Our mission
Relationships
Make known the gifts of people with intellectual disabilities, revealed through mutually transforming relationships.
Diversity
Engage in our diverse cultures, working together toward a more human society.
Community
Foster an environment in community that responds to the changing needs of our members, while being faithful to the core values of our founding story.
At L’Arche GWDC we offer lifelong homes to people with intellectual disabilities, model inclusion, train up leaders, respond to the changing needs of our core members, and grow in our faith and spirituality.
We are people with and without intellectual disabilities, sharing life in communities belonging to the International Federation of L’Arche. Mutual relationships and trust in God are at the heart of our journey together.
Our Stories
Standing Together in Uncertain Times
Those of you who are local may have firsthand experience with the tensions and uncertainty many in our community are experiencing. Those of you further away may have seen or read the descriptions of our city. We want to describe what we are living here in DC.
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I’m not scared anymore.
Nervous, Joseph rode the elevator up to the rooftop floor of the L’Arche office. Still in his first months in L’Arche as a new core member, Joseph was here to have a portrait photo taken of him to hang in his home. Stepping off the elevator and onto the roof, Joseph squeezed the hand of Meredith. Unbeknownst to her and other L’Arche assistants, Joseph was scared of heights.
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L’Arche GWDC’s Diversity Commision Survey
In 2017, L’Arche GWDC’s Diversity Commission began gathering feedback bi-annually to identify who we are as a community, to track progress, to identify areas for growth, and to ensure that our community is—and continues to grow into—a place of belonging.
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Incredible Moments Connecting with L’Arche
World Bank Conference Room by Sito Sasieta, Outreach and Engagement Coordinator
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MEET THE EXECUTIVELEADERSHIP TEAM
Our Executive Leadership Team is a dedicated group of individuals, working hard to support our homes and community, ensuring competency in our service provision, finance & operations, and communications & development.
Find out moreOur History
L’Arche GWDC began on October 6, 1983, when our founding core member, Michael Schaff (1945–2025), opened our first home on Ontario Road in Adams Morgan, D.C. Two of our first core members came from Forest Haven, a notorious institution where people with disabilities endured years of abuse. Their move to L’Arche marked a powerful shift—from isolation to inclusion, from surviving to being given space to thrive.
Five years later, we opened a second home in Adams Morgan. After celebrating 20 years of L’Arche, we expanded into Virginia—renovating and opening two homes in 2006 and 2010. In 2020, we partnered with others to transform the historic Reeves Farmhouse in North Arlington into our to-be-opened fifth home, creating more space for community and connection.
But our true history is less about dates and more about people—hundreds of them. Some have moved on, some are still with us, and some we hold in memory. Each has shaped our community with love, vision, and commitment to a more human world.
L’Arche’s roots stretch back to 1964, when the first community was founded in France. The movement reached the U.S. in 1972, and we’ve been growing ever since, with over 20 communities in the USA and 130 across the world in nearly 40 countries.
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FAQs
L’Arche can feel different from many of our fast-paced lives and from other places that provide services to people with disabilities. Browse through answers to frequently asked questions to learn more.
Read moreAnnual Reports
Our Annual Reports showcase the many ways donors help us build community. As each year passes we overcome challenges, treasure our memories, and celebrate being together.
Read moreLeadership & Board
Both our Executive Leadership Team and Board of Directors are comprised of dedicated individuals using their skills, expertise, and passion to further the mission of L'Arche.
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