Where I learned about Belonging
Written by Rev. Christi Dye
When have you felt that you TRULY belonged?
I knew it in some ways in the church (grew up a pastor’s kid), in some ways at school and home, in some ways at Duke, where I went to undergrad.
But never–even in all these environments– like I did sitting around the dinner table at the Red House at L’Arche Daybreak in Canada.
I lived in L’Arche for 9 years, and no other life experience before or after has given me the sense of belonging I felt there. (Above, I’ve shared a current photo of me and my children at the L’Arche Daybreak Craft Studio–we still visit every few years, 30 years after I first arrived to live and serve there.)
By the world’s standards, I belong and have “succeeded” in life. I mean, I went to THE BEST University, Duke (UNC and NC State fans, just hang with me…), where I proved my “worth” through test scores and accomplishments.
But in L’Arche, you BELONG because you are created in the image of God, because you have inherent worth, because you are created with a purpose–no matter your abilities, your background, your past, your brokenness—there is a place for you at the table.
This kind of belonging is all too rare in this world. Especially now, as our society, state, country, lawmakers, and people in power are devaluing and dehumanizing people at every turn.
Every person is created in the divine image. I am so grateful for the way that L’Arche makes this real in the lives of countless people–in my life and hundreds of others I know who have experienced L’Arche. Belonging is being made real right here and now, in day-to-day conversations, around the dinner table, in celebrations, friendships, and welcome.
Want to do something to nurture belonging in a world of exclusion and oppression? Give to L’Arche! It’s the impact that goes on and on and on…
Today, L’Arche North Carolina is creating that same kind of community here in the Triangle. Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities—called Core Members at L’Arche—share life with assistants who aren’t there simply to complete a shift or a checklist. They are building relationships and creating a home together.
Creating this kind of belonging takes all of us. Even after Medicaid and other state funding, L’Arche faces an $8,000 gap each month to sustain its relationship-centered model—valuing read more
L’Arche NC House Blessing & Ribbon Cutting
We had over 90 people join us a beautiful Sunday afternoon at the L'Arche House for the House Blessing & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony! We were especially grateful to have former board members, and those who helped shape this vision over a decade ago, with us at our wonderful L’Arche home south Durham. Their dedication has truly made a difference! Check out this reel on Facebook or Instagram. We were thrilled to welcome L’Arche USA staff, including Laura Giddings, the Executive Director of L'Arche USA and Thomas Marquis, Manager of Community Support & Learning. Other L'Arche communities were present for this exciting occassion, too, including Katie Miyakado from L'Arche Tacoma and Dustin Barrington from L'Arche Northern Colorado. The connections of L'Arche across the country were truly felt! Thank you to all our L’Arche friends, community partners, and supporters for, not only joining us, but making this day possible. Your presence, financial support, prayers, and many volunteers hours have made this house a home! *Special thanks to Mark Evans for capturing these photos during the ceremony. read more
Disability Pride Month – celebrate all year!
As Disability Pride Month comes to an end, we want to thank you for celebrating with us. This month has highlighted the unique gifts and contributions of individuals with disabilities, and we are grateful for your support.
In case you missed it: Sundaes on Sunday Recap
What a sweet success! Our Sundaes on Sunday event was filled with joy, laughter, and community spirit.
House Update: The renovations on the house will be completed this week!
