Lily Zhou

Founder & Board Secretary

Lily Zhou began her career as a data scientist, but she always had a deep commitment to service, particularly spending time with older adults. She often volunteered to visit older adults with dementia or lead chair yoga at skilled nursing facilities. It was during these activities that she noticed the devastating toll of loneliness, as well as the powerful impact of social connection on older adults’ overall health and well-being. 

When she reconnected with relatives, Lily discovered her lineage dating back to the 1600s and gained access to stories spanning generations. This inspired her to use storytelling as a tool for connection and celebration of the wisdom of older adults. 

Lily began organizing storytelling circles where participants shared their experiences aloud while she recorded their stories. The impact was immediate and profound: through personal narratives, they built genuine connections.

Recognizing the transformative potential of storytelling, Lily dedicated herself to expanding story circles across New York City, establishing clubs in affordable housing communities and senior centers. The COVID-19 pandemic brought devastating losses to these same communities, and Lily pivoted to virtual storytelling circles that became a lifeline for members across the city. 

Under Lily’s leadership, Life Story Club has grown to serve thousands of older New Yorkers, offering clubs in four languages and in every borough. In her current role as Secretary of the Life Story Club Board, Lily continues to provide strategic guidance as the organization scales to reach more people and expand its successful model to other cities and regions across the country.