Kieran John, a longtime Pennington resident and the local force behind the Communities of Light campaign, will be honored with Younity’s Edwin W. Schmierer Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service at the organization’s 29th Annual Awards Dinner on Thursday, May 15, at The Boathouse at Mercer Lake.
The award recognizes John’s years of grassroots organizing in support of Younity, formerly known as Womanspace, a Mercer County nonprofit that provides critical services to victims of domestic and sexual violence. Under his leadership, the annual Communities of Light effort in Pennington—known for its glowing December luminary displays—has evolved into a deeply rooted, community-wide campaign.
“Younity doesn’t just provide services—they provide hope,” John said in an interview. “And hope is one of the most powerful tools we have in confronting this issue. That’s what Communities of Light is about. It’s not just a fundraiser. It’s a statement. It says: we see you, we believe you, and we’re standing with you.”
Since taking on a leadership role in the campaign at the request of Pennington’s mayor, John has built a broad coalition of volunteers, small businesses, schools, and houses of worship. He credits much of the campaign’s growth to personal connections and clear, consistent messaging.
“Real, lasting change is possible when individuals come together around a shared purpose,” he said. “Community engagement is most powerful when it’s personal, local, and rooted in relationships.”
John’s grassroots approach includes organizing logistics for luminary kit pickups, developing outreach materials, and training block leaders across neighborhoods. He also works closely with his wife, Shobita, and their two sons, Rowan and Jaihan (JJ), who he says keep him grounded in the family-centered values that guide both his volunteer and professional life.
“This work has never been something I do alone—it’s something my whole family is part of,” John said. Last year, he asked his son JJ to draft a youth engagement strategy; this year, JJ took on a lead organizing role.
“The ripple effect of just one young person’s understanding can grow far beyond what we can measure,” he said.
Professionally, John is the founder and CEO of Firstlight Pharmaceuticals, a biotech company focused on patient-centered innovation. His career, which has included work on treatments for HIV, cancer, and cardiovascular disease, is rooted in the same belief that guides his service: that progress matters most when it improves lives.
“There’s a Venn diagram between work and values,” he said. “That overlap—where science and service meet—is where I feel most useful.”
Younity President and CEO Nathalie S. Nelson praised John’s leadership as “listening, empowering, and showing up with purpose.”
“He reflects the kind of community-driven spirit this award was created to honor,” Nelson said. “His work reminds us that no one changes the world alone.”
For John, receiving the award is less a personal accolade and more a chance to spotlight a cause he believes still struggles to get the attention it deserves.
“Domestic and sexual violence doesn’t live on the surface of our communities. It lives in silence—behind closed doors, in whispered conversations, and in stories that often go untold for far too long,” he said. “If this award inspires even one new person to get involved, then it’s already done something powerful.”
The Edwin W. Schmierer Award is named for the late Ed Schmierer of Ewing, a longtime Younity board member and volunteer. It is presented annually to a volunteer whose contributions have made a sustained impact on the community.
For John, the recognition affirms what he calls a shared responsibility.
“This work—like all meaningful community efforts—is never done by one person alone,” he said. “It belongs to all of us who believe in this cause and work to make our communities safer and more compassionate.”
For more information about the May 15 awards dinner or to support Younity’s work, visit www.younitynj.org.