Friends, I am so excited! The renovations on the house will be completed this week! The accessible bathroom is beautiful. The new wider entrance to the kitchen and the large electric stove are wonderful. The basement bedrooms have lovely new floors, and more! The only thing that is left is painting. As the ceilings were scraped, re-mudded, and painted during the professional asbestos abatement process, this left a large white trim around many of the rooms. Therefore, we are painting with the help of volunteers. As I walk around the L'Arche house and see the updates, I am filled with joy knowing that everyone, regardless of ability, will be able to enter the home and use the facilities. Prior these renovations, if someone used mobility aids or a wheelchair, they would have needed to be carried up the stairs into the home and into the bathroom when they needed to use it. However, with your generous support, we can now say that everyone is welcome and belongs at L'Arche NC! Thank you for making this possible. We are now in the home stretch (pun intended) of welcoming our first Core Members read more
Rofida’s Trip to L’Arche GWDC – A Life Changing Impact
When I visited L’Arche GWDC (Greater Washington D.C.), I hadn’t expected to find my life’s calling. In fact, I hadn’t expected to see L’Arche GWDC at all. A string of coincidences led me there, starting with my trip to Washington D.C, organized by Johnson Service Corps (JSC), the organization that has connected me to L’Arche NC this year for a year of service. As part of JSC, this year I’ve gone on several trips to explore spiritual understandings, and at every one I’ve been asked to introduce myself - names, pronouns, hometown, and job description. And nearly every time, I’ve had to explain what L’Arche NC was. But, my trip to Washington D.C. was different. As soon as I mentioned L’Arche, our host gasped. “L’Arche?” she asked, giving me no time to reply. “That’s great! I work with L’Arche.” From there, the introductions derailed; she and I swapped excited smiles and stories. I don’t have the words to describe how happy I felt. It wasn’t just a matter of being recognized; it was knowing that there were people who believed in the same mission and not only that read more
Exciting Opportunities to Share Life at L’Arche NC!
We are thrilled to high-light two heartwarming new programs that are spreading joy and making a difference in our community! Jam Together: Our monthly musical gatherings are more than just music – they're moments of healing and connection. Recently, one participant shared that amidst a challenging time, our rendition of "Every little thing is gonna be alright" was like "balm for their soul". Join us for Jam Together and experience the power of music to uplift spirits and bring people together. Serve Together: Making an impact while fostering inclusion is at the heart of Serve Together. Many times, people with disabilities are treated as a "service project." At Serve Together, EVERYONE has an opportunity to participate in service. One parent proudly shared that it was her adult child's first service project. Moments like these inspire us to continue creating opportunities for everyone to contribute and belong. Join us for our weekly events and leave with a little more joy in your heart. For more information and to stay updated on our upcoming events, check out our events page. Together, let's spread love, joy, and inclusion! Live At L'Arche - Now read more
Construction Update
Dear L'Arche North Carolina Community, I hope this post update finds you well. I wanted to provide you with an update on the ongoing renovations at our house. As with any renovation project, we've experienced a mix of wins and challenges along the way. I'm grateful for the work we have accomplished through donations and volunteer work. One significant setback we faced was the unexpected departure of our first General Contractor. This, unfortunately, delayed the start of our major renovation projects. While we didn't get to start the accessible bathroom project as early as anticipated, I believe it was a blessing in disguise as we now have a fantastic General Contractor, Revel Build Co. On a positive note, we recently received some good news from the Durham Neighborhood Improvements Inspector. They agreed that we did not need to cut out larger windows in the basement bedrooms as we initially anticipated. This decision has saved us thousands of dollars. Instead, we will install cubby-storage benches under the windows to allow for safe egress. However, as we began the renovation, we encountered an unforeseen obstacle: asbestos materials in the house, read more
Everyone can find community at L’Arche
By Beverly Christian, Operations Manager During a recent "Move Together" event, our community went on a journey to the park for a spirited scavenger hunt. During the walk, I struck up a conversation with one of our community members and her dedicated Support Provider (care assistant) who accompanies her to L’Arche events. I was curious about their daily activities outside of L’Arche NC. Through our chat, I learned that they often find themselves participating in activities designed for toddlers (even though our L’Arche friend is in her 20s), such as storytime at the library or trips to the park. They struggle to find suitable options, besides L’Arche NC activities, for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in Raleigh. As we reflected on community during the scavenger hunt, the Support Provider shared a heartwarming sentiment. She explained that while our friend, to whom she provides care support, is an exceptional listener, she is also non-verbal. While the Support Provider enjoys these conversations with her, she is very grateful to L’Arche NC, where she has the opportunity during the day to have spoken conversations. L'Arche events provide them both read more
