The Global Fund's Program Officer for Sub-Saharan Africa, Muadi Mukenge, appeared on KPFK's Feminist Magazine last night. Listen to Mukenge discuss African foreign relations in KPFK's archive.

Listen to Kavita Ramdas discuss the role of Entrepreneurship in Solving World Problems at Stanford University.

Warm May Day Greetings to all of you and to all our working sisters and brothers around the globe!

On this day one year ago, the Global Fund stood in solidarity with migrant rights marches in New York and San Francisco, San Jose and Berkeley. We are proud of the Global Fund for Women's many years of support to migrant women's organizations and we take a moment this May 1st, to reiterate our commitment to the struggles for justice and a living wage that are still being advanced by the vast majority of people on our planet.

It is particularly poignant to me that May Day, like International Women's Day, is a holiday whose origins is in the United States. It commemorates the brave workers at the Haymarket in Chicago who were protesting for fair wages and decent working conditions. Of these, some eight men were condemned to die because they were framed for a bomb that was thrown at police during the protests. Three were hanged in jail, one committed suicide; three more were finally pardoned six years later. On Nov 11, 1887, close to 500,000 people lined the streets of Chicago to commemorate these workers' lives and their tragic deaths.

On June 26, 1893, the governor of Illinois, John Peter Altgeld, issued the pardon message in which he made it clear that he granted the pardon because they were innocent  of the crime for which they had been tried, and that they and the hanged men had been the victims of hysteria, packed juries and a biased judge.

The US government declared May 1st to be "Law Day", and gave the workers instead Labor Day, the first Monday of September - a holiday devoid of any historical significance.

Nevertheless, the events of 1886 and the execution of the Chicago workers, spokesmen of the movement for the eight-hour day, mobilized many generations. Emma Goldman, a young immigrant at the time, later pointed to the Haymarket affair as her political birth.

For a more detailed history, read here.

Enjoy your May Day!  It's also a great pagan festival celebrated across Europe to celebrate the coming of warmer days, fertility, and spring!

Kavita N. Ramdas is the President and CEO of the Global Fund for Women.

The world of the Global Fund for Women is full of dedication.  Grantees from all over the world made up of dedicated women and girls empowering themselves and each other, determined to advance women's rights in the face of any obstacle.  GFW donors, women and men of all ages, dedicated to partnering with our grantees to better understand and support the invaluable work they do.

And, of course, the Global Fund Staff and Board, who dedicate their time and energy day in and day out to seeding and strengthening these groups and the women's movement internationally.

Almost one year ago now, I found myself part of this Global Fund world. On Saturday, April 14th, I was able to show my dedication to its work and women by completing the American River 50-Mile Endurance Run for which (with the generosity and support of my friends, family and coworkers) I raised over $1, 400 for the Global Fund for Women.

Ouch.

I began my "Ultramarathon Madness Fund" in January, wanting to combine my long-term dedication to running with my newfound love of the Global Fund.  I remember thinking to myself, "What if all of these 25-mile training runs, the 4 a.m. wake-up calls, and grueling 50-mile race day meant more than just aching muscles and walking down stairs sideways for 1 week?"  

That thought stayed with me for all 8 hours and 19 minutes of the race, motivating me through the muddy, hilly (they're not kidding when they say the last 3 miles elevates 1,000 feet!), and physically and mentally challenging course leading from Sacramento, California to Auburn.  Nothing-not my expertly devised and executed 4-month training plan, stacks of Runner's World magazines, or fellow runner advice-could have prepared me for 50 miles.  

But I knew it wasn't just about my physical or mental pain.  I knew I had dedicated myself to those who had donated to the GFW in my honor, to my fellow staff who cheered me on both in the office and on the trail, and most importantly to our grantees who are making this world a safer, more equitable, and more beautiful place for all people.  

Now that's dedication!

Frances Prochilo is the Administrative Assistant at the Global Fund for Women.