A Yes Makes Belonging Possible
Sometimes belonging begins with a single visit.
Nearly two years ago, Esther joined us for the house blessing of our first L’Arche home. She came to celebrate a milestone, but something about the community stayed with her. What began as a visit slowly became a relationship.
Over the months that followed, Esther continued to find her way back to L’Arche. Her sons volunteered to help with yardwork, caring for the home where adults with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities share daily life with assistants. In June, her family joined us for the Run, Walk, & Roll, celebrating a community where everyone has a place. With each visit, the connection grew a little deeper.
Then Esther learned about a different kind of need.
It takes approximately $33,000 each month to provide the staffing, care, transportation, programs, and support that make L’Arche home. Medicaid funding and resident fees cover much of that cost, but they do not fully fund the relationships that define our community. That leaves an approximately $8,000 funding gap each month.
When Esther heard about that need, she responded.
She became L’Arche North Carolina’s very first Belonging Ambassador by funding an entire month of that operating gap. Her gift helps ensure that this home continues to be a place where people are known by name, where friendships are nurtured, where meals are shared, where laughter fills the kitchen, and where every person is recognized for the gifts they bring.
Belonging is not built through extraordinary moments alone. It is cultivated through people who keep saying yes.
Yes to showing up.
Yes to serving.
Yes to helping a community flourish.
Esther’s generosity reminds us that a community of belonging doesn’t happen by accident. It is built by ordinary people who choose to show up for one another.
Her story began with attending a house blessing.
Today, because she said yes, an entire month of belonging is possible.
We are deeply grateful that Esther became our very first Belonging Ambassador, and we hope her story inspires others to discover the joy of making belonging possible for someone else.
Could You Become a Belonging Ambassador?
Like Esther, your journey does not have to begin with a major gift. It begins with saying yes to a community where every person is welcomed, needed, and belongs.
If you would like to become a Belonging Ambassador or learn more about how you, your family, your read more
The Impact Of L’Arche Reaches Beyond Our Community
By Tatum Tricarico, Disability and Theology Intern Over the past two years, it has been amazing to notice how much L’Arche NC has impacted me and those in my circles. One of my favorite parts has been how much this community has expanded my understanding of accessibility and leadership. My work at L’Arche NC has inspired me countless times to be more creative in the ways I plan and offer accessibility. During my first few months serving with L’Arche NC, I was encouraged to include something that was an embodied practice for each program or event I planned. This could be a creative or expressive activity like drawing, or a meditative practice with movement for those who find being still more difficult. The purpose of such was to create different ways for people attending to participate in the community gathering. I noticed as we lived this out at events that not only was it more accessible, but it was also more engaging, and people felt much more connected. For example, when we were painting or writing, people were invited to show off their creative side in ways they read more
The Sip, See, and Support Recap
Dear Friends, For those who were not able to join us at the L'Arche NC house for our first event, WE MISSED YOU! The Sip, See, and Support provided an opportunity for local friends and supporters to visit the house for a tour filled with stories from former and current members of L'Arche communities. Our storytellers beautifully articulated the essence of L'Arche as more than just a house but a home where memories are made, and lives are transformed. They shared touching stories that we believe capture the heart of what we hope to achieve in our own L'Arche community in North Carolina. One poignant story was shared by Megan, from L’Arche Atlanta about a birthday celebration for a Core Member that included a beautiful tradition: “The guests encircled [the Core Member] and shared what they valued about her—her smile, her warmth, her sense of humor. Previously, her life had been marked by loneliness and rejection; she now beamed with a sense of belonging as she was surrounded by voices recognizing her value.” It's these simple yet profound moments, the celebration of individual triumphs, quirks, and existence, that read more
L’Arche NC receives Citizen Involvement Award
