I had the pleasure to ride into Tijuana with my good friend Jack Nooren to celebrate the grand opening and ribbon cutting of the newly constructed Casa De Luz. Casa De Luz is a housing facility for LGBTQ + refugees looking to legally get into the United States.
“I live in constant fear!” Is what the administrators hear from nearly every refugee that arrives at Casa De Luz. Over the past ten years, more than three thousand Trans and gender diverse people were murdered in Latin America. That is over three hundred per year, making it the deadliest region in the world, while most crimes against our LGBTQ+ community go unpunished.
Irving Mondragón is the founder and director of Casa De Luz, Tijuana. Irving has an outstanding reputation for advocating and supporting the LGBTQ+ migrant community from Central America who cross into Mexico toward the United States. Irving has an MA in Documentary Film Studies from Bordeaux University and a BA in Performing Arts from Paris VII, Diderot University. He organized Rainbow 17; the first caravan of Trans/Gay migrants from Central America. He supported and united the LGBTQ+ migrant community traveling in the 2018 and 2019 caravans and founded Casa De Luz in Tijuana, a collective house for LGBTQ asylum seekers and migrants.
At Casa De Luz, Tijuana, they help refugees after a long caravan of two thousand eight hundred miles. The home provides housing, food, shelter, medical care, and emotional support. In the past twelve months they have helped over two hundred LGBTQ+ refugees legally cross into the United States. They house approximately fifty LGBTQ+ refugees; about one third of them are Transgender or gender diverse. Casa De Luz was started nearly five years ago and moved to several different locations. Last year in 2021, Jack Nooren decided they needed a permanent home. So, he bought three condos in Playas, Tijuana and converted them into a facility of twenty-three bedrooms, six bathrooms, with new bunk beds in each room. The property has a lot of outdoor space. Across the street is the ballpark and it’s near the beach. Jack has been supporting Casa De Luz with his own money since his beginning involvement. His love for others especially those in need are beyond amazing. I have witnessed this firsthand since I met Jack. His generosity toward this project is positive and generates a loving and safe environment that is truly making a difference. Lives of those in need are being changed in so many great ways because of all of this.
On February 9, 2021, Jack started a 501c3 non-profit called Casa De Luz San Diego which is the sister organization in the United States that raises funds to support Casa De Luz Tijuana.
Recently, during a Pride pool party, with the support of the San Diego community, along with Nicole Murray Ramirez, they were presented a check for a thousand dollars from the International Court Council. They were able to raise fifty thousand dollars to support this amazing cause. LGBTQ+ refugees are the most vulnerable of any group of refugees. With the help of Casa De Luz San Diego, the refugees continue to experience a huge positive difference in their lives.
On Wednesday, August 17, 2022, I was fortunate enough to join Jack, along with a couple of Casa De Luz board members Washington Nabong and Naya Marie Velazco, as we traveled to Tijuana for the grand opening and ribbon cutting of the new home. As we arrived, members, friends, and guests were prepping food and drinks for this special day of celebration. The three-story building was adorned on the outside with spectacular and bright colors created by contemporary artist Jamie Carbo from Rosarito, Mexico. The first two floors were filled with bedrooms in different colors as well as full bathrooms on each floor. The third floor has a big kitchen, laundry room, large dining table, and television area for the house guest to feel more at home. Thanks to Jack, with his personal finances he did not overlook any details.
Around 4:00 pm, Jack gathered everyone together to introduce Irving Mondragón, Theresa Picos, and the board members as a documentary crew was taping and interviewing those involved with the house. Jack praised Irving for being the backbone and the soul of the house as well as giving Theresa Picos the honor of cutting the ribbon. Theresa managed World Central Kitchen in Tijuana. World Central Kitchen came to Tijuana two years ago when the border camp at El Chaparral came to existence. This humanitarian crisis of nearly two thousand refugees required an organization like World Central Kitchen to be there to help feed so many human beings. Casa De Luz worked closely with the Kitchen and provided the refugees with nutritious meals. Theresa continues to deliver meals to Casa de Luz daily after the closing of the camp. Sadly, the kitchen has closed its doors for good. Theresa, with a heart filled with compassion and love, is moving to a new humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. She will always be remembered as our “Food Angel” by filling not only our stomachs but our hearts and minds as well. We wish her God’s blessings and protection as she will always remain a close friend and strong ally to Casa De Luz.
I walked away from this experience of celebration with my heart full of love as I learned, witnessed and participated in a day of complete human kindness. I am so proud to say, I am immensely honored and touched with our San Diego community, friends, and donors knowing that they have helped provide a safe place for these people to have a comfortable environment to thrive. Irving makes it a priority to work on getting all legal paperwork together to ensure a safe passageway to the United States. God willing, none of us will ever have to know the feeling that these LGBTQ+ refugees, or any refugees for that matter, must go through just to survive. I extend an overwhelming thank you to all who have donated money, time, and connections to help better the lives of these deserving human beings. You are all heroes in my book.
Even though Casa De Luz is making a big difference with the help of so many of you, they still have a long wish list of things that they need and could utilize. With this wish list being filled, Casa De Luz will better their mission to help our fellow brothers, and sisters. Casa De Luz just does not have all the resources they need to be fully successful for the constant flow of individuals coming through their doors. This organization is still in dire need of a car or minivan, with goals to get solar panels on their home to help cover the expensive electric bills, as well as to create a healthy organic vegetable garden in addition to the desire to install a small playground for the kids that live within the house.
A huge thank you to Jack for this opportunity to learn more about this amazing place, what they provide, and the compassion they share. If you or anyone would like to help, show some love with any kind of support, Casa La Luz would be so full of gratitude. Please reach out in any way you can, to donate or learn more about Casa De Luz, please visit their website: CasadeLuz.com or even call me at Big Mike (619)-807-7324
Wow this is so amazing, very proud of you guys. jack you’re making such a big splash!