The United India Association of New England (UIANE) marked an important milestone for the local Indian‑American community by hosting its first Youth Empowerment Summit on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at Durga Hall, Shivalaya Temple of Greater Boston. The well‑attended event brought together high school students, college youth, young professionals, parents, educators, and community leaders from across Greater Boston and neighboring New England states.

Organized under the theme “Ignite the Self, Impact the World,” the summit reflected UIANE’s growing focus on nurturing leadership, confidence, and civic responsibility among second‑generation Indian Americans. The afternoon program combined professional insight with cultural celebration, creating a uniquely community‑driven experience.

A key highlight was the panel discussion “AI: Power, Peril, and the Path Forward,” featuring technology professionals Nilay Mukherjee, Dipali Trivedi, Himanshu Duhyan, and Gaurav Jetly. Speaking to a packed audience, the panel explored how artificial intelligence is shaping education, careers, and society. “AI is a powerful tool, but its true strength depends on human ethics and intent,” said Nilay Mukherjee, urging students to pair technical skills with social responsibility. Dipali Trivedi emphasized balance, stating, “As Indian‑American youth, we bring strong values from our families and culture—those values must guide how we innovate.”

Addressing career preparedness, Himanshu Duhyan noted, “The future will belong to those who keep learning and are not afraid to adapt,” while Gaurav Jetly encouraged initiative: “Leadership starts early—take responsibility in your schools, colleges, and communities.”

College Admissions session was moderated by Seemamcee Arora and Sugandha Verma, Neil Arora, Sachin Sharma spoke the admission process very elaborately. Jhoom Jain, Anshu Goel, Malini Prabhu spoke on the behavioral heath issues and remedies. Vikas Selhi and Jay Tuli, president of Leader Bank on video explained how to manage one’s finances efficiently without making any mistakes. Raj Heda explained Bhagavad Gita in simple words, and Meenakshi Arora described how Vastu Shastra affects life and business by emphasizing harmonious spatial design, natural lighting, and energy flow. and encouraged youngsters to learn AI and use it effectively and competently. Entrepreneurs, namely Roopa Modha, Anuj Khetarpal, Kadambari Rawal, Priya Samant, Cherag Selhi spoke on their entrepreneurial journey that was challenging, non-linear, and often rewarding process transforming a business idea into a functional, sustainable company. In addition to professional sessions, the summit celebrated youth creativity with a lively fashion show, DJ music by Anuj Dutt, and classical and contemporary dance performances by local youth groups. Complimentary refreshments and informal networking allow families to connect with speakers and organizers.

Event coordinator Dr. Neela Gandhi highlighted the broader vision of the initiative, saying, “Indian‑American youth in New England have immense talent. Our responsibility as a community is to guide, mentor, and uplift them.”

Ishana Bali, Amisha Arora, Rhea Khosla, Saloni Parikh, Madhav Verma as Emcees did a very good job. Youngest youth, Meer Bhardwaj who spoke about building his Weather website by using AT captured everyone’s attention.

With enthusiastic participation and positive feedback, the UIANE Youth Empowerment Summit stood out as a meaningful step toward strengthening youth engagement and leadership within the New England Indian‑American community.