The Power of Belonging
For 37 years, I have had the privilege of walking alongside adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities as they build lives filled with purpose, friendship, and belonging.
When I first entered this field, the world looked very different. Too many people with intellectual and developmental disabilities lived apart from their families and communities. Opportunities that many of us take for granted—building friendships, making choices, having a home, pursuing dreams, or simply belonging—weren't always possible.
There is one experience I'll never forget.
Years ago, I attended the funeral of a person we had supported. Before the service began, I met a gentleman who introduced himself as her uncle.
As children, they had been separated after she was institutionalized. Over the years, they lost contact. By the time he learned of her passing, it was too late for them to reconnect.
As family, friends, staff, and community members shared stories about the life she had built and the impact she had on others, he quietly expressed how much he wished he had known his niece. He had missed the opportunity to be part of her life.
I've carried that story with me ever since.
It reminds me how much has changed—and why we can never take community, inclusion, and belonging for granted.
Today, I have the privilege of witnessing a very different story unfold every day.
I see people building lasting friendships. I see artists discovering new ways to express themselves, students pursuing higher education, individuals speaking up for themselves, volunteers giving back, and people achieving goals that once may have seemed out of reach.
These moments aren't extraordinary because they are rare. They're extraordinary because they happen when people are given the opportunity, the right supports, and a community that believes in them.
At Community Living Alternatives, we've learned that belonging isn't simply about where someone lives or the services they receive. It's about being known, valued, included, and connected. It's about having the freedom to make choices, develop relationships, contribute to the community, and pursue a life that is uniquely your own.
That is what our mission has always been about.
As I reflect on the past 37 years, I'm incredibly grateful for the families, Host Home Providers, employees, board members, volunteers, donors, case managers, and community partners who have helped make these opportunities possible. Together, we've witnessed remarkable progress—and together, we have the opportunity to continue building communities where every person is welcomed, respected, and empowered to thrive.
Thank you for being part of that journey.
Because when people are given the opportunity to belong, remarkable things are possible.
Barbara Kenyon-Mohrlang
Executive Director
Community Living Alternatives
When I first entered this field, the world looked very different. Too many people with intellectual and developmental disabilities lived apart from their families and communities. Opportunities that many of us take for granted—building friendships, making choices, having a home, pursuing dreams, or simply belonging—weren't always possible.
There is one experience I'll never forget.
Years ago, I attended the funeral of a person we had supported. Before the service began, I met a gentleman who introduced himself as her uncle.
As children, they had been separated after she was institutionalized. Over the years, they lost contact. By the time he learned of her passing, it was too late for them to reconnect.
As family, friends, staff, and community members shared stories about the life she had built and the impact she had on others, he quietly expressed how much he wished he had known his niece. He had missed the opportunity to be part of her life.
I've carried that story with me ever since.
It reminds me how much has changed—and why we can never take community, inclusion, and belonging for granted.
Today, I have the privilege of witnessing a very different story unfold every day.
I see people building lasting friendships. I see artists discovering new ways to express themselves, students pursuing higher education, individuals speaking up for themselves, volunteers giving back, and people achieving goals that once may have seemed out of reach.
These moments aren't extraordinary because they are rare. They're extraordinary because they happen when people are given the opportunity, the right supports, and a community that believes in them.
At Community Living Alternatives, we've learned that belonging isn't simply about where someone lives or the services they receive. It's about being known, valued, included, and connected. It's about having the freedom to make choices, develop relationships, contribute to the community, and pursue a life that is uniquely your own.
That is what our mission has always been about.
As I reflect on the past 37 years, I'm incredibly grateful for the families, Host Home Providers, employees, board members, volunteers, donors, case managers, and community partners who have helped make these opportunities possible. Together, we've witnessed remarkable progress—and together, we have the opportunity to continue building communities where every person is welcomed, respected, and empowered to thrive.
Thank you for being part of that journey.
Because when people are given the opportunity to belong, remarkable things are possible.
Barbara Kenyon-Mohrlang
Executive Director
Community Living Alternatives