Core Conversations: Featuring David and Annalise

Kyla from L’Arche USA, sat down to interview L’Arche Chicago’s very own Annalise and David on what it was like being apart of community.

Published 16 August 2024

Kyla: Hi guys! What are your names?

Annalise: I’m Annalise Hankins.

David: I’m David Espinosa.

Kyla: Great! And what are your hobbies or interests?

David: Going out with assistants.

Annalise: What do you like to do with assistants?

David: Drive around town and drive downtown. Drive on Lake Shore Drive near
Lake Michigan.

Annalise: I like hanging out with friends. I like running. I used to run cross-country
in high school, and I am trying to keep up with it a little bit. I also like to read and
watch tv. Just the classic hobbies for me!

Kyla: How long have you guys been with L’Arche?

David: 4 years.

Annalise: 3 years. We are babies in the grand scheme of L’Arche.

Kyla: How nice. So, what is the reason you came to L’Arche?

David: My dad heard about it.

Annalise: What were you doing before? You were with your parents and then you
decided to step out on your own?

David: Scary. I didn’t know what it was.

Annalise: What motivated you to stay?

David: I was anxious coming here. It was stressful at the start. Emma and Meghan
[L’Arche Chicago assistants] really helped me.

Annalise: Ah those are good friends. I am glad they made you feel comfortable.

Kyla: And what about you Annalise?

Annalise: I found out about L’Arche through my mom because my uncle John lives
at Peace House. A lot of people say that L’Arche is my family, but L’Arche is literally
my family..… I signed the papers the minute I could on my 18th birthday to be an
assistant.… The rest is kind of history.

Kyla: Wow, so you were looking forward to already being an assistant. That’s great.
Next question: What is the hardest thing about living in L’Arche? What is the
best?

David: It’s hard living with other people

Annalise: Yeah, it’s hard in terms of just interpersonal stuff and just the conflicts
that any humans would have, you know, living with a bunch of other humans. I
agree with that. For me personally, currently, the hardest part is that I don’t live too
close to L’Arche. Commuting has been difficult.

Kyla: And what is the best?

Annalise: It’s two sides of the same coin really. It’s hard to be with people and it’s
lovely to be with people.

David: Yeah! Friends like Meghan and Molly and Stella, etc.

Annalise: It [the best thing about L’Arche] is the community that comes out of
it—life and community all in one. I have never felt so at home than I have at
L’Arche.

David: It’s my second home.

Annalise: I agree completely with that.

Kyla: That is nice. I agree. L’Arche is very awesome in that way of community and
connection. How has being involved with L’Arche impacted you as a person?

David: New friends I get to make.

Annalise: How did meeting new friends impact you?

David: It helped me with support and being nervous.

Annalise: Yeah, it’s impacted me in a lot of ways too. I started here when I was 18,
so L’Arche has been with me in my first steps into adulthood. … L’Arche has really
helped me have more independence, acceptance, and confidence in myself. And
also the community aspect of friends has been wonderful as well.

Kyla: That is cool you have been there since you were 18, so you can understand it
differently. So, the final question is how do you think L’Arche impacts the
community around you?

Annalise: That is a good one. There are a lot of examples I have for how L’Arche
positively impacts the community, but I think there is a lot of community interaction
that goes on that, on the whole, is positive and leads to more inclusion in general…
For example, often core members will have places that they frequent and people
start recognizing us.
Back in 2021, David, Chirstianne, and I used to go to YMCA every Saturday, and
then we stopped for a while. We went back a couple of weeks ago, and the front
desk lady said, “Oh, it’s you guys again. I’ve missed you!” She remembered us even
though it had been months. So, I definitely feel more connected to the community
when I’m with L’Arche. I think it brings out people’s kindness when they see us.
They recognize our sense of community and try to emulate that.

David: Yeah. People recognize us.

Annalise: How does that make you feel?

David: Good.

Annalise: Yeah. It feels really good. Just that wider sense of community.

Kyla: Right. Okay, cool. Well, that is all the questions I have for you. Anything else
you want to add or ask me?

Annalise: I can’t think of anything currently but thank you very much.

Kyla: Thank you for being willing to participate in this.

David: Bye. Thank you.