New York will play host to a diverse group of political, business and philanthropic leaders on May 1 and 2, as the Global Citizen NOV Summit sets its sights on tackling some of the world’s most pressing issues. Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh, Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi and Verizon CEO Hans Westberg are among those set to attend, along with actors Hugh Jackman, Danai Gurira and Dakota Johnson.
The summit aims to address issues of food insecurity, climate change and public health related to extreme poverty, seeking support for workable solutions. The executive director of the non-profit organization, Hugh Evans, emphasized the urgency of action to end extreme poverty. “We are at a critical moment on various issues,” he said.
Among the other attendees are representatives from companies such as Cisco, Citi, Delta and PayPal. The event will also feature figures such as Rockefeller Foundation Chairman Rajiv Shah, Bezos Earth Fund CEO Andrew Steer and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk. Danai Gurira expressed her commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices specifically addressing the severe inequalities facing the African continent.
The focus of the Global Citizen NOV summit will be on defeating preventable diseases like malaria, polio and HPV as well as announcing new initiatives to conserve the Amazon rainforest and increase investment in Africa through the World Bank. The organization also aims to inspire and support the next generation of lawyers through the Global Citizen Prize by highlighting and providing financial assistance to five young people who are making extraordinary efforts to change the world.