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 and is originally from the Bronx, has made it his mission to raise awareness and help prevent others from seeing the bridge as a way to escape their pain.
Records indicate that, by 2012, nearly 80 people had died by suicide after jumping from the bridge, which stands above Little Lehigh Creek.
As Maldonado walked across the bridge, he described what comes to mind when he looks around.
“Pain, anxiety, fear,” he said.
“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.”
He also knows that struggle personally.
“I know what it feels like because I also tried to take mine twice.”
A person who survived a suicide attempt on the bridge in 2011 inspired him to take action and turn pain into a mission to save lives.
“So it started with prayer, getting other churches to get involved”.
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.”
His father was a former Marine and actor. He shares that 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 said.
Maldonado didn’t begin pursuing acting until 2018. Since then, he has built a career working in television and streaming productions.
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. I try to do everything I can to just make a difference.”
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,” Maldonado 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.