Guiding a Youth-Led National Movement With Integrity, Vision & Purpose

 The AI Readiness Institute is built on a simple principle: when youth are empowered to lead, entire communities become safer, smarter, and more resilient in the age of AI.
Our leadership and governance structure ensures that every program—CAST, AI Navigator Certification, AIRAIP, the Innovation Labs, and ARAN—operates with clarity, accountability, and mission-driven excellence.

ARI’s leaders bring together expertise in youth development, philanthropy, digital safety, institutional governance, and community engagement. We are guided by experienced adults, informed by emerging trends, and powered by youth.

Casey Snyder — Founding CEO
Casey leads ARI’s national vision, strategy, partnerships, and organizational growth. With a background in philanthropy and community leadership, Casey founded ARI to ensure every community can navigate the risks and opportunities of artificial intelligence.
He oversees the CAST network, Navigator Certification, Innovation Labs, AIRAIP, and ARAN, ensuring mission alignment, financial sustainability, and nationwide impact.

• Setting long-term strategy & organizational direction
• Overseeing program development & national operations
• Leading AIRAIP expansion into institutions and corporations
• Building donor, philanthropic, and partner relationships
• Supporting CAST regional leadership & youth governance
• Representing ARI at conferences, summits, and national events
• Ensuring transparency, accountability, and ethical leadership

Coordinates national systems, processes, and inter-program alignment.

Oversees CAST, Navigator Certification, and Innovation Labs content delivery.

Leads fundraising, donor relations, grants, and national campaigns.

Manages messaging, branding, social media, and public relations.

Oversees digital infrastructure, cybersecurity concerns, and supports ASAC.

Supports the CEO, manages volunteers, coordinates national teams.

A council of exceptional AI Navigators and CAST leaders representing diverse regions of North America.
They advise ARI leadership on:

• Youth engagement
• Program design
• Navigator curriculum
• CAST chapter support
• National campaigns
   

Their voices shape the heart of ARI’s work.

Oversees CAST growth, chapter development, Navigator cohort coordination, and regional events.

Supports Navigator Certification, mentorship, and rank advancement.

Provides support to chapters, Affiliates, and emerging Centers of Excellence.

Each region may also include a Youth Advisor to ensure the youth perspective remains central.

Note: A region is not guaranteed to have a Center of Excellence each year.

CAST operates with a structured governance model to ensure standards, consistency, and youth empowerment.

Small emerging teams (2–4 youth) with light expectations and high flexibility.

Fully recognized youth-led teams with established officers and programming.

Top-performing chapter in each region, selected annually through a rigorous review.

Youth officers manage:

• Membership & recruitment
• Program reporting
• Event planning
• Navigator involvement
• Chapter governance & ethics
   

Every group is assigned a Regional Leader as support.

Each Innovation Lab is guided by a Volunteer Lab Director with expertise in education, communication, digital safety, or community engagement. Lab Directors collaborate with:

• Youth Lab Assistants
• CAST Chapters piloting tools
• ASAC Insight Lab
• Navigator Leadership Teams
   

This structure ensures each Lab produces high-quality, youth-relevant tools responsibly and effectively.

AIRAIP is supervised by the Institutional Readiness Governance Team, which includes:

• Institutional Readiness Lab Director
• AIRAIP Operations Lead
• Corporate Readiness Lead (AIRAIP-F)
• ASAC Insight Liaison
• Compliance & Ethics Volunteers
   

This team maintains the quality and integrity of ARI’s institutional work.

ARAN—the AI Ready Alumni Network—is guided by:

• ARAN Chair (Volunteer)
• ARAN Engagement Coordinator
• Alumni Mentorship Committee
• Youth Program Transition Team
   

ARAN members support CAST, Navigators, and Innovation Labs as adult mentors and volunteers.

As ARI expands, a formal Board of Directors will anchor governance, ensure compliance, guide strategy, and reinforce financial health. The founding Board will likely include leaders in:

• Philanthropy
• AI ethics
• Youth development
• Education
• Public safety
• Nonprofit governance
• Technology policy
   

This will elevate ARI’s national credibility and long-term stability.

ARI is committed to transparency and ethical governance through:

• Annual impact and financial reports
• Review of all youth-facing content
• Safety protocols for all CAST activities
• Conflict-of-interest guidelines
• ASAC-informed risk monitoring
• Regular program evaluations
• Clear volunteer role descriptions
• Standardized training for youth and adult advisors
   

Youth safety, integrity, and trust remain our highest priorities.

ARI thrives because people choose to show up—youth leaders, adult advisors, Innovation Lab contributors, ASAC analysts, Navigator mentors, and regional directors. Every resource, every workshop, every safety kit, every CAST event is powered by volunteers who want to protect their communities and prepare the next generation.

This is not just leadership.
This is service.
This is readiness.
This is ARI.

You can support ARI’s mission through:

• Joining the youth council
• Becoming a volunteer regional leader
• Supporting Navigator cohorts
• Assisting an Innovation Lab
• Serving on ARAN committees
• Advising CAST chapters
• Contributing professional expertise
• Becoming a founding member of ARI’s future Board