When Deivid Valdez was about 12 years old, growing up in the Dominican Republic, he would build small houses out of concrete in his backyard to sell to his cousins for their dolls and design and produce masks for purchase during the country’s festive Carnival time. His creativity and entrepreneurship didn’t stop there. With his mom residing here in the U.S., Deivid would travel to NY during the summers, work in his uncle’s factory and then bring money and merchandise back home to a retail store he had set up out of his family’s converted garage.

After finishing high school and beginning college in the DR, Deivid came to New York to live permanently with his mom. When he enrolled as a student at BCC 20 years ago, the language barrier was a constant challenge. (Now, he speaks three languages fluently – Spanish, Portuguese and English.). Deivid ended up falling in love with design, which he attributes in large part to the high caliber of his professors in the Art department, such as Roni Ben-Nun and Lisa Amowitz. He got involved on campus, taking on leadership roles with the Student Government Association (SGA) and CUNY’s University Senate, winning multiple awards and scholarships, and lobbying in Albany for funding for North Hall and Library and more student spaces/tables at Meister Hall.

“I first participated in Run the Bronx when I was taking an elective and my professor, Henry Skinner, one of the founders of the race, offered extra credit for participating. I would never have dreamed it would mark the start of a whole new journey,” Deivid recalled.

Over the years, he has had the chance to combine his innate knack for creativity with the passion he developed for running. Deivid has been an “Adidas Ambassador” (one of only two in the U.S), met circle after circle of new friends, traveled to at least 17 countries, volunteered at the Rio 2016 Olympics and run 17 marathons. This summer, he has been selected with other amateur runners to run the marathon route at the Olympic Games in Paris.

In his professional role as a Senior Graphic Designer at BCC, Deivid has been one of the main forces behind Run the Bronx (the second oldest footrace in NYC).  May 4 will mark the 46th Annual Run the Bronx; the race was founded in 1978, and ironically, Deivid was born that same year.

On race day, one can likely find Deivid taking photographs, saying a few encouraging words to running groups that come from across the borough, and then getting ready to hit the pavement himself. He will join the approximately 2,000 other participants, who will choose between 10k and 5K options or a two-mile fitness walk.

Deivid said getting accustomed to apartment living in the Bronx when he first arrived in NY was difficult at first because he was used to having the beach nearby and more land, with his family having a history in agriculture in the DR. “I grew up eating the food that my family grew on the farm,” he said.

Noting the death of his brother in a motorcycle accident at age 15, Deivid believes tough times are what shape people and who they become. “I celebrate life every day,” he said. “My brother’s death taught me that nobody ever knows how long someone will be around.”

For Deivid, celebrating life means enjoying nature and traveling the world. As for his next act: “I want to travel to every country and see every corner of the world,” he said.

But, in the meantime, his goal is to continue to grow Run the Bronx. “There is no reason it cannot become one of the most preeminent road races in New York City,” he adds.