Archives: Events

Every October, as darkness falls earlier and the air turns cool, thousands of luminary candles begin to glow along sidewalks, driveways, and storefronts across Mercer County. These flickering lights carry a quiet, powerful message:

We see you. We believe you. We stand with you.

Communities of Light is more than a campaign. It is a community-wide movement that raises awareness and funds for those impacted by domestic violence and sexual assault while reminding victim-survivors that they are not alone.

For 25 years, Communities of Light has brought neighbors, businesses, schools, faith communities, and local organizations together in a shared display of hope, compassion, and solidarity. What began as a small community effort has grown into a countywide tradition rooted in the belief that even small acts can spark meaningful change.

This year, Younity will illuminate Mercer County on Monday, October 26, closing out Domestic Violence Awareness Month with a powerful display of support for victim-survivors and their families. As we prepare to celebrate Younity’s 50th anniversary in 2027, Communities of Light offers an opportunity to reflect on five decades of advocacy, healing, and community action.

Ways to Participate

There are many ways to take part in Communities of Light:

• Purchase and display luminary kits at your home or business.
• Become a sponsor and help expand the campaign’s reach throughout Mercer County.
• Sell luminary kits as a community retailer.
• Organize a lighting event in your neighborhood, workplace, school, or faith community.
• Attend a local lighting ceremony and stand with survivors.

Additional information about sponsorships, luminary kits, participating retailers, and community lighting events will be available later this summer.

Together, we can light the way forward.

Together, we are stronger than abuse.

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, August 4, 2026, as neighborhoods across Mercer County come together to celebrate National Night Out—an evening dedicated to community, connection, and public safety.

This annual, family-friendly event brings residents, community organizations, and law enforcement together to strengthen relationships, build trust, and create safer, more connected neighborhoods. From block parties and cookouts to games, music, and activities for children and families, National Night Out offers something for everyone.

Younity is proud to participate each year by hosting tables at National Night Out events throughout Mercer County. In 2026, our staff and advocates will join community celebrations across the county to share information about our services, provide resources, answer questions, and connect with residents of all ages.

Whether you’re learning about Younity for the first time, picking up resources, or simply stopping by to say hello, we hope you’ll visit us. National Night Out is more than a community event—it’s a celebration of the partnerships, relationships, and shared commitment that help make our communities stronger.

At Younity, we believe that everyone deserves to live free from violence and fear. Events like National Night Out remind us that when communities come together, support one another, and look out for their neighbors, we can help create safer and more welcoming spaces for all.

Where to Find Us

Younity plans to participate in National Night Out events throughout Mercer County, including:

• Trenton: Cadwalader Park, 5 to 9 PM
• Hamilton Township: Veterans Park (South Side), 5 to 8 PM
• Lawrence Township: Details to be published
• Ewing Township: Ewing Municipal Building, 6 to 8 PM
• Hopewell & Pennington: Stony Brook Elementary School, 6 to 8 PM
• Princeton: Community Park Pool, 5 to 9 PM
• West Windsor Township: West Windsor Community Park, 6 to 8 PM
• East Windsor Township: East Windsor PAL Complex, 5:30 to 8:30 PM
• Hightstown Borough: Association Park, 6 PM
• Robbinsville Township: The NEW Robbinsville Township Police Department Headquarters at 2300 Route 33, Robbinsville, NJ, 6 to 9 PM

Additional details and event times will be shared as they become available.

This Juneteenth, InMotion Fitness & Wellness will welcome the community for an evening of movement, connection, and giving back.

The studio’s Welcome Summer Event will take place on Thursday, June 19, from 6 to 8 p.m. and will feature a yoga class, local vendors, refreshments, raffle prizes, and opportunities to support Younity’s services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence.

For event organizer Noelle Whitaker, the evening is about more than fitness.

For Whitaker, community and healing go hand in hand. “Community is so important,” she said. “You never know what other people are going through.” Whether through dance, yoga, or simply gathering with others, she believes supportive spaces can help people feel less alone and more connected.

Whitaker joined InMotion Fitness & Wellness last year and now helps coordinate the studio’s social media and community events. She describes the woman-owned studio as a place where people come together not only to improve their physical health, but also to build relationships, find support, and connect with others.

She believes movement can play an important role in healing and self-care. Through yoga, participants are encouraged to slow down, focus on their breath, and reconnect with themselves in a supportive environment.

