How the Community Zone Came to Be
Co-founders: Cynthia Peltier and Farida Zaid
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The CommUnity Zone opened its doors at 417 Market Street in Lewisburg, PA in February 2012. The goal of the Zone has always been to create a space where all members of the Susquehanna Valley would come together to share ideas and share all the talent and resources.
To understand the origins of the CommUnity Zone, we must go back to 1998 at Bucknell University, where a group of faculty, staff and community members united in response to a troubling rise in assaults targeting people of color and members of the LGBTQ community across the nation. Notable among these tragedies were the brutal murders of Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr., which galvanized the group into action. In those early days, we organized vigils and consciousness-raising events to address the growing wave of violence and discrimination. This grassroots effort evolved into C.A.R.E.—the Community Alliance for Respect and Equality—under the leadership of Professor Doug Sturm. C.A.R.E. was founded and committed to examining and improving the “place” of minorities in the Susquehanna Valley. Our mission centered on dismantling barriers to inclusion and fostering respect and equality for all. From its inception, C.A.R.E. operated with a member-led Steering Committee rather than a traditional Board of Directors and we have maintained that model of leadership to this day. Monthly open meetings provided a forum for dialogue and action, alternating between working committees—focused on issues such as housing, education, law enforcement, workplace advocacy, religious diversity, and the monitoring of hate groups—and public programs addressing topics like white supremacy, LGBTQ rights, and diversity training for law enforcement. Community-building is a cornerstone of this organization. Annual end-of-summer potluck picnics brought members, friends, and families together to enjoy music, poetry, and reflection on the group’s goals for the coming year. For many years, a vibrant holiday celebration showcased the foods, activities, and traditions of diverse cultures, engaging both children and adults. As the movement grew, larger gatherings were organized, with invitations extended throughout the community. The name “C.A.R.E.” was coined by Bucknell faculty member John Rickard. Members identified key areas of focus—including law enforcement, housing, employment, hate groups, and education—and volunteers assumed responsibility for advancing progress in these areas. A dedicated core group continued to meet annually until my departure from Bucknell in 2012, at which point I took on stewardship of C.A.R.E. and its 501(c)(3) status. C.A.R.E. has evolved into today’s CommUnity Zone, carrying forward its founding vision while expanding its mission. We remain dedicated to building bridges, breaking down barriers, and creating a welcoming space where every voice is heard, valued, and respected. |
The Zone Today: Community Partnerships
Toward the end of 2021, the CommUnity Zone realized that it had grown beyond the space it had used for the last decade. While that location was ideal in many ways - located in the heart of downtown, and just next door to the Campus Theatre - it was also a small, single-roomed office tucked away between larger neighbors. The Zone was also engaging more and more in collaboration with the Lewisburg Downtown Partnership, who were also looking for a new office location. And both of these groups were interested in moving from begging, borrowing, and stealing space for events to having a space of our very own for hosting friends and supporters.
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With a bit of luck and a lot of elbow grease, the directors of both groups - Cynthia Peltier of the CommUnity Zone and Ellen Ruby of the Downtown Partnership - found the perfect place. In February of 2022, they joined forces at 328 Market Street to form the Community Partnerships building. In the months that have followed, this space has slowly but surely grown toward our goal of forming a central hub for all things Lewisburg, with office space for both our organizations, a central room with a stage and seating for all sorts of events, and a window front and hallway space for posters and brochures. It's even an official satellite office of the Visitor's Bureau!
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Ellen Ruby (left) of the Lewisburg Downtown Partnership, Scotta Magnelli (center) formerly of the Campus Theatre, and Cynthia Peltier (right) of the CommUnity Zone: Three community leaders representing three great partners in Lewisburg!
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If you haven't managed to swing by already, we'd love for you to see the Community Partnerships office and say hello to this wonderful pair of organizations. As the CommUnity Zone moves into its second decade, we're thrilled to continue our mission in a new home that embodies all the ideals we stand for.
Read this great article about the CommUnity Zone by our friend Erica Shames of WVIA!
Read this great article about the CommUnity Zone by our friend Erica Shames of WVIA!
Inclusion & Equality Statement
The CommUnity Zone strives to reflect the community’s needs for inclusion, and equality of all persons, as well as educating the community about the importance of inclusion & equality in order to broaden community awareness on the importance of these issues as reflected in the fine and performing arts.
The CommUnity Zone:
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Our Mission, Our Vision
The idea behind the CommUnity Zone is right in our name: the emphasis of UNITY in our COMMUNITY. We work to connect the people of the Central Susquehanna Valley with health and human services and programs focused on society, the arts, and culture, in order to build strong, diverse, and thriving bonds. Our vision is a community where all individuals, organizations, and businesses share ideas, talents, and resources to create and maintain a connected, caring, healthy, and vibrant Valley.
The CommUnity Zone works together with a multitude of partners in and around Lewisburg and the Susquehanna Valley to provide a wide variety of programs that support an atmosphere of inclusion and equality that are welcoming, vibrant, and reflective of the diverse experiences and stories within our community. 
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Our Work
- Develop community engagement throughout the Central Susquehanna Valley
- Gather multiple perspectives from throughout the valley
- Create a variety of programming to bring people together
- Advocate for justice, peace, and equal opportunity for all in every avenue of life
- Support and promote sustainable initiatives
- Leverage our network of partners and patrons to ensure resources are more readily available to all.
Our Staff
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Cynthia Peltier
Co-founder and Director The vision is to promote community collaboration and enhance public/private partnerships in order to strategically and measurably improve the lives of the underserved and under-resourced in the Central Susquehanna Valley. She has been a community organizer throughout her life, serving in leadership roles as a board member for the Campus Theatre and the Donald Heiter Community Center in Lewisburg, the League of Women Voters, the Central Susquehanna Valley Mediation Center, and the Community Alliance for Respect & Equity. In addition, she worked as the Operations Manager and exhibitions coordinator at Bucknell University’s Samek Art Gallery for 28 years. |
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Gibson O'Mealy
Media and Technology Coordinator Gibson works to support the Zone in its many activities through messaging mediums, social media management, and more. Guided by the belief that a strong community starts with meaningful connections to our neighbors, Gibson's central focus is expanding and building upon CommunityZone's partnerships. As a senior at Lewisburg High School, Gibson leads Student Council, is a longtime member of the Model UN Club, and participates in theatre. Outside of school, he volunteers in political campaigns and organizations. Additionally, he's lived in Lewisburg since late 2016 and began at the Zone in June of 2025. |
Our Advisory Board
William Flack, Lisa Rae Johnson, Danielle Murphy, Rosalyn Richards, Elayne Sobel, Patti Urosevich