippi, are more than just a housing community. It’s home, history, and hope.
Now serving as Senior Regional Associate Director for Better Tomorrows, Lee oversees seven social service coordinators across the state while continuing her role as a devoted resident liaison in Magee.
Her leadership touches dozens of families each year through youth programs, senior outreach, and partnerships that uplift the entire neighborhood.
“I have an emotional connection to Raleigh Annex,” Bridgett Lee shared. “I was once a former resident, and I always wanted to assist the residents and community with resources that I wish I would’ve had myself during my time living there. So once I was employed by Better Tomorrows, I decided to be the change that I wanted to see.”
That personal mission has guided 17 years of tireless service. Lee’s commitment goes beyond management. She builds relationships, connects people to resources, and inspires generational change.
She facilitates an afterschool Homework Help program, now serving nine local students but open to any child who wants to join.
“We provide social-emotional learning, conflict resolution, and mentorship for youth between 12 and 19,” she explained. “I partner with our local mental health agency, law enforcement, and child protective services (CPS )to support best practices. I teach them self-respect, self-confidence, self-care, and kindness.”
Lee says results speak volumes.
“We’ve had kids who dropped out of school return, graduate, and move on to trade school. And, some have even earned football scholarships,” Lee said proudly.
For Magee’s senior residents, Lee ensures no one is forgotten. Through partnerships with First United Methodist Church, Overflow Church, and Hannah Berry-May’s Food Distributions, her team provides regular food deliveries and wellness checks.
“Working with older residents is like embracing history,” she said. “And working with younger residents is like embracing the present. There’s a wealth of knowledge in both groups.”
Her philosophy of care is rooted in empathy and resilience. “My story is that I’ve been broken: a single parent, overlooked, and overwhelmed,” Lee reflected. “Once I drowned in my pity, I realized nothing or nobody could hold me back like I could. I evolved from the pit of my ashes and never looked back.”
Lee’s personal journey mirrors the transformation she hopes to see in her community. “Raleigh Annex was an awakening moment for me,” she said. “I learned our community and residents needed help. The only way to bring it back to the good days is to educate residents, provide resources, and actually care about them. Change starts one step at a time.”
Today, her spirit of inclusion and compassion continues to light the way. As she puts it, “My motto is loving humanity, never judging or hating – just be the best you that you can be.”
