Malika D. Lee was born and raised in Buffalo, NY, and has strong ties to her community. Lee credits the Mayor’s Summer Youth Program, where she was given the opportunity to intern in the City’s common council office, with developing her love for neighborhood and community. After graduating from McKinley High School (c/o ’09) she went on to attend the University of Hartford (c/o ’13), in Hartford, CT., where her concentration was Politics and Government. Lee took her concertation and infused her learning with sociology to better understand the lasting societal effects on disenfranchised and marginalized communities. After graduating, Lee returned home to Buffalo. Lee has over 10 years’ worth of experience working with diverse populations, community engagement, and program development.