“I really think there is healing within yoga,” Whitaker said. “You have a moment to slow down and just be in that space with everyone.”

While healing looks different for everyone, practices that promote mindfulness, movement, and community can help reduce stress, build resilience, and create opportunities for connection.

Whitaker understands the importance of having a place where people feel welcomed and supported. Growing up, she found that sense of belonging through dance and later discovered it again through the InMotion community.

“Just being in a space where I could be myself,” she said, “was something that was very important to me.”

The Welcome Summer Event is designed to bring people together in a relaxed and welcoming environment while showcasing local businesses and introducing new visitors to the studio community. Guests can enjoy vendor tables, refreshments, raffle prizes, and an all-levels yoga class led by Kaitlynn Eli, a former Younity employee and longtime supporter whose dedication to wellness, community, and Younity’s mission reflects the spirit of connection and healing at the heart of the event.

Whitaker said the event reflects what makes InMotion special.

“We love getting our members together and having everyone come together,” she said. “It’s a community event.”

Younity is grateful to InMotion Fitness & Wellness for choosing to support survivors through this fundraiser. Proceeds from event registration and additional donations will benefit Younity’s programs and services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence.

Event Details

Welcome Summer Event Benefiting Younity
Friday, June 19
6:00–8:00 p.m.

Yoga Class: 6:30–7:30 p.m.

InMotion Fitness & Wellness
9 Emmons Dr F-50, Princeton, NJ 08540

Guests can enjoy refreshments, local vendors, raffle prizes, a yoga class, and opportunities to learn more about Younity’s services and support survivors in our community.

Join Us for the Wear Orange Gun Violence Awareness March

Beginning at Donnelly Homes
7 am: Registration & Words of Reflection
8 am: March begins
875 New Willow Street
Trenton, NJ 08618

Ending at Cadwalader Park | 36 Parkside Avenue | Trenton, NJ 08618

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Younity is proud to join Moms Demand Action, Isles, the Trenton Community Street Team, the City of Trenton, and community partners for the Gun Violence Awareness March on Saturday, June 6, 2026.

Held during Wear Orange Weekend, the national movement to raise awareness about gun violence, this annual march brings community members together to honor lives lost, support survivors, and stand united in the effort to create safer neighborhoods.

The day will begin with registration and words of reflection at Donnelly Homes before participants march through several Trenton neighborhoods and conclude at Cadwalader Park. Along the route, participants will demonstrate their commitment to reducing violence, strengthening community connections, and supporting those impacted by gun violence.

We invite residents, families, advocates, and community leaders to wear orange and join us in remembrance, solidarity, and hope as we walk together for a safer future.

Date: Tuesday, April 21
Time: 5:00–8:00 p.m.
Location: Hamilton Area YMCA JKR Branch

Join the Hamilton CAP (Child Abuse Prevention) Task Force for an interactive, family-focused evening designed to help children and caregivers build safer, more supportive environments. This community workshop brings together local organizations, educators, and community leaders to share practical tools, resources, and guidance around child safety and abuse prevention.

The evening includes separate, age-appropriate sessions for parents, caregivers, and children. Parents and caregivers will hear from professionals and community partners about ways to better protect and advocate for their children, while kids and teens can take part in engaging sessions that build confidence, awareness, and safety skills.

Younity is proud to be part of this important community event. At 7:15 p.m., Grace Flagler, Prevention & Community Educator, will lead a session for teens on Healthy Relationships, helping young people better understand respect, boundaries, and relationship safety.

Additional workshop topics include youth self-defense, child safety education for tweens, social-emotional learning, resilience-building for parents, and guidance on navigating technology and social media. The evening will also feature community partner resource tables, childcare support during parent sessions, and a visit from K-9 Sunny, courtesy of the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.

Child abuse prevention begins with education, awareness, and strong communities. By working together, we can help ensure every child grows up in a safe, supportive environment.

SAVE THE DATE:
October 24, 2026
Registration 8:30 AM | Walk begins 9:00 AM
Cadwalader Park, Trenton

About the Walk

Join Younity and members of our community for our annual Domestic Violence Awareness Walk, a time to come together in solidarity and raise awareness about domestic violence.

As Younity approaches its 50th anniversary, this year’s walk will be part of a broader reflection on five decades of advocacy, support, and community action to end domestic violence.

