Our Mission

In 1987, L’Arche Heartland began a journey where persons with and without intellectual disabilities began sharing their life in community and became a member of the International Federation of L’Arche. As we continue to trust God in our journey, our mission is to:

Make known the gifts of people with intellectual disabilities, revealed through mutually transforming relationships.

Foster an environment in community that responds to the changing needs of our members, while being faithful to the core values of our founding story.

Engage in our diverse cultures, working together toward a more human society.

L'Arche Heartland focuses on relationships and recognizes that every individual regardless of their ability has a gift to share with our world. Through sharing daily life, we strive to discover and share these gifts with the broader community of Johnson County. We gather regularly as a community to foster relationship with one another as we create a place of belonging for people of all abilities.

L’Arche Heartland Leadership

Kyra Padgett
Community Coordinator

Michael Engelmann
Quality Care Coordinator

James Mickens
Recruitment/Development Coordinator

Halston Livingston
Day Service Coordinator

About Our Leadership Team

Michael Engelmann - Community Care Coordinator

Michael’s current role at L’Arche Heartland is Community Care Coordinator or more popularly known as Sarah Engelmann’s brother. He has been part of the L’Arche Heartland community since November of 2010. During that time, Michael went back to school for his associates at Johnson County Community College and got his BS in Marketing from WGU. Michael then married his beautiful wife Ashley in 2014 and added their first son Theo to the family in 2022, adding his second son Noah in February of 2025. In his free time, Michael loves to bowl and play disc golf. Michael’s goal at L’Arche Heartland is to create a welcoming and safe environment for all core members, their families, and assistants.

Kyra Padgett - Administrative Coordinator

Kyra was born and raised in Kansas City and has always had a passion for helping people. She got her BA in secondary education and theatre at William Jewell College, hoping to start a theatre program at a high school in Kansas City that didn’t yet have one. During her first year of teaching in 2019, the COVID shut downs prevented her from continuing on to the next year. Kyra was able to adopt her step-daughter, Mia, in 2021. In 2021, she had their son, Phoenix, and had her son Canyon in May of 2023. In her spare time, she enjoys coffee, reading, music, fashion, and enjoying the outdoors with her family and three dogs. Kyra loves that she found L’arche Heartland and is able to use her passion for helping others in the L’arche community everyday.

Halston Livingston - Community Coordinator

Halston has been with the L’Arche community since 2015, beginning her time here as an assistant. Her many years of experience in the homes has enabled her to be the perfect fit for this position, understanding both the core members and the assistants in an essential way. Halston loves Nicole’s dog, Charlie, and is frequently found on the floor with him or sneaking him snacks under her desk. She loves plants, concerts, and food. She is a huge fan of coffee, as is most of the office staff, and is very often drinking a cold brew with chocolate milk. Halston loves how her position allows her to help make sure the core members are receiving the best care possible.

James Mickens - Recruitment Coordinator

James is a seasoned Spoons player, dynamic cheesecake baker, and award-winning writer of cat monologues. And. Yet. L'arche is where he has returned time and time again, off and on since 2012, for his greatest adventure: servant leadership at L'arche Heartland. Having dedicated his life to random acts of kindness with a pinch of madness, he now spends his time trying to find kind, compassionate, and intelligent people to work with the Core Members he grew to love while serving L'arche as an assistant. In his free time, he can be found enjoying full-contact book clubs and scouting exotic countries for the world's best foods.