Mom of slain NYC man gets posthumous degree: 'Felt like a thousand mothers standing there'

NEW YORK (PIX11) – It’s a Follow-up Friday, and Monica is making it happen.

Margie Torres, 64,  told us crews came to fix a mold problem and left her with one mess of a bathroom. Making it worse,  she says she was told it would take until next year to fix it. So, she called PIX11 News.  

After our story, NYCHA crews came to her house within 24 hours, and now Torres has a beautiful new bathroom. 

Danielle Darbee, the principal of Brooklyn Academy of Global Finance in Bed Stuy, told PIX11 News many of her students are from public housing and shelters and couldn’t afford to dress for prom. Darbee asked for support in dressing the seniors for the special celebration.  

After the PIX11 News story, viewers gave big time and made prom happen for her seniors. It was an epic night! 

In October 2017, Michelle Anderson’s only child, 27-year-old Melquain Jatelle Anderson, was shot and killed. His mother fought for Mel’s law, which mandates CUNY and SUNY colleges to give students who died college degrees. 

PIX11’s Monica Morales covered Anderson’s journey for years as she co-founded the Melquain Jatelle Anderson Foundation, trying to keep her son’s memory alive. 

Now, Anderson’s granddaughter Melkenze walked across the stage at Barclays to accept her late father’s posthumous Bachelor of Arts degree from John Jay College.

If you want to give to the Melquain Jatelle Anderson Foundation, you can go here.