Senior Spotlight: Joe Dewey
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Using the Game to Reach Out to Others
by Raj Sagar
The stench is inescapable. Mountains of putrid waste stretch as far as the eye can see. More than 1,200 tons of garbage is brought every day. What was once a tropical paradise is now the city trash dump in Managua, the capital city of Nicaragua.
In the northeastern corner of the city off the shore of the once glistening Lake Managua, trucks constantly bring in medical waste, animal carcasses, rotting food, scrap metal and other garbage produced by a city of more than 1.6 million people.
The 150 acres of waste is undoubtedly home to countless bacteria and diseases as the hot, humid air hangs stagnant over La Chureca, as the locals call it. It’s a place no one would ever want to be, but the harsh reality is that for over 3,000 families including children of all ages, La Chureca is home. After repeated visits to this modern-day horror, Virginia midfielder Joe Dewey has come to learn a lot about himself, people, and the world around him.
“The first time I walked into the trash dump I was absolutely horrified,” recalls Dewey. “To see the condition that these people are living in is an incredible shock. People who live with the conveniences of the western world can hardly fathom such poverty.”
In the fall of 2005, Brad Corrigan, former lead singer of the New England jam band Dispatch, founded an organization called Love, Light and Melody (www.lovelightandmelody.org) whose aim is to “identify and meet the immediate physical needs, raise awareness about trash dump communities, and fight social injustice while using music and the arts to rebuild, restore, and bring healing to communities ravaged by extreme poverty.”
The Executive Director of the organization is KC Dewey, Joe’s sister. KC’s first visit to La Chureca occurred in the fall of 2006, and upon her return, she informed her family of the atrocities she had seen. The following fall, Joe accompanied her on a visit to Managua.
He witnessed adults and children alike often working 12 hours a day, combing through the piles of garbage to find anything they can that could be sold. Addiction to sniffing glue and smoking crack was widespread; children were often pushed into prostitution, making HIV a constant threat. He saw a community that lived in fear of innumerable dangers as spontaneous combustion and resulting fires were not uncommon.
For communication and personal interaction, a language barrier is normally an insurmountable obstacle; however, during his visit, Joe was able to connect with people who not only spoke a different language, but existed in a seemingly different universe.
“It wasn’t really something I pursued, but rather it fell into my lap,” said Dewey. “I developed some incredible relationships within the community, and I really was able to appreciate their solidarity and remarkable sense of a communal lifestyle. Everyone looked out for each other, and if someone fell, the community would be there to pick them up. Because they aren’t able to plan ahead or worry about the future, they really appreciate and relish each moment of their lives. The time they invest in family and community is so rich. Their way of life was truly captivating.”
Every year, Love Light and Melody has a large concert in La Chureca called Dia De Luz (Day of Lights). It is a celebration that brings music to the people, and instills a sense of happiness that can only be achieved through the sharing of one’s passion, in this case Corrigan’s music. Upon seeing this, Dewey became curious and began wondering if he could bring his passion to the people: lacrosse.
Dewey’s relationship with the game has been nothing short of tumultuous. He now plays with the team as a practice player as a result of numerous concussions. Although his collegiate career may have been cut short, he still understands and appreciates the effects of camaraderie and pride in a group that can only be experienced in a sports environment.
“The doctors told me that I had the both options of being medically retired or cleared after my sixth concussion this fall, and that the choice was mine,” said Dewey. “The fear was that in the transition game, I could potentially receive another shocking jolt, and my quality of life would be affected. It was a difficult decision for me, but I felt as though I could still contribute a great deal to the team while minimizing my risk if I chose to bring my intensity and experience to the team in practice.”
This past January, his thought came to fruition. Long time friend of the Dewey household, former Virginia captain, and current member of the Los Angeles Riptide, Brett Hughes organized the acquisition of equipment from a number of lacrosse companies to provide the necessary gear for a one week lacrosse camp’ for the children of La Chureca. In a small section of the trash dump there was a kind of oasis: a field’ comprised of small patches of grass scattered in an open section of land, free from needles, metal or any other harmful waste.
“It wasn’t about lacrosse,” said Dewey. “It was about finding a way to connect with these kids. We showed some semblance of organization for a while, but soon it turned into something like a kindergarten recess. Some kids were enthused with the idea of having a stick and ball in their hands; others were just running around, laughing and having fun. Some simply wanted to be picked up and held. The last day, we had a loosely organized pickup game of 20 vs. 20. I could tell then it wasn’t about the game we were playing. Lacrosse was more of a medium of communication. A shared sense of love and compassion is what linked us.”