Dia de Luz 2007

Over the past two years, Braddigan has been walking with a community of people who live and work in La Chureca — slowly but surely coming to an understanding of what life is like there and building a desire to give this community a voice. On March 6, 2007, Love Light & Melody held its inaugural event, and made its first steps in battling the cycle of poverty, addiction and disease in La Chureca with the Dia de Luz (Day of Light).

Over 500 "gringos" assembled at the gates of the trash dump, and in a seemingly unending line of small groups, they walked in, over and through the trash dump. They met the people of La Chureca where they were — in the trash where they were searching for recyclables, fixables, and food — and invited them to join the group on their walk through the vastness of the dump, to the School of Hope for an art show put on by the kids living in the trash, ultimately ending at a make shift soccer pitch (dirt, dirt, and dust!) for an epic concert.

The group grew and grew as hours went by, more and more footsteps of light, laughter, and smiles were laid out across the seemingly hopeless landscape, and when they finally arrived at the school building in the middle of the afternoon it felt like an oasis. The walls blocked out most of the smoke from the burning trash, granola bars and bottled water fueled everyone's tired bodies, and the laughter and smiles of children filled their spirits. The final part of the Dia de Luz came after a short walk from the school to the soccer field — the only significant clearing in La Chureca, filled with dust and rubble, where a stage had been built and instruments awaited Braddigan and his bandmates, Reinaldo (Puerto Rico) and Tiago (Brazil).

Over 1000 dust and ash covered people filled the space as the music began to take life in Spanish, English, and Portuguese... The joy and victory of the day was inescapable... There was dancing, soccer-playing, singing, resting, water being thrown everywhere, and friend-making for hours. As the sun set over La Chureca, the crowds dissipated and everyone headed home, but each person that walked, danced, and sang — gringos and the people of La Chureca alike — were connected as family that day, and their hearts will hold the story and fingerprint of our Day of Light forever.

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