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.
Learn more about L’Arche Chicago at www.larchechicago.org.
