Tim Moore, Executive Director & Community Leader After graduating from Hastings College (Nebraska) in 2007 with a degree in religion and media, Tim felt a call to live and work with people with disabilities in L’Arche New Zealand. He quickly fell in love with L’Arche's vision, which only grew deeper as Tim spent time as an assistant in a L’Arche house in Washington, D.C. Tim moved to Atlanta in 2009 to begin a Master of Divinity degree at Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Because of his experience of living in community with adults with disabilities, the principle questions that guided his theological reflection were around the L’Arche ethos. Tim graduated in May of 2012 with a concentration in Church and Community Leadership that focused on teaching and formation as a way of transformation.
Tim joined L’Arche Atlanta as one of the founding assistants in August 2012 where he brought his experience in two previous L’Arche communities to help give shape to the new rhythms of community life in Atlanta. By May of 2013, he had shifted to a hybrid role as a half-time live-in assistant and half-time Associate Director of Development. Tim was named L'Arche Atlanta's Executive Director & Community Leader in June 2014.
Matthew Collins, Director of Residential Services Matthew grew up in a family devoted to faith and inclusion. Matthew’s father is the minister of a congregation that is committed to the full inclusion and integration of disabled persons. Matthew’s mother is a school nurse who serves an elementary school that has that district’s highest concentration of students who live with physical, developmental, and/or learning disabilities. Matthew’s oldest brother, Jeff, lives with Cerebral Palsy. One of Jeff’s greatest passions is karaoke. Additionally, Matthew himself is a Peer Specialist certified through Georgia’s DBHDD. Matthew feels fortunate to bring his formation to the service of L’Arche Atlanta’s transformative community of mutuality and belonging.
Matthew joined the L’Arche Atlanta community in January 2019 after several years of directing the vocational services department of a nationally recognized psychiatric treatment center. Prior to that, Matthew spent several years directing a nonprofit organization that promoted the mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing of adults marginalized by persistent mental health challenges, severe poverty, and housing insecurity. Matthew holds a Master of Divinity from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University, a graduate certificate in Aging Studies from Florida State University, a BA in Communication from the University of West Florida, and an AA in Liberal Arts form Pensacola Junior College. Lastly, while completing his undergraduate education Matthew also served as a vehicle mechanic in the Air Force Reserves.
For questions about our residential services, contact Matthew at [email protected].
Elizabeth Eaton, Director of Development & Communications Elizabeth Eaton has over 15 years of non-profit fundraising experience and is well versed in a comprehensive approach including prospect research, relationship cultivation, solicitation, marketing, communication, attentive stewardship, and community partnership. Elizabeth has a degree in Human Relations from Point University, Comprehensive Fundraising training from Leadership Institute in Arlington, VA, became a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals in 2019, and is a consultant in best practices and policies to improve donor database performance.
Elizabeth serves on the Youth Diversion Panel at Dekalb County Juvenile Court and is an active member of Berean Christian Church. When Elizabeth is not working, she is enjoying family, journaling, and watching a great romantic comedy.
Becca Van Galder, Associate Director of Community Engagement Becca was introduced to L’Arche when a family friend invited her to an event during the International Assembly in 2012. Though she did not become involved with the community immediately, that event inspired Becca to read and learn more about the philosophy of L’Arche communities. After graduating from Spring Hill College, Becca spent two years in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Arizona and Texas, where she experienced life in intentional community and worked with children with disabilities in the foster care system.
Becca’s love of community brought her to L’Arche in May 2017. She began her time with L’Arche as a live-in Assistant and later the Home Life Leader at Mead Road. In 2018, Becca also began coordinating the Community Events program and found her passion for creating inclusive spaces for members of the community to foster deeper friendships. As the Associate Director of Community Engagement, Becca is continuing the work of building accessible spaces for social connection for all L’Arche members and volunteers.
One of Becca’s favorite L’Arche activities is hosting our bi-weekly Tuesday Trivia game. Ask her about her favorite trivia facts! In her spare time, Becca enjoys reading, singing, and being outside. She has also recently rediscovered her childhood love of ballet!
Jhazzmyn Joiner, Communications & Marketing Manager Jhazzmyn has a background in communication, gerontology, and non-profit work. She studied at Georgia Tech for undergrad and Georgia State for grad school. She has served as a communication and marketing analyst, program manager, and national outreach specialist in the past. She also started her own family non-profit in 2017. She also has experience with board work. Jhazzmyn found out about L'Arche in recent years and fell in love with the important work that is done to build and foster community, among other things. She is most excited about meeting new people, elevating the communication through L'Arche channels, and helping with the amazing events.
Jhazzmyn is also a published poet and enjoys writing, running her digital literary magazine, spending time with her family (including the dogs), and traveling in her free time.
For questions about digital newsletter ads, press releases, or social media posts contact Jhazzmyn at [email protected]
Irene Turner, Human Resource Manager & Business Administrator Irene came to know L'Arche through a friendship with Tim. As a Nonprofit Development Consultant at Resurgens Impact Consulting, Irene worked with L'Arche Atlanta writing grants beginning in 2016. In 2018, she became the first Storytelling Project Director and loved creating advocacy pieces for people with disabilities across Georgia. "Working to connect with folks with disabilities across the state and lift up their stories through 6,000 Waiting, the Hidden Voices podcast, and the Treasure Maps events was that special blend of challenge, great people, and magic that has a ripple effect of change throughout the larger Georgia community." Irene joined the L'Arche Atlanta as a the Manager of Human Resources and Communications in September of 2023. Irene has a masters in Social Work with a concentration in Community Empowerment and Program Development from the University of Georgia. Irene lives with her husband, cat, and dog and enjoys learning the drums and rock climbing.
