Above: L’Arche Saint John recognized the Saint John Arts Centre and Gray Gillies Mott as recipients of the Spirit of L’Arche Award at its sold-out Building Community gala Wednesday night, in recognition for their outstanding commitment to building an inclusive community. From left are Rachel Vander Vennen, Executive Director of L’Arche Saint John, Adrian Morgan of L’Arche Saint John, Gray Gillies Mott, Program Leader of L’Arche Creative Connections, and Andrew Kierstead, Executive Director of the Saint John Arts Centre.
First impressions can make a big impact. And when Adrian, a member of our community met Gray, the program leader at our art studio, Creative Connections, for the first time six years ago, he immediately felt at ease. Adrian has been an important part of our community ever since.
Last Wednesday, Adrian joined me on stage before a crowd of 450 people at our sold-out Building Community gala to present Gray the Spirit of L’Arche Award in recognition for her commitment to building a more inclusive world. It was a beautiful moment of friendship, well-earned recognition and celebration of Gray’s commitment to inclusive belonging and L’Arche over the past 19 years – since our founding.
We also called to the stage Andrew Kierstead, executive director of the Saint John Arts Centre, in recognition for the wonderful hospitality, support and partnership the Arts Centre has shown L’Arche over both through Creative Connections and our L’Arche Connects outreach program. The Arts Centre is a beacon of community and artistic inclusion in action and a jewel in our city. You can read more about the Award here.
It was a heart-warming evening celebrating community. The sold-out event brought hundreds of business and community leaders together in our city to celebrate the contributions of adults with intellectual disabilities and individuals and groups, like Gray and the Saint John Arts Centre, that have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to inclusion.
There were several memorable moments in addition to the Spirit of L’Arche Awards: hearing special guest Charlie Cavanagh’s remarkable stories as a world champion boxer, watching a new video featuring Jacob and Kyra and the L’Arche Connects outreach program, and an entertaining live auction of Lana Langille Doucette’s original piece of art painted live during the event.
The event well-surpassed our fundraising goal, which goes a long way towards meeting our annual fundraising targets necessary to continue operations year over year. Its success is in large part thanks to our sponsors: The McKenna Group, Emerge, Brunswick Credit Union, Acadia broadcasting, Cox & Palmer, Delta Hotels and Dantech Print, Signs & More, and to our matching donor The Stonehouse Agency.
It was an evening to celebrate – and a call to action that there is still more work to be done. Folks with intellectual disabilities deserve better support systems, more housing options, and a stronger sense of community than what is available today.
Together – with you and our partners – we can build a world where everyone belongs.
In gratitude,
Rachel Vander Vennen
Community Leader & Executive Director
1 comment
The image of that evening with L’Arche Saint John at the Delta is of a beautiful, large “Table” with room for everyone to gather! At that large table, stories were shared we needed to see, hear and celebrate! …the video of Jacob and Kyra, the updates, the joy and energy to keep moving toward the mission of inclusion wherever and however it may evolve! Rachel’s sharing was a call to be light wherever you are!