On Saturday, February 13, as part of the New York Encounter, AVSI-USA sponsored an important event on the economy and emerging lessons from the impact of COVID-19. On Friday, March 12, AVSI-USA hopes to take the discussion a step further and consider what the emerging lessons learned might contribute to the field of international development and humanitarian assistance, in other words, for the fight against extreme poverty and the expansion of human development and respect for the dignity and freedom of all people. In particular, we will ask what the role of civil society—and therefore the constituents, donors and philanthropists who support civil society organizations in developing countries—is in mitigating and responding to the impact of COVID in it’s many dimensions and forms. As an essential contribution to this discussion, we will hear about the real lived experiences of the poor and of a non-profit organization, AVSI, working tirelessly to accompany the poor throughout this period.

On Saturday, February 13, AVSI-USA and the New York Encounter presented “Not by Profit Alone,” an online conversation on rethinking work, business, and economy in a post-COVID world. This meaningful conversation was part of this year’s theme, When Reality Hits.