For questions about general Human Resource please contact Irene at [email protected]
Taylor Foote, Mead Road Home Life Leader Taylor first learned of L’Arche through a documentary he watched while attending college in East Tennessee, which for him highlighted the value of community for individuals with and without disabilities sharing life together daily. This led to a deeper dive into the works of Henri Nouwen and a great appreciation for Nouwen’s writings on social justice & spirituality and how they intertwine. He came to work at L’Arche Atlanta directly after graduation as a Live-in Assistant.
New to the role but not to the team, Taylor has been a part of L’Arche for many years. After one year with the Atlanta community starting in 2017, he spent a year sharing life with the L’Arche Toronto community & returned to the Mead Road house in Atlanta. As the Home Life Leader at Mead Road, Taylor holds the primary responsibility for coordinating house logistics (staff scheduling, house events, etc.), tending to the physical safety and maintenance of the house and vehicles, extending hospitality to visitors, and being a warm presence at the house for assistants and Core Members. A major highlight for him in community life was filming and co-directing the L’Arche “Battle of the Fans” music videos.
Taylor’s biggest joys in daily life at L’Arche are hosting celebrations, cooking meals, and spending one-on-one time with Core Members at both houses. While not spending time at Mead Road, Taylor enjoys painting, film photography, hiking, cycling in the city, and fly fishing. You can usually find him at any one of Atlanta’s coffee shops drinking an iced black coffee and sitting in the sun with a book.
Fun fact of an early L’Arche connection: While dropping off a friend at Camp Big Heart in 2010, he met Terry, a Core Member at the Mead Road house, and danced with him not knowing at the time that later Terry would become a close friend.
Lis Barrett, Mead Road Care Coordinator Lis was born and raised in Alabama and has called Georgia home for the past 15 years. She has spent the last 14 years supporting people with disabilities, the last two of those at L'Arche. As Service Team Leader, her primary responsibility is to support our contracted nurse, attending to the physical health and wellness of our Core Members through medical documentation, medication administration and refills, and medical appointment management.
Lis values having daily one on one personal connections with the people she supports and being part of an inclusive community. When she isn’t working, she enjoys spending time with her son, reading, gardening, and being outdoors.
Calista Moore, Clairement Home Life Leader Calista is a dynamic professional with a rich background in private house management and the film industry. She has successfully managed five properties across three states, ensuring seamless operations and exceptional service. Before the writer strikes, she was a member of the IATSE 479 union, where she excelled in the art department of various film projects, bringing imaginative concepts to life on screen. In addition to her creative endeavors, Calista has dedicated time to non-profit work focused on the refugee crisis alongside Amnesty International, advocating for those in need and supporting initiatives across six states aimed at providing aid and resources.
For Calista, cooking meals and sharing food are powerful expressions of love and connection within the community. She believes that food brings people together, fostering relationships and creating a sense of belonging. By preparing nutritious meals and promoting fitness, she encourages a lifestyle that nourishes both the body and spirit. Through culinary gatherings and wellness activities, Calista aims to inspire others to embrace the joy of cooking and the importance of health, all while building a vibrant, supportive community. With a unique blend of artistic vision and practical management skills, Calista is now committed to using all of her skills to bring a sense of community and peace to the Clairemont home. She is passionate about disability rights and strives to create inclusive spaces for all!
Nina Boube, Clairement Care Coordinator Nina is originally from Niger (west Africa), a French-speaking country. She holds a Bachelor degree in business administration from the Institute of Management in Senegal. She grew up in a family of five siblings. Her parents taught them, "Other People matter". No matter who you are, what your background is, what your story is like, "savoir- Vivre" means know how to live and treat others with respect. Nina moved to the United States in 2004 with her husband and is currently raising two teenage boys and a daughter.
She has worked and supported individuals with or without disabilities for over 15 years. She was introduced to L'Arche Mobile, Alabama in 2015 by a friend and quickly fell in love with the L'Arche mission and vision as it reminded her so much of her upbringing. Nina spent 6 years sharing life and supporting individuals with or without disabilities at L'Arche Mobile. She joined L'Arche Atlanta in November 2022. Her primary responsibility is direct support care, spending one-on-one time with core members, which she values.
In her days away from L'Arche, she spent time with the boys in a soccer field or watching cartoons with her daughter and having family time. Nina enjoyed listening to all kinds of music while cooking. She loves to know and learn about many cultures and plans to continue on.
John Hudson, Stewardship Assistant John first became involved with L'Arche Atlanta when he moved into the community as a Core Member in 2012. He has been working as the Stewardship Coordinator for L'Arche for over two year. John loves that his job allows him to connect with donors and community members, reminding everyone that they are important to L'Arche. He says, "I enjoy my job because I like talking to people on the phone and my favorite part of being in L'Arche is better opportunities and working on the Development Team."
In his spare time, John enjoys spending time with his family and housemates, dancing to rock & roll music, and watching WWE wrestling.