Stories of Transformation
"If human beings are to develop their abilities and talents to the full, realizing all their potential as individuals, they need an environment that fosters personal growth....They need to be valued, accepted and supported in real and warm relationships." -- from the Charter of the Communities of L'Arche
Community life at L'Arche Portland makes a huge difference in the lives of so many people: the adults with developmental disabilities who live in our homes (core members), the assistants who share life with them, and supporters near and far who have connected with our community, even for a brief time. Read on to hear their stories. If you have a story about how L'Arche Portland has impacted you, please send it to us via email (with a picture, if possible) and we'll post it right here!
Core Member Stories
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I joined the L’Arche Portland community in 2004 as a live-in assistant. As a daily life community member, I lived at Neahkahnie House with two other assistants and four core members. One of these core members is a man named Rodney. So with his permission, I’ll tell you a bit about his story.Assistant Stories
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I have been here in the Portland L’Arche community since October 2009, but my journey here spans my lifetime. Somewhere along my way I began to consciously search for a place where my “unique gifts and challenges” would be “welcome.” Over the years I journeyed to a lot of different cities and entered into many relationships with groups and individuals in pursuit of a spot where I felt I belonged. Eventually I serendipitously (I love that word and its meaning!) found my way to Portland and the wonderful people I am living alongside today.Supporter Stories
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Our family has served at L'Arche by performing upgrades and lawn maintenance at Nehalem House. In reality, however, the beautiful community has actually served us by letting us hang around.