Hello community, my name is Melissa del Valle Ortiz. I met Deedra during my time as a staffer to Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, when Deedra worked for then NYC Council Member Steve Levin. I'm raising money to help with unexpected expenses associated with her funeral.

I came to know Deedra personally, which is why her work ethic and dedication to the constituients of the 33rd NYC Council District Community Boards 1, 2 and 6, was so impressive. While dealing with her own issues, Deedra worked hard to never fail the constituents. So much so, she sometimes went TOO FAR, like calling her homeless client daily, to make sure she took her meds. And of course the feel good things like holiday toys and school supply give aways. Her most passion driven influece, was her hands on involvement for domestic violence victims.

Ten years my junior, Deedra quickly became one of the youngest members of my sister-friend circle. I wanted her to be surrounded by other fierce women of color who were also balancing similar life hurdles and experiences. Including failed relationships, co-parenting, motherhood, stress, domestic violence survivorship etc all the while juggling the pursuit of higher education, daily family life, work, community, lifes milestones and personal aspirations.

After losing her mother two years ago, she began taking good care of her heart health, to which she succumbed suddenly, in her family home the morning of Sept 8th.

However, because life gets in the way, and because she balanced so much more ifamily responsibility in her mother's absence, as PTA President, and her new job as scheduler with Councilmember Banks .... she put off completing her benefits package. This is resulting in the family's need to raise funds for her funeral expenses.

My hope is that these modest funds will assist with finalizing her funeral arrangements, so I can focus on helping her children with the countless formalities of "forms and paperwork". As they transition through the grief and trauma of parental loss, while learning to balance their new lives, without their superhero mom.

I am hoping for 1000 donations of at least five dollars each (please include the processing fee) from constituents she had helped, government staffers across the state and city. I thank you in advance on behalf of her children.

Many thanks to City council members Banks and Restler for their collaboration in supporting my outreach efforts. If you have any questions please reach me directly to 347687 four zero zero four.

****Whether or not you donate, please get your annual physical, cancer screening, review/complete and update your employee benefits and life insurance policy yearly.