L’Arche Frederick is a community where people with and without intellectual disabilities (IDD) share life together. As a local nonprofit, we envision and inspire a world where differences are celebrated and everyone has a genuine place of belonging.
L’Arche is a French word for “the ark” – a place of hope, welcome, and belonging for all. They are part of an international movement, with 156 L’Arche communities in 38 countries!
Photo Courtesy L’Arche Frederick
Meet L’Arche
About L’Arche Frederick
Locally, L’Arche began meeting in Emmitsburg ten years ago. They started hosting monthly events at St. Katharine Drexel soon after, in conjunction with Frederick County Parks & Recreation.
We host monthly social events with people with IDD in Frederick AND we are opening our first community home!
This home will provide needed community-based residential supports for adults with IDD. Our monthly programs will continue, allowing the broader Frederick community to experience the hospitality & joy of a L’Arche home. After completing renovations on the house and state licensure as a service provider, we’ll be ready to open our doors.
In a L’Arche home, people with and without disabilities choose to live together. Direct support professionals (who support people with IDD with daily life activities) see L’Arche not just as their place of work, but their home as well. This shift in mindset and an emphasis on mutual relationships ultimately challenges the traditional caregiving model. Housemates share responsibility of the household and view one another as peers & friends.
Our community model is one that is led by people with and without disabilities. It’s critical that people with disabilities have a voice decisions about their own lives and in our organization. That’s why people with IDD who will live in our home are called “core members”. Core comes from the French word for “heart”. It reminds us that their voices must always be at the heart of our community life and decisions.
Photo Courtesy L’Arche Frederick
How to get involved
L’Arche really excels at building relationships across differences and hospitality. These relationships often blossom around our dinner tables. When our home opens, we welcome neighbors to share a meal with us!
The place settings might not match, the food might be a bit cold, and perhaps the table is packed, but the joy and connection are sincere. We believe that this same spirit of joy and authenticity is found in our community events, which are open to all.
We also invite you to join in our community events (online and in-person) or consider volunteering/hosting an event. We love meeting with groups to talk about inclusion & belonging.
Also, consider sponsoring our 5th annual Let It Shine Extravaganza on October 16 and check out our in-kind wish list on our website.
Truly, just spread the word. We know our name is a bit funky to pronounce (unless you took French in high school), so you’re doing us a solid by just asking a friend “hey, have you heard about L’Arche?”
Frederick Chamber Insights is a news outlet of the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce. For more information about membership, programs and initiatives, please visit our website.