The Outstanding Local Advocate award recognizes a community member who works from the ground up for safer, more livable streets. Jonah Kanner has spent the last several years doing that work in Pasadena.
The case for safe, connected streets is something Jonah lives as much as something he advocates for. By day, he is a senior scientist at Caltech's LIGO Lab who rides an e-bike to work. As a volunteer and steering committee member with the Pasadena Complete Streets Coalition, Jonah has dedicated countless hours to support safer streets in Pasadena since 2021.
He has led several campaigns over the past five years, including a push for All Ages and Abilities Greenways that gathered more than 1,000 petition signatures, as well as the support of 18 community organizations, adoption of 150 campaign yard signs by City residents, and strong turnout at City Council meetings. He also helped a small team launch a Pasadena e-bike rebate, which has enabled hundreds of Pasadena residents to purchase an e-bike at a $500 or more discount. At Caltech, he worked with the student government and staff to make GoSGV e-bikes free for students via an innovative check-out system administered by the campus library.
Jonah is a nationally-certified cycling instructor and has taught children to balance in learn-to-ride classes. He started a series of rides to help new cyclists build confidence on city streets, and he has led many social group rides. His interest in advocacy began when he started biking around Pasadena with his preschool-age son, and he was delighted to find a welcoming community of advocates already at work. He often says he is only able to do this work because of the people around him, whose support, encouragement, and mentorship made it possible.
Join us in celebrating Jonah Kanner at this year's Noche de las Luminarias, ActiveSGV's annual awards ceremony and gala. It will be a warm evening of community and recognition for the people working toward a more sustainable, equitable, and livable San Gabriel Valley. Every ticket also helps support ActiveSGV's work across mobility, climate, health and wellness, parks and greening.
Spend the evening with us on Thursday, September 17, 2026, from 6 to 9 PM at the Grapevine Arbor in San Gabriel. You can learn more about the event and reserve your tickets in advance. We would be so glad to see you there.
