In Managua, the capital city of Nicaragua, there is a city dump called
La Chureca. Unlike most mountains of trash around the world, this one is home to hundreds of people - including a majority of children - who have no other place to call home. It is a home amidst the burning toxic fumes, formless masses of past treasures and discarded yesterdays, in the company of trash trucks, cows and vultures, and with only a promise of whatever dangers they must face with each new day.
In this most unlikely and miserable place - surrounded by the rich beauty of a tropical paradise and yet in the center of hell - do we find
mi amigo y hermano Brad Corrigan. A
musician (of whom I've
discussed before) and
humanitarian of epic proportions, Brad is actively working to make a difference in the lives of the people who live in La Chureca. What started as a curiosity and a glimmer of opportunity has turned into a fiery passion and a realized dream.
For the past few months, I've had the immense blessing of starting to work as an official member of Brad's team: to run his
site, to help with marketing and design, and to be a ready and listening ear. And this month we introduced
Love, Light & Melody, his new nonprofit. LL&M is dedicated to work in this vibrant community in Nicaragua - through educational, health, and vocational needs, but also through simply loving these children and their families. Just browse the
photos and
videos on the site and it won't be hard for your heart to cry out for these beautiful, smiling people.
In fact, I may have the good fortune of joining Brad and his team to meet the people of La Chureca for myself later this year. The more I work on this project, the more it pulls at my heartstrings to be more than just a designer with an internet connection. As Brad puts it: "When you walk with someone you're saying to them, 'I am with you.' We can walk in hell and not have fear." A powerful and yet wonderfully simple concept indeed.
Love, Light & Melody is receiving high praise, including nods from
Relevant Magazine, morning shows in
Denver and
Boston, and rockin' support from
Jedidiah. Even the Italian ambassador to Nicaragua wants to help us setup a
vocational school near the dump to support the community. But primarily LL&M is a grassroots effort: there are countless college kids choosing to spend their spring breaks doing mission work in Nicaragua, flocking to Braddigan concerts where Brad shares stories from La Chureca, and helping spread the word
online.
I want to encourage you, dear reader, to check out Brad's new dvd,
Side of the Road, and see the story for yourself. You can also
join the team, get involved, and help make a difference. Just think of all the ways you can bring a full love in place of hate, a beautiful light into darkness, and a resounding melody to break the silence.
