Suzette Tay Lee
Suzette Tay Lee co-chairs the community building team, part of Habitat East Bay's Family Resource Committee. She volunteers directly with our partner families to empower them to take on leadership roles in their homeowners associations and in the community at large. “Suzette’s commitment to Habitat’s families and the FRC Community Building team is amazing,” says Jen Shafer, Director of Homeowner Relations. “She constantly goes above and beyond the call of duty. Recently she baked a cake for the Palm Court development families to celebrate their one-year anniversary of moving into their new home. She has built wonderful relationships with the families, volunteers and staff she has worked with over the years.”
Tell us about your current involvement with the Family Resources committee.
As co-chair of the Family Resource Committee's Community Building team, I help get volunteers involved in different community building activities, based on their interests -- for example, planning events like Family Fun Day and the Women's History Month forum, conducting post-move-in interviews with homeowners, and serving as liaisons between Habitat East Bay and families at its developments. I'm currently Habitat's liaison for the Palm Court development in Oakland, which has formed a Homeowners Association that focuses on Neighborhood Watch issues.
What motivates you to volunteer with Habitat?
I believe in Habitat's mission of revitalizing the neighborhoods where it builds. While I'm not very savvy at the physical home-building part of Habitat's work, I'm committed to the community building efforts of the Family Resource Committee. The best part of my Habitat experience has been getting to know the families, staff, and my fellow volunteers. They're incredible people, each and every one.
How does the mission and philosophy of Habitat East Bay fit in your own life values?
It definitely supports and has helped grow my own values. I appreciate more the importance of a strong community and am starting to see a difference in my relationships with my own neighbors. It's a quality of life thing.
What are your plans with us in the future?
As long as I'm in the Bay Area, I plan to continue volunteering with Habitat East Bay. I may explore other volunteer roles, for example on the Family Selection Committee, to learn about other aspects of what Habitat does.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Originally from Singapore, most recently from Chicago. Happily married seven years this year. Environmental scientist by profession, and now community advocate by passion. I enjoy writing, traveling, and living by faith.
Describe your most memorable Habitat experience.
At last year's Women's History Month event (organized by FRC volunteers), I was amazed and moved by how a group of strangers (Habitat homeowners, volunteers, and staff) so openly shared personal stories on the theme of "Women Who Have Inspired Me." The mood seemed to bring down any initial barriers that folks came in with.
