L'Arche Twin Cities

At L’Arche Twin Cities, we build inclusive relationships between people with and without intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD) because we believe in community. To believe in community and inclusion is to hope. It is a vision for the future that sustains across political tides by leaning into relationship and the gifts that we each bring.

This year, hope has shown up across our inclusion work in both everyday and extraordinary ways: Hope guided us to hire our first full-time executive director. It surfaced in our interviews with the EverAble film crew, who visited us in March to capture our unique stories and perspectives on life. Hope was also there each time we booked a rideshare for someone with IDD, so they could make it to our events independently. It was hope that brought us together the first Saturday of each month, gathered over coffee and donuts to share vulnerably with each other. And it was hope again that led us to send community manager Mao Yang to Nashville in May with founding community member Bernie.

In Nashville, leaders from across the L’Arche USA federation gathered to discuss and revise the new 5-year mandate that will guide L’Arche’s work over the next five years. It was no question to us that Mao needed to be there. Why? Because amongst L’Arche communities in the United States, Mao is the only person in a leadership role with an IDD and in a power wheelchair. 

In Mao’s words, “If we don’t have people with IDD in leadership positions, who is going to advocate for the issues affecting our community directly? How are we supposed to make the world better for people with IDD as a whole if we do not have more people with IDD in positions of leadership with the power to make the changes?”

Indeed, we believe in inclusion across every layer of our community. But inclusion also comes with a price tag:

 A single ticket to a movie or local production costs around $15.

Coffee and donuts to fuel our Saturday gatherings cost $40.

The average roundtrip rideshare for one person to attend an event costs $75.

An ASL interpreter costs $165 for a 2-hour event.

The base rate for a Cow Tipping creative writing class is $4,000.

And that Nashville trip? It rang in at $5,135.63.



Let’s be clear: the costs are beyond worth it. We are here to change how people approach disability, community, and relationship-building, and people with IDD must be included for that to happen, whether we’re gathering over coffee, attending a local theater production, or drafting our organization’s next 5-year mandate. Inclusion is our beacon of hope. 

This year, amidst uncertain funding tides and direct federal attacks on community services for people with IDD, L’Arche Twin Cities remains buoyed to hope. Our purpose is to build meaning and belonging through inclusive community, beyond the traditional systems of disability services. Our direction stays true, and we do this largely through the support of our donors.

Will you help keep us buoyed to hope with a gift this year? Your generous donation will be matched dollar for dollar by a matching fund! We are also grateful when you share our page or Instagram and Facebook to spread the word of our good work!