Charles Clark died last week at 87, surrounded by people who loved him at the 6th Street House of L'Arche Greater Washington. Charles personified the qualities of a vibrant community.
L'Arche is a worldwide community that embodies acceptance in simple yet powerful ways. In L'Arche homes, people with intellectual disabilities teach others how to live in radical connection. They are a model of how to create relationships across differences, one of the most pressing undertakings of our time.
Below is an excerpt from L'Arche's announcement honoring Charles, which reflects how he inspired all who knew him.
Charles was a bridge; he bridged divides and paradoxes and connected people in ways that we have become unaccustomed to and frightened of imagining. He reminded the world, his local communities, and regionally of the need for intentionality, inclusion, celebration, and [humility]. [Regarding] leading our home, Bruce remembers that Charles "welcomed everybody and loved everybody from the first day he was here [at 6th Street]." Charles was instrumental in naming that L'Arche is a family, and that we should call each other brother and sister. … [He] had an incredible affinity for hope—he called us to trust in God's goodness unrelentingly.
Charles was also an incredible world traveler. Since coming to L'Arche in 2010, he has traveled to Belfast, Ireland; Lourdes, France; Beauvais, Texas; Scranton, Pennsylvania; Portland, Oregon; Seattle, Washington; Michigan; the Outer Banks (North Carolina); and Minnesota. Recently, he shared his plans to see the Northern Lights and Rome, Italy from heaven, where the view would be better.
Charles was a passionate advocate for justice and proudly supported the police department, fire department, and the Justice Department. …. Most of all, Charles was the best brother anyone could ask for. He vowed to protect his family and friends throughout his life and planned to do so in heaven. Charles was generous with his love and claimed the title of brother to almost everyone he ever met. When asked how Charles could hold so many people in his heart, he would reply, "I just do it!"
Above is a video excerpt from L'Arche GWDC’s YouTube channel: “My Voice: Amplifying the Voices of People with Intellectual Disabilities in the Medical System”
Charles and I last spoke on Zoom in March 2022, soon after he returned from the hospital and entered hospice. In our conversation, Charles shared what community meant to him and what he believed was his impact on it. His friend Sarah Moore joined us.
Sarah asked Charles what he most wanted people to know about his life. He wanted to be known as an advocate for the L'Arche organization and people with disabilities in general. He wanted there to be more L'Arche homes so that everyone could live in one. Charles was incredibly proud of his role as L'Arche Representative of the USA.
Charles was a forceful advocate for others to have access to the same support he had by approving more Medicaid waivers. He spoke almost yearly to the Northern Virginia Town Hall of Virginia legislators so that the 12,000 people waiting could also have a chance to live in homes like L'Arche. "People with disabilities need Medicaid waivers to join L'Arche… I've been to Capitol Hill too. And I recruit people. I go to colleges where students are going to graduate, and I give a speech: 'Come to L'Arche.'"
He also wanted to be known for the love and peace he brought to his community. When I asked how he showed it, he responded, "We hug each other. And we help each other a lot, you know? Everybody is together, and all of us are brothers and sisters."
Charles made it clear that even though he was in hospice, he had no intention of slowing down. He wanted to continue representing L'Arche to the outside world, travel, and fish. The weekend after we spoke, two L'Arche assistants were joining him on a fishing trip. Charles intended to catch "a big trout. I'm gonna bring it home and slice it up. Get all the bones [out] so there are no bones. And fry it up for dinner. That would be a good dinner, too."
Charles's life was a testament to how people with disabilities contribute to their communities. A message I heard repeatedly from members and friends of L'Arche was that people with disabilities have a direct way of relating that gets to the heart of acceptance. I believe Charles's gift of uniting people was partly due to his lack of the masks that most of us put on, consciously or not, in our longing to matter and belong.