At PEAK, we want to be a reservoir of individuals looking to learn about and act on their social responsibility in a way that feels authentic, enjoyable, and sustainable to the individual while benefiting the community.
by Morgan Neuburger
When choosing a name for our organization, we wanted something that had, not only a nice ring to it and seemed fitting for our area, but also gave insight to our values and vision for the organization. With that, PEAK Collective became the almost unanimously* favorited choice. We all loved the uplifting connotation, as well as its use in paying homage to the rolling mountains which we here in South Central PA are so lucky to be surrounded by. Read here for background on our first two values: P-Positivity and Respect for One Another and E-Equity to build an inclusive community. This brings us to the breakdown of the third letter of in the PEAK acronym, ‘A’ which stands for “action for our social responsibility.”
Social responsibility, in a nutshell, is the idea that the actions of the individual should benefit the whole of society. Fulfilling this responsibility can take a myriad of forms depending on the person and their perspective, capabilities or capacity, and - let’s face it - their energy level at a given moment. For example, taking action on one’s social responsibility could range from frequenting small businesses in lieu of corporations as the household budget allows, to something more demanding such as running for public office.
At PEAK, we want to be a reservoir of individuals looking to learn about and act on their social responsibility in a way that feels authentic, enjoyable, and sustainable to the individual while benefiting the community in which we live. As our group grows, we hope so will the impact we have on our community to move social change in a positive direction. The ways to get involved in our community are varied and numerous. For some, it can be difficult and intimidating to know how or where to get started. Our vision for PEAK is to link members to various community events, volunteer opportunities, and the like. The more connected to and involved people feel within their community, the more they will want to see it thrive.
*A not-so-close contender being “The Brain Train” - to compete against the "brain drain." Can’t believe it didn’t garner more enthusiasm amongst more than just one person.
About the Author
Morgan is an avid “whatever it is that has her attention for the current two weeks” -goer. Her superpower is her ability to be fascinated and consumed by a variety of things [until she’s not anymore] from DIYing, to running, to crocheting, to kayaking, to mastering the art of baking using only a toaster oven, to hiking, to trying to not kill innocent houseplants. The only exception to this saga of fleeting interests is the most adorable pittie-mix in the entire universe, Nala, who will never not be her main squeezy-cheeks.