Hope for Youth 3

In 2008, Michelle proposed the idea that Common Roads merge with the LGBT Center Coalition of Pennsylvania (LGBT Center Coalition), a local LGBTQ+ organization whose mission was to create a community center for the LGBTQ+ community in Central PA. The merger ultimately would save resources for both organizations; Common Roads had the space, staff, and was an established organization in the community, while the LGBT Center Coalition had the funding and need for community outreach to support their goals. The groups started conversations in mid-2008 and officially merged in the beginning of 2009. The LGBT Center Coalition became The LGBT Center of Central PA (The LGBT Center) and Common Roads continued to function as an independent organization, retaining its name and programs, while being a subsidiary of The LGBT Center.

After the merger, the group grew out of the third-floor space at St. Stephen’s. This led The LGBT Center to 3rd Street again in 2012, this time renting the building next to Mid-Town Scholar Bookstore. Recently, The LGBT Center moved out of that location in October 2021 and currently operates out of and shares a space with GLOHarrisburg.

Common Roads Brochure, circa 2009. Courtesy of LGBT-021, DCA

Louie Marven

After the merger, Michelle stepped down as Executive Director of Common Roads and Louie Marven conveniently stepped into the position. Louie was from Wappingers Fall, NY and had come to Central PA to attend Messiah College in Mechanicsburg, PA. After college, Louie stayed in the area and applied for and was given the job of part-time Office Manger/Writer for the LGBT Center Coalition of Central PA. When Common Roads and the LGBT Center Coalition merged, he was promoted to Director of Education and Youth Services for Common Roads from Jan. 2009 to Dec. 2011.

Under Louie, Common Roads continued to program events for education, fundraising, and community service. The group grew in attendance and started adult programming. Meeting locations were started in Carlisle and Lancaster alongside Harrisburg. Today meetings are held in Harrisburg and Lancaster.

Image Courtesy of the LGBT History Project Oral History Collection, DCA.

Louie Marven Oral History Screenshot, March 29, 2015.

Youth Experiences

Rebekah Balmer

Rebekah started attending Common Roads when she was 16 years old. It was the first time that she experienced having friends and being around others that were queer. Common Roads was an integral part of Rebekah's adolescence, and without it she would not be as comfortable with herself as she is today.

Salem Cobalt

For Salem, Common Roads provided him with the safe space and a support network when he needed it the most.

Kelly Shook

Kelly Shook is from Orange County, CA and went to University of California, Santa Cruz. They came to Common Roads in 2003 as part of a 6-month internship program for their undergraduate degree, which had a focus on LGBTQ+ youth. Kelly had no goals personally when they started, but they were interested in getting perspective of life in Central PA, which was drastically different from CA.

Kelly was involved in all aspects of programing, and for their senior project, created a documentary focusing on Common Roads and it’s impacts on LGBTQ+ youth in Central PA. Even though Kelly was not officially part of Common Roads as a member, the group still had a significant impact on their life.

Today, Kelly works for Sony Media as a Digital Assets Manager and is involved with their LGBTQ+ group. They have also worked in the mentorship program Outset, a fellowship that gives youth the opportunity to learn about the film industry and how to make a film from start to finish.

Common Roads Today

Today, Common Roads is a thriving program of the LGBT Center of Central PA with the goal to provide social and educational programs for LGBTQ+ youth ages 12-17 and young adults ages 18-29. Meetings are hybrid, with the first meeting of the month being held virtually and the rest being held in two different locations, with Harrisburg Common Roads meeting at GLO in Harrisburg, PA and Lancaster Common Roads meeting at St. James Episcopal Church in Lancaster, PA.

Common Roads Logo, 2022. Courtesy of https://centralpalgbtcenter.org/commonroads