Each year, the walk brings together survivors, families, advocates, and community partners to stand united in support of victim-survivors and strengthen our shared commitment to prevention, education, and healing.

Why We Walk

We walk to honor survivors, remember lives lost, and shine a light on the realities of domestic violence. Too often, these stories are whispered in silence. By walking together, we help break that silence and show that hope is alive and our community is stronger than abuse.

Who Should Come

Everyone is welcome. Survivors, families, friends, neighbors, and allies are all invited to participate. Whether you walk in honor of a loved one, in solidarity with victim-survivors, or simply to stand against violence, your presence matters.

More information about registration and ways to participate will be shared soon.

Together, we are stronger than abuse.

Social Workers: Uplift. Defend. Transform.

Each March, we recognize National Social Work Month — a time to honor the profession dedicated to enhancing human well-being, meeting basic needs, and centering the empowerment of people who are vulnerable or facing injustice.

The 2026 theme, “Social Workers: Uplift. Defend. Transform.”, reflects the depth and urgency of this work. Social workers across the country are strengthening individuals, defending rights, and helping communities move toward stability and resilience.

At Younity, social work is not confined to a single title. It is the foundation of how we serve.

Through counseling, advocacy, safe housing, transitional support, prevention and education, and administrative coordination, our team works together to ensure that individuals and families impacted by domestic and sexual violence are met with safety, dignity, and steady support.

Social work at Younity means walking beside someone in crisis. It means answering a hotline call. It means sitting in court. It means helping a child process trauma. It means teaching young people about healthy relationships. It means managing the systems that make all of that possible.

Under this umbrella of social work, we are deeply grateful for:

• Counselors and counselor advocates
• Response team and hotline advocates
• Safe House and Transitional Housing staff
• Prevention and education professionals
• Administrative team members who keep services running

Each role is distinct. Each is essential. Together, they uplift, defend, and help transform lives. Together, we are stronger than abuse.

25 Years Stronger: Looking Back, Moving Forward

For 25 years, Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) has united survivors, advocates, and communities in a shared commitment to end sexual assault, abuse, and harassment.

The 2026 theme — “25 Years Stronger: Looking Back, Moving Forward” — honors the survivors and advocates who laid the foundation for change, while renewing our focus on prevention, healing, and action.

At Younity, this month is both a reflection and a call forward.

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What Sexual Violence Means

Sexual violence is an umbrella term that includes any type of unwanted sexual contact or behavior carried out without consent. It can include:

• Rape or sexual assault
• Sexual harassment
• Sexual abuse
• Unwanted sexual touching
• Sexual exploitation or trafficking
• Nonconsensual image sharing
• Exposure without consent
• Words or actions of a sexual nature against someone’s will

Sexual violence often intersects with domestic violence, stalking, and coercive control. Many victim-survivors know the person who harmed them. Abuse does not always involve a stranger, and it does not always leave visible injuries.

It is about power. It is about control. And it is preventable.

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Why Awareness Still Matters

Research continues to show the widespread impact of sexual violence:

• More than half of women and nearly one-third of men report experiencing contact sexual violence in their lifetime.
• Most victim-survivors report that the person who harmed them was someone they knew.
• Rates are disproportionately high among Black women, Hispanic women, American Indian and Alaska Native women, people with intellectual disabilities, and transgender individuals.

These realities remind us that sexual violence affects people across all communities. Awareness reduces stigma. Education strengthens prevention. Open conversations create safer environments.

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Younity’s Commitment

Sexual Assault Awareness Month is not limited to April. Our work continues year-round.

Through our Counseling & Support Services and Education & Prevention Program, Younity:

• Provides 24/7 confidential hotline support
• Offers counseling and advocacy for victim-survivors of domestic and sexual violence
• Engages students in conversations about consent and healthy relationships
• Works with workplaces and community groups to promote prevention
• Strengthens partnerships across Mercer County to improve coordinated responses

Prevention begins long before a crisis. It begins with education, accountability, and cultural change.

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How You Can Take Action

This April, we invite you to:

• Attend a Younity event
• Share educational resources
• Start conversations about consent and respect
• Wear teal in solidarity
• Support victim-survivors in your life
• Make a donation to sustain prevention and counseling services

Every voice matters. Every action counts.

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If You Need Support

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic or sexual violence, you are not alone.

Support is available for all victim-survivors of domestic or sexual violence, regardless of race, gender, age, sexual orientation, or background.

Together, we are stronger than abuse.