“I’m Happy!” – A Story About Belonging
Hello L’Arche Friends –
Recently, I was driving one of our Core Members to one of his regular weekly activities. The moment he got in the car, he looked at me, beaming, and said, “I’m happy!”
I smiled and replied, “Right on!”
Without missing a beat, he declared again: “I’m happy! I’m with my friend. The sun is shining! God woke me up today! I’m happy!”
That moment has stayed with me ever since. It was simple, profound, and contagious. His joy wasn’t dependent on anything fancy—just friendship, sunshine, and the gift of another day. Since then, I’ve borrowed his exclamation for my own morning mantra. Before checking email or pouring my coffee, I try to begin with those same words:
“I’m happy. I’m with my friends. God woke me up today.”
At L’Arche North Carolina, joy shows up in unexpected places. Since I began working here in 2021, I’ve seen time and again how people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are not only recipients of care, but givers of joy, connection, and purpose. Each of our four Core Members brings light into our community in a way that can’t help but ripple outward.
Everyday moments at the L’Arche house reflect something much deeper: shared meals where someone’s favorite song gets everyone dancing, quiet mornings where Assistants gently help with routines, game nights full of inside jokes. This is not just a place to live—it’s a place where people are truly known, celebrated, and loved.
When we say our house is full, we mean it in every way. It’s full of life. Full of meaning. Full of connection.
That’s what you make possible through your generous gifts and support. And we can’t thank you enough. We’d love to invite you into that joy:
Grow Together: Paint & Plant – May 17th at Bethany UMC: Bring a friend and let your creativity bloom.
Sundaes on Sunday – June 1st at the L’Arche House: Family fun, live music, and an ice cream bar you won’t want to miss.
Summer Movie Nights in Raleigh – Details listed below! Each night has a fun dress-up theme.
If you’ve had a hard week, if the news feels heavy, or if you’re simply looking for community—you’ll find something special here. I hope you’ll join us soon.
Surrounded by joy,
Laura Steed Lorino,
Executive Director & Community Leader
Reflections on L’Arche NC’s May Musical Showcase
At our May 4th Virtual Musical Showcase, we had participants join us from coast to coast. One of those participants was Chris, a Core Member at L’Arche Wavecrest, in Orange County, California. Chris performed a wonderful rendition of the Disney song “When You Wish Upon A Star”. When asked how he felt about sharing his musical talent, Chris replied “I’ve been practicing my music and learning how to share it. I was proud of what I did.” Chris was one of eight performers who shared their musical gifts and talents that evening. One of our participants, Ricardo, who called in from Atlanta to listen, was blown away by the performances. “I really enjoyed listening to everyone’s musical talents, everyone has their own talents from ukuleles to piano playing… but the thing that I really really enjoyed, besides making new friends, was a version “Maybe” from the musical Annie performed by Mary Evelyn from North Carolina. For the rest of that night and the rest of the weekend I couldn’t get it out of my head! The way she delivered the song was incredible. I don’t know how I’m read more
If you missed the Disability Justice Panel…
If you missed the Disability Justice Panel, you can still watch the recording here! We are grateful to our panelists and poets for contributing so thoughtfully to this educational evening. http://youtu.be/ULNmAHOMx9M
Meet our Disability Justice Conversation Panelists
Join us on April 7th at 6:30pm EST for a panel discussion on Disability Justice. Register in advance here.
Mr. Rogers’ Birthday Celebration with CUCC
On Saturday, March 26th, we gathered with friends, new and familiar, to make puppets, sing songs, reflect on the lessons of Mr. Rogers, and put on some improv puppet shows. This morning spent with Community United Church of Christ in Raleigh was filled with laughter, creativity, and good spirits.
Opportunities are Blooming!
Opportunities are blooming at L'Arche NC, and we are ready for spring! February was filled with so many new opportunities for friendship! At the beginning of the month, L'Arche NC friends gathered for a "Crafternoon" where we painted jars with thumbprint hearts and made friendship booklets. We had many new friends join us for this gathering. After the event, one parent shared with us that for an hour after the Zoom call their daughter continued to say on her communication device "painting with friends, painting with friends!" We are so grateful to be able to provide these opportunities to connect. In February we also joined with L'Arche Atlanta for our monthly prayer service, "Y'All Belong Here". We have been gathering on the third Wednesday of each month at 2:00pm EST for this event since May 2021! It has been a real blessing to create this recurring sacred space of friends where we often see familiar faces and greet new friends. Last month, as we watched our community members encourage each other and pray for one another, the sense of belonging was visible! We hope you'll join us in read more
Cultivating Inclusive Community
Last year, our Board of Directors created a special task force to review our Mission Statement. Our goal was to evaluate our purpose and intentions. The outcome of this task force was an updated mission statement: L’Arche North Carolina cultivates inclusive communities where people across the spectrum of intellectual and developmental disability identities live and flourish together. For us, this is more than a just a statement to add on our website or business cards. It is a driving force behind everything we do. We have some really big goals for this year, including establishing the first L'Arche community in North Carolina. We can't wait to have a physical space in the Triangle where we can gather together. At the same time, we recognize that each month, we are are creating an inclusive community of friends and neighbors across the Triangle (and beyond) through accessible events and programs. Our hearts are full knowing that we don't have to wait for a physical space in order for L'Arche North Carolina to have a community! As we look to another month of "Zooming" from each of our own homes or read more
Sailing through 2021
Did you miss the end-of-year update we sent in the mail this month? That must mean we don't have your updated address. Please email info@larchenc.org to be added to our mailing list. It's been a great year and we could not have done it without YOU. Thanks for your prayers, presence, and support.
Our Hope for 2022: Creating Belonging
When our friend John calls the L'Arche North Carolina office, he doesn't just say "hello." He calls with purpose and gets right to business. John asks, "so, what programs do you have coming up? Anything I can join?" We share the list of upcoming events, and he confidently responds, "I have more ideas! How about a trivia event or a talent show?" John is an amazing individual with autism. His ideas are big, and his enthusiasm is tangible. We take his suggestions seriously and welcome his calls as part of our workday; we want to craft events that EVERYONE in our community, including John, will enjoy and find meaningful. These gatherings serve a much greater purpose than simply offering fun activities for people to do. We plan and host such events to create opportunities for friendship, where every person is included and celebrated for their unique gifts. L’Arche North Carolina is on a mission to create communities of belonging for people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). We seek to foster the flourishing of individuals within a community setting. While we currently gather together for events read more
