I think a lot about responsibility. Responsibility to the people who turn to Ve’ahavta for help, and to those of you who support this work with your time, energy, and resources. This sense of responsibility has me continually asking the same question: how do we help more people, more effectively, while keeping our work deeply human?

It is that very question that keeps the Ve’ahavta team open and curious, always on the lookout for a better way to do what we do. Not because change is easy or exciting for its own sake, but because improvement matters. Even small improvements can mean more time with clients, more seats in programs, and more people getting the support they need to change their lives, all delivered with the same care and high-touch approach that defines Ve’ahavta.

What does technology have to do with it?
One of the ways this shows up is in our intentional use of technology. I believe strongly that human time should be reserved for the work that only people can do: building trust, listening deeply, and exercising judgment and care.

For the last eight years, we have steadily deployed various technology platforms to reduce administrative and background work so that our staff can spend more of their time where it matters most—working directly with clients and supporting their journeys. This approach has paid off. Our clients’ success rate has grown from 76 percent in 2018 to 96 percent last year.

While many people view technology as the antithesis of caring, human-centered work, our experience has shown the opposite. Technology has proven to be an enhancement to the deeply respectful, individualized, and caring work that is the hallmark of Ve’ahavta’s approach to poverty and people.

How AI can make us more human
More recently, this same way of working has led me to begin looking closely at AI. I believe that if we are willing to stand in a place of not knowing and adopt a learner’s mindset, this moment holds real opportunity. The right tools, used to protect and enhance human time for the work that only people can do, could have a revolutionary impact on social services—on reach, accessibility, and service.

AI, used thoughtfully, has the potential to allow our staff to become even more laser-focused on relationships, judgment, and care, leaving the less human-centered work to machines.

We are firmly in the learning and exploration stage, asking questions and building understanding as we approach this emerging space with curiosity, excitement, and intention.

Innovation, guided by values
This is central to who we are. At Ve’ahavta, embracing change is part of our moral framework. When so many people need help, we believe that standing still is not a neutral choice. We must be willing to step into the discomfort of learning, of not knowing, and even of getting things wrong along the way, because improvement demands it. Growth comes from curiosity, humility, and a willingness to change in service of something greater than ourselves.

As we look ahead, what excites me most is the future we are building together. Our sector is not always known for leading change, but Ve’ahavta chooses a different path. We have built a culture that is unafraid of change, eager to experiment, and deeply curious about what is possible when innovation is guided by values.

I am proud of the way we lead in our field, and I hope you are too. Stay with us. The work ahead has the potential not just to grow what we do, but to transform what is possible in this space, together.

With gratitude,

Cari Kozierok,
CEO, Ve’ahavta