Wow, How We’ve Grown!!!

Image Description: A group of friend smiling on a sunny day.

Nearly a decade ago L’Arche Portland made the community decision to grow and prepare itself for change. As I reflect on how much we have grown in our diversity, assistant presence, natural community support, and the addition of a new home, it is clear that our community made wise decisions to recognize both the need to change and the inevitability of change.

The diversity of our homes was once defined by the fact that people with and without intellectual disabilities were sharing life together. Today, I am proud of how we embrace and celebrate a diversity that includes people of different generations, people of different faiths and spiritual practices, people of different sexualities and gender identities, and people of different ethnic and racial backgrounds.

Now don’t get me wrong, we have a long way to go in becoming a more welcoming community to people who don’t yet see their place among us. But we are growing our mission and doing the important work of inclusion beyond people's identities of being disabled or not.

Image Description: Andy, Marilyn, and Grace smiling in Times Square. (2014)

Our Nehalem and Neahkahnie homes continue to support core members, many that have shared life in our homes for over 20 years.This has required us to welcome increasingly more live-out assistants and overnight caregivers to support core members as they age in place. It’s incredible the number of assistants who are supporting core members 1-1 or on fun activities outside the home every week. Not only does your support allow us to provide far more care than what the state will reimburse, but we now always have more people in our homes to build friendships with.

I believe what makes L’Arche Portland special is the circle of friends who provide natural support and long-term care to everyone in our homes and community. People with intellectual disabilities have great friends beyond their family and paid support professionals, and our assistants have mentors who can support them in their L’Arche experience. Sharing life in our homes can be challenging, but your presence and support makes our house members feel seen and valued.

So today, when I look at L’Arche Portland I see a growing community that has created a new model of L’Arche home at Gabriel House, adapted as people age, and welcomed more diversity. Our community recognized that growth is essential, and your support has made growth possible. Will you make a gift to L’Arche Portland today in support of all that has transpired this past decade, and in support of how L’Arche Portland will continue to grow in the future.We can’t do any of this without you.

Thank you for your support, and thank you to everyone who has trusted me to lead L’Arche Portland over the years. It has been an incredible privilege, and I look forward to seeing you at community events in 2022.

Peace,
Andy Noethe, Community Leader | Executive Director

Image Description: Frances and Andy waving and smiling at the camera.