ALLENTOWN, Pa.- For years, the South 8th Street bridge in Allentown has been a place associated with tragedy.
Now, one local actor and activist is using his own experiences with loss and mental health struggles to help others find hope.
Angelo Maldonado Jr., who has lived in Allentown for nearly 20 years, has made it his mission to raise awareness and help prevent others from seeing the bridge as a way to escape their pain.
The bridge stands 138 feet above the Little Lehigh Creek. About 80 people have died by suicide after jumping from the bridge.
As Maldonado walked across the bridge, he described what comes to mind when he looks around.
“Pain, anxiety, fear,” he said.
For years, he says, people viewed the bridge as a way to escape whatever they were going through.
“Years and years of people just looking at it as a means of escape and just running away from whatever was going on in their lives,” Maldonado said.
He also knows that struggle personally.
“I know what it feels like because I also tried to take mine twice,” he said.
Maldonado says the story of Ruth Aragon, a woman who survived a jump from the bridge, inspired him to take action.
“She survived. You know, she is actually in a wheelchair,” Maldonado said. “But from that point on, that was what drove me to come here when I heard that story.”
For two years, Maldonado pushed for protective fencing, organized prayer walks, brought members of the community together, raised awareness, and wrote letters to PennDOT and government officials.
His efforts eventually helped bring protective measures to the bridge.
But his mission to help others soon became deeply personal.
“Unfortunately, on April 26th of 2017, my father took his life,” he said.
His father, a former Marine, actor, and father, says he wanted to keep his father’s legacy alive.
“When I got into acting, I got into acting solely because of my father,” he said.
“I think I’d ask him if he was proud,” Maldonado said. “You know, I would ask him if he was proud of me.”
He knows he cannot bring his father back, but says knowing his father would be proud continues to motivate him.
“The main thing is for him to be proud and say, you know what, son? You’re doing the right thing.
Maldonado didn’t begin pursuing acting until 2018. Since then, he has built a career working in television and streaming productions.
“I couldn’t even see myself doing anything other than this,” he said.
His credits include FBI, Dope Thief on Apple TV+, Chicago P.D. and Power Book III: Raising Kanan, which was executive produced by 50 Cent.
He has also worked with actors including Beanie Feldstein.
Maldonado says his acting career has given him another way to connect with people, and now he is using that platform to raise awareness about mental health. He has about 115,000 followers on Instagram.
“In comparison to other people that have millions, it’s nothing,” he said. “But for a guy like me, that started from nowhere to have that type of platform, and it’s growing constantly.”
He says he tries to use that platform to make a difference.
“I try to do everything I can to just make a difference,” Maldonado said.
Maldonado says he plans to continue spreading positivity and reaching people who may be struggling.
“My biggest prayer and hope for anyone is to never suffer in silence,” he said.
He also stresses the importance of therapy and having someone to talk to.
“Therapy is so important,” Maldonado said. “A lot of us think we don’t need it, or we think we’re crazy if we get it.”
He says having someone who understands you can make a difference.
“Having someone to talk to that understands you can change your life,” he said.
Ultimately, Maldonado wants people to know that their struggles do not have to define their future.
“As long as you are breathing, you still have a lot more to achieve,” he said.
His message is simple: keep going.
“So go for it, because I’m not going to stop,” Maldonado said.
If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or having suicidal thoughts, call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.