T


he DiGarbos’ life story doesn’t begin in a distant country or in a government office. It begins in ordinary places: classrooms, counseling sessions, family life. Joe, a therapist specializing in addiction treatment, and Anne, a teacher turned art therapist with a PhD, spent decades walking alongside people in some of life’s hardest moments. But 25 years ago, their shared calling expanded beyond individual healing to something global.


Tey found the Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP), a grassroots initiative that started as a way for incarcerated individuals to help one another avoid violence, but has grown into a worldwide movement, now active in more than 50 countries.


For Joe and Anne, it became a mission.


“We’ve sort of poured our lives into it,” Joe says simply.


Trough AVP and related peace initiatives, the DiGarbos have led hundreds of workshops across the United States and around the world in places marked by deep conflict and fragile hope. From the Balkans to Palestine, from Ireland and Nepal to Armenia, their goal has remained the same: equip people with practical, human tools for resolving conflict without harm.


Joe recalls the recent war in Gaza, where a leader of AVP Palestine was trapped with his family as violence escalated. Trough connections built over years of shared work, the DiGarbos and their network were able to help the family escape. Today, they are safe in South Africa.


“Tat connection made the difference,” Joe says.


Anne shares another moment, quieter but no less profound. At a gathering in Armenia, she met a young activist from Russia, a woman in her twenties whose family faced persecution for their beliefs. As they parted, the young woman removed one of her earrings, a small star, and gave it to Anne. Anne, in turn, gave one of hers.


Now, each wears the other’s earring. A simple exchange created a lasting bond.


But for all their global impact, what grounds them is something closer to home: a thoughtful approach to community, care, and aging. Tat’s where Friends Life Care comes in.


“We’ve been part of Friends Life Care for over a decade,” Anne shares. “And what drew us to it was the idea of staying in our home.”


Unlike traditional models that often require a move into higher levels of care, Friends Life Care focuses on supporting individuals right where they are to help them age in place with dignity and independence. For Joe and Anne, that philosophy aligned perfectly with their values.


“I’m very attached to our home,” Anne says. “Tat intention—to keep you there as long as possible— is just wonderful.”


As longtime members of Lancaster Friends Meeting, the DiGarbos are rooted in Quaker values like simplicity, peace, integrity, community, and equality. Tey see those same values reflected in Friends Life Care.


From regular check-ins to practical guidance on health and wellness, through Friends Life Care, they’ve experienced a level of support that feels both personal and empowering. It’s not just about services; it’s about relationship.


“Tere’s a generosity of spirit, a real interest in helping people live well.” Joe explains. “It’s about aging well,” Anne adds.


Friends Life Care, a Landis Communities partner, is an aging-in-place membership program that helps older adults stay independent through a focus on prevention, holistic wellbeing, and financial security.


Landis.org | FLOURISH | Summer 2026 • 7


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