The people behind the network.
Young people run the day-to-day work. An Advisory Council of public servants and civil society leaders provides guidance and accountability.
Senator Marie Pinkney
Representative Kamela T. Smith
Representative Sherae'a Moore
Kahir Lalji
Ayaan Shah
Founder and President
Ayaan Shah is a high school student from Delaware, United States and the founder of YouthConnect Network, a youth-led initiative focused on strengthening intergenerational connection and creating meaningful roles for young people in their communities. His work began in a community of more than 600 homes, where youth-led programming helped increase older-adult participation by approximately threefold. In 2026, Ayaan presented this model internationally at the 3rd World Congress of Age-Friendly Communities in San Sebastián, Spain, and the initiative is also included in the World Health Organization’s Global Database of Age-friendly Practices.
Through YouthConnect Network, Ayaan is continuing to develop the model throughout the nation, going beyond its original community with the goal of creating a framework that other communities can adapt to strengthen youth participation and intergenerational engagement.
Beyond his work with YouthConnect Network, Ayaan is involved in youth advocacy and leadership across education, technology, and public policy. He has advocated for greater youth involvement in conversations around artificial intelligence and education, presenting and speaking at the MIT RAISE Summit 2025 and serving as a student panelist at Delaware’s first AI Summit. He has also spoken internationally as a youth delegate at the United Nations Human Rights Council Social Forum 2025 in Geneva. Ayaan currently serves as Secretary of the Delaware Charter Schools Network Student Advisory Committee and as a Regional Director for RootTeen, where he continues to advocate for greater youth participation and representation.
The people we ask for advice
Our Advisory Council weighs in on community engagement, youth leadership, intergenerational programming, and civic participation. They advise; youth leaders still run the day-to-day. Advising here is nonpartisan and is not an endorsement of any candidate, party, or campaign.
Senator Marie Pinkney
Delaware State Senator, District 13
Senator Marie Pinkney represents Delaware's 13th Senate District and is a social worker by background, with a career focused on community wellbeing, equity, and support for vulnerable populations.
She advises YouthConnect Network on community engagement in Delaware and on how young people can participate responsibly and nonpartisanly in local civic life.
Representative Kamela T. Smith
Delaware State Representative, District 15
Representative Kamela T. Smith represents Delaware's 15th Representative District, with a focus on community advocacy, youth wellbeing, and neighborhood-level engagement.
She advises YouthConnect Network on youth leadership development and on connecting chapters with the communities and institutions they serve.
Representative Sherae'a Moore
Delaware State Representative, District 8
Representative Sherae'a Moore represents Delaware's 8th Representative District and has served in the Delaware House of Representatives since 2020. An educator by profession, she brings experience in public service, education, housing, and community issues affecting Delaware families.
As a YouthConnect advisor, Representative Moore provides perspective on youth leadership, community engagement, and building stronger connections between young people and the institutions that serve their communities.
Kahir Lalji
Chief Executive Officer, HelpAge Canada
Kahir is the Chief Executive Officer of HelpAge Canada, President of the International Longevity Centre Canada, and serves on the Executive of the NGO Committee on Ageing New York, along with holding several other international appointments.
Kahir brings extensive civil society and NGO leadership experience in Canada and internationally, spanning different sectors and industries with a focus on ageing and longevity.
He specializes in developing culturally and linguistically informed community programs, strengthening integrated governance models, and building cross-sector partnerships that create lasting social impact, all in service of creating a world where everyone ages with dignity and belonging.
Want to advise or volunteer with the network? Get in touch.