What an incredible month July was! Disability Pride month is always a time it feels so clear how incredible and beautiful life can be when we do it together. This July we met so many new and old friends at 716 CommUNITY Day at MLK Park, and Disability Pride at Riverworks, both stunning celebrations of community and collective care. We delighted in celebrating 20 years of Starlight Studio– a progressive studio for adults with disabilities here in Buffalo, and were able to join our eldest sister community in Erie, Pennsylvania’s first Longest Table event, an event where they celebrate the inclusive spirit that has guided their community for more than 50 years. 

 

We debuted our first meeting of conTEXT, (a book club for those of us who won’t be independently reading outside of meetings, but who want to learn and talk about disability, care, and community) and had such delightful conversations and reflections after reading an excerpt from Care Work by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha. And through all our events- from Creativity and Care to Song Circles, to Y’All Belong Here meetings- we are reminded again and again that throughout these busy and turbulent times, doing life together with all of our differences only makes our lives richer.

 

We are continually growing, and building a community of adults with and without disabilities who show up for each other. We build this muscle through practice- in little ways like carpooling, sharing snacks, hearing each other out, and inviting each other to lead at our events, so that we are practiced at care when showing up means helping with a meal or sharing our time for a friend in need. This Thursday, we’ll be led in a Community Night Workshop by Renee Christian on what Care Webs look like, and how to think about asking for and giving care in community. We’d love to see you there!

 

Be well,

Andrea With

Community Leader / Executive Director at L’Arche Buffalo