By Kathleen Bagg
Video produced by Sammy Ortiz Hardee
For more than two decades, Dottie Klein has been the heart and soul behind L’Arche Harbor House in Jacksonville, Fla. As former executive director and longtime community builder, Dottie has lived L’Arche’s core mission — creating a home of mutual care and belonging for adults with developmental disabilities.
From her earliest days managing live-in assistants to leading “The Rainbow” art program, Dottie brought vision, warmth, and a deep belief that everyone has unique gifts to give and receive.
Under her leadership, Harbor House grew from a single home in the mid‑80s to a thriving four‑home community that now nurtures nearly 20 full‑time residents and staff.
What makes Dottie stand out isn’t just her administrative acumen—it’s her conviction that L’Arche is not about “helping” others, but about living in true relationship. She’s always said: “We all learn so much from each other … we all grow and become more whole because of our experiences here.”
As Dottie prepares to retire, we’re celebrating not just the years she has dedicated—but the spirit of acceptance, compassion, and stewardship she leaves behind. Her legacy is a more caring, inclusive community—one that will continue to thrive on the foundations she lovingly laid.
Watch and share this short video honoring Dottie’s extraordinary witness of Christ’s love in action.
To learn more about the L’Arche Community in Jacksonville and to donate, visit www.larchejacksonville.org or email Amy Finn-Schultz, the executive director at amy@larchejacksonville.org.
