Mildred Velez
Mildred Velez is the Founder and Executive Director of the Fibromyalgia Care Society of America, Inc. Mildred has lived with fibromyalgia since 2007.
The mission of the Fibromyalgia Care Society of America, Inc (FCSA) is to provide education, care and support services for people living with fibromyalgia, their families, and the community. The FCSA also works to educate medical providers about the diagnosis, care and treatment of those living with this condition.
Mildred was born and raised in the Bronx, New York. Prior to her 18th birthday she was able to check off all 10 points on a psychological assessment tool that gauges childhood trauma. She has survived sexual assault, domestic violence and homelessness. Her life experiences have propelled her to advocate for social and racial justice causes. Her career began in 1997 at a drop in center for homeless young people ages 13-24. Mildred went on to lead the operations department of a nationally recognized LGBTQ+ youth shelter in New York City from 2002-2020. In 2015, she founded the FCSA in response to the lack of services for the fibromyalgia community. She is committed to using her personal and professional experiences to bring support, care and hope to everyone living with fibromyalgia and their families.
Mildred lives with her adult children and granddaughter in the West Ward of the City of Newark, New Jersey.
Click here to read all of Mildred's articles on SocialHealthNetwork.com.