wypr: : Angelo’s Journey (2008-09-12)

Angelo Solera ran away from an abusive home in Spain and found his way to America. He got married here in Baltimore and became a father. Then came a divorce, and Angelo found himself sinking into an abyss of cocaine addiction. Five long years later, he finally got clean. Along the way, he started his own Spanish-language addiction recovery group. From there, Angelo became a political activist for the rights of Latinos in Baltimore, and he eventually made a run for city office. But after a failed campaign came a sense of disillusionment. So Angelo left behind his life in America. He went home to Spain and set out on a soul-searching pilgrimage. He walked alone for hundreds of miles, with only a tape recorder to keep him company. Producer Aaron Henkin brings us the story of Angelo's life, his struggles, and his transformative journey, this week on The Signal.