Our Story

Beginnings  |  Mission, Values, Work  |  Staff  |  Advisory Board

HOW THE COMMUNITY ZONE CAME TO BE

Co-founders: Cynthia Peltier and Farida Zaid
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.
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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.
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! We are also ADA compliant so no worries about entering our space. 
Gibson O'Mealy, CommUnity Zone Tech Genius, Danielle Murphy and Lisa Rae Johnson from Rae Renne Productions, and Cynthia Peltier, CommUnity Zone. Director 
The CommUnity Zone is a thriving, inclusive hub where arts, conversation, and collaboration strengthen civic life in Lewisburg and inspire communities beyond it.

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 this shared space that embodies all the ideals we stand for.

Read this great article about the CommUnity Zone by our friend Erica Shames of WVIA!

INCLUSION & EQUITY

The CommUnity Zone is committed to building a community where inclusion, equality, and belonging are lived values. We work to meet the evolving needs of our region by creating programs that celebrate the dignity, creativity, and voices of all people while fostering a deeper understanding of why inclusion and equity matter. Through the power of the fine and performing arts, we encourage dialogue, expand awareness, and strengthen the bonds that connect our community.

At the heart of our work is the belief that a thriving community values and uplifts people of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences, especially those whose voices have historically been underrepresented. We design programs and events that reflect the rich diversity of Lewisburg and the surrounding communities while creating meaningful opportunities for participation and connection.

The CommUnity Zone also works to remove barriers that limit access to the arts, addressing both physical and financial obstacles that have prevented many community members from fully engaging in cultural life. Our goal is to ensure that the arts are accessible to everyone.
We strive to be—and to be recognized as—a welcoming, inclusive, and safe space for people throughout Union, Northumberland, and Snyder Counties to gather, create, learn, and experience the arts together.

A central focus of our programming is intergenerational engagement. We are especially committed to creating opportunities that bring youth and their families into the arts, fostering creativity, understanding, and connection across generations while helping to cultivate the next generation of artists, audiences, and community leaders.
Our Mission and Vision

The CommUnity Zone lives up to its name by placing unity at the heart of our community. We bring people across the Central Susquehanna Valley together by connecting them with vital health and human services and with programs in the arts, culture, and civic life. Through these connections, we strengthen relationships, celebrate diversity, and build a more resilient and thriving region.

Our vision is a Valley where individuals, organizations, and businesses actively share ideas, talents, and resources to support one another and shape a community that is connected, compassionate, healthy, and vibrant.

Working alongside a wide network of partners in Lewisburg and throughout the Susquehanna Valley, the CommUnity Zone creates programs and opportunities that foster inclusion, advance equity, and reflect the rich diversity of experiences and stories that define our community.

OUR WORK
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  • 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

​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.
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 and the Model UN Club and participates in theatre. Outside of school, he volunteers in political campaigns and organizations. He's lived in Lewisburg since late 2016 and began at the Zone in June of 2025.


​OUR ADVISORY BOARD​
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 William Flack, Lisa Rae Johnson, Danielle Murphy, Rosalyn Richards, Elayne Sobel, Patti Urosevich