We are absolutely thrilled to announce that L'Arche NC has been honored with the 2023 Citizen Involvement Award by the Raleigh Mayor’s Committee for Persons with Disabilities! This recognition warms our hearts and reinforces the importance of our mission. At L'Arche NC, we're all about celebrating diversity, promoting inclusivity, and fostering a sense of belonging for people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities. This award is not just a testament to our organization, but to the incredible individuals, volunteers, and supporters who make up the L'Arche NC Community. Your dedication and passion drive us to create a more inclusive world for everyone. We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to the Mayor’s Committee for this acknowledgment. It fuels our passion to continue making a positive impact, fostering understanding, and embracing the diversity that makes our community so vibrant. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this journey. Together, we are breaking barriers and building a world where everyone is valued and included. Laura Steed Lorino, our Executive Director, and Kyla, a volunteer at L'Arche NC, accepted the award from Mayor Baldwin. read more
Renovations and Contractors
Dear Friends, I hope you are well and filled with the same sense of excitement and purpose that I have as we embark on this next phase of the L’Arche NC journey together. Today, I am reaching out to you not only as the Executive Director of L'Arche North Carolina but also as a proud supporter and believer in the incredible mission that unites us. Over the past two weeks, we have met with General Contractors and other skilled experts to discuss the necessary renovations to make this house a L’Arche home. We will need to renovate one bathroom for accessibility, create a safe egress from two bedrooms, repair outdated electrical components, and create an accessible entrance to the house. These projects, along with the regular operating costs of starting a L’Arche community, will require a great deal of resources. As someone who has been fortunate enough to witness the transformative power of L'Arche firsthand, it is both an honor and a privilege for me to personally contribute to our current fundraiser campaign. The heartwarming stories, the genuine connections, and the profound impact that L'Arche has on the read more
See Our New Home!
We're excited to share that we've purchased our first L'Arche NC Home! We closed on our first L'Arche NC house on Thursday, July 27, 2023. We are excited that this beautiful home will bring belonging and community to the Triangle.
Celebrating the ADA: Book Recommendations
During the month of July, we celebrate Disability Pride and the 33rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act on July 26th! We celebrate this important civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. This month and always, we seek to learn and grow together. Our former Duke Divinity Intern, Tatum Tricarico, has book recommendations! Tatum says, "These books have helped me feel known, validated my experience, given me language to describe myself, and given me mentors and friends in my community. They truly have changed my life. I hope you enjoy!" Introduction to Disability Demystifying Disability, Emily Ladau Disability History Of The United States, Kim Nielsen Autobiography Being Heumann, Judith Heumann Haben, Haben Girma Year of The Tiger, Alice Wong The Pretty One, Keah Brown Exile and Pride, Eli Clare Sitting Pretty, Rebekah Taussig Anthologies Disability Visibility, Edited by Alive Wong About us, Edited by Andrew Solomon Disability Justice Care Work, Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha The Future is Disabled, Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha Disability read more
Help Make a House a HOME: $100K in 100 Days!
Our dream is to transform a house into a loving home, a place where laughter echoes through the halls and where bonds of friendship and family are forged. With your help, we aim to raise $100,000 in just 100 days for essential renovations that will make this dream come true.
Recap: A Joyous Event Filled with Community Spirit and Celebration!
If you missed the BBQ & Bingo Event last month, you missed a fun celebration! This gathering for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, in support of L'Arche North Carolina, was an incredible event filled with joy and community spirit. The evening started with the tantalizing aroma of barbecued delights wafting through the air as volunteers served up a delectable feast for all attendees. We are grateful to Southern Harvest Catering and Knucklehead Barbecue for donating the delicious meal. Families, friends, and supporters gathered together, sharing laughter and stories, creating a warm and inclusive atmosphere. The main highlight of the event was the lively picture bingo games. Our friends, Kyla and Maggie, called out Bingo as participants of all abilities eagerly played, their eyes filled with anticipation. Prizes were won, and cheers of celebration filled the air, fostering an atmosphere of camaraderie and encouragement. Our prizes were donated by local restaurants: Namu, Alpaca Charcoal Chicken, and Trophy Brewing. This event was more than a community gathering... It was a celebration! We celebrated the program space at the Bulla Center, where we hold inclusive and accessible monthly events. One read more
