Feel Good Friday - Game Rangers International

Today is World Ranger Day, a global tribute to the men and women who risk their lives every day protecting wildlife and wild places, which makes this the perfect moment to spotlight Game Rangers International.

Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Lusaka, Zambia, the mission of Game Rangers International (GRI) is "empowering Rangers and local communities to conserve nature." What began as a small effort to support rangers in Kafue National Park has grown into a holistic conservation model spanning three landscapes across the country.

Zambia's wildlife faces relentless pressure from poaching and human-wildlife conflict, and rangers stand on the front line to protect it, despite being chronically underfunded and under-resourced. Rangers are often asked to work long, dangerous hours with limited pay, equipment, and support, which are exactly the conditions World Ranger Day was created to spotlight. GRI starts by providing rangers with welfare, training, and operational support so that they are empowered to safeguard our natural heritage.

GRI's Elephant Orphanage Project rescues calves orphaned by poaching and conflict, then guides them through a rehabilitation journey that can take more than a decade before they're ready to rejoin a wild herd. Other programs include the Zambia Primate Project, rescuing and releasing monkeys and baboons victimized by the illegal wildlife trade, a Resource Protection Programme that trains and equips anti-poaching rangers with rapid response capabilities, and a Community Outreach Programme that has engaged more than 25,000 children in conservation education.

Since they began, GRI has helped apprehend more than 1,850 poachers and traffickers, released 19 orphaned elephants back into the wild, and released over 800 rescued primates with an exceptional 85 to 100 percent survival rate! Their goal is to empower 500 Rangers by 2030 and safeguard 5 million hectares of wild space.

GRI is also taking part in this year's Wildlife Ranger Challenge, an annual event uniting ranger teams across Africa to raise funds and recognition for their work, with donations matched dollar for dollar.

If you’re inspired to support GRI, you have many options. Adopt an orphaned elephant or primate, volunteer with their conservation programs, shop for merch, make a donation, or amplify their message on social media. Follow GRI on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or YouTube.

Happy World Ranger Day! 

Feel Good Friday - The Ninety-Nines

Today is Amelia Earhart Day, honoring the pioneering aviator born on this day in 1897. That makes it a great day to talk about an organization that carries her legacy forward, The Ninety-Nines.

Founded in 1929 and headquartered in Oklahoma City, the mission of The Ninety-Nines is "to promote the advancement of aviation through education, scholarships and mutual support while honoring our unique history and sharing our passion for flight." Earhart herself helped bring the group together, meeting with 25 other licensed women pilots at Curtiss Field on Long Island in 1929. The organization took its quirky name from the number of charter members who ultimately signed on and she went on to serve as its first president. Nearly a century later, the group has grown into a worldwide network of chapters spanning the U.S., Canada, and beyond.

The Ninety-Nines still centers mentorship and access today. Their Professional Pilot Leadership Initiative pairs women pursuing aviation careers with experienced mentors, helping them build the skills and confidence needed to succeed in a field where they remain a small minority. For people who've never set foot in a cockpit, the Let's Fly Now! First Flight Program offers an introduction to flying, often the spark that turns curiosity into a career. 

The organization also awards Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarships and Section and Chapter Scholarships to help cover the steep cost of flight training, while its long-running Airmarking program paints identifying markers on rooftops and water towers to help pilots navigate. The Ninety-Nines’ Museum of Women Pilots preserves the stories of the women who paved the way. This month, the group is mourning longtime member Wally Funk, one of the celebrated Mercury 13 women and later a Blue Origin astronaut, a reminder of just how far its members have flown.

If you’re feeling inspired, there are several ways you can support The Ninety-Nines and the future of women in aviation. Make a donation or become a Friend of the 99s if you're not a pilot yourself but want to back their mission. You can also amplify their message on social media by following The Ninety-Nines on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn, and help keep Earhart's legacy airborne.

Happy Amelia Earhart Day! 

Feel Good Friday - American Association of People with Disabilities

July is Disability Pride Month, which traces its roots to the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, making this a fitting moment to spotlight American Association of People with Disabilities.

Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., the mission of American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is "to increase the political and economic power of people with disabilities." AAPD was founded by a coalition of disability rights leaders, including Justin Dart, often called the father of the ADA. The organization remains disability-led today and advocates for the civil rights of more than 70 million Americans with disabilities. AAPD has been especially vocal this year about federal funding cuts threatening Medicaid and other disability protections, a reminder that the full inclusion the ADA promised is still very much a work in progress.

AAPD's Summer Internship Program is one of its most compelling initiatives. Since 2002, the program has placed college students, graduate students, and recent graduates with disabilities in paid ten-week internships with Congressional offices, federal agencies, and nonprofit and for-profit organizations in Washington, D.C. Interns receive a stipend of at least $20 an hour, transportation, and fully accessible housing, removing many of the financial barriers that keep disabled students out of competitive internships, while a career mentor helps guide their next steps. 

The REV UP Voting Campaign builds the power of the disability vote by increasing civic engagement and election accessibility through coalitions in twenty states. AAPD also invests in the next generation of disabled leaders alongside their ongoing policy advocacy on healthcare, housing, education, and employment.

If you're in the D.C. area, AAPD is hosting its 2026 ADA Anniversary Celebration on July 22, marking the 36th anniversary of the ADA. This year's event will recognize the progress made since 1990 and honor the leaders whose advocacy made the ADA possible. 

No matter where you live, you can support AAPD's work by making a donation that helps fund their advocacy directly, and amplify their message on social media. Follow them on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn and help build the political and economic power of the disability community.

Happy Disability Pride Month!

Feel Good Friday - Rising Sun Center for Opportunity

Today's Feel Good Friday is personal. I got a Green House Call from Rising Sun Center for Opportunity last week, and I still can't get over the fact that the whole thing was free!

Founded in 1994 as Rising Sun Energy Center in Santa Cruz and now headquartered in Oakland, California, the mission of Rising Sun Center for Opportunity is "building career pathways for economic equity and climate resilience."

Rising Sun's Climate Careers program hires and trains Bay Area youth ages 15 to 24 as paid Energy Specialists, sending them out to deliver free in-home Green House Calls while they build real-world experience for green careers.

Here's what that looked like at my house. Two Energy Specialists came at the appointed time and evaluated my appliances, replaced some old lightbulbs with LEDs, and measured the water flow from every faucet. After walking me through their recommendations and answering all my questions, they left me with a bag of gifts, including a smart power strip, a phone-controlled lightbulb, a portable induction burner with a compatible pan, and a few other energy-saving extras. All free!

Rising Sun's other core program, Opportunity Build, is a pre-apprenticeship that prepares adults for union careers in the building trades. This includes Women Building the Bay, one of the few all-women cohorts in the country. 

Rising Sun has had a big impact on the region. Since they began, they've delivered no-cost Green House Calls to more than 66,000 households and trained over 3,450 youth and adults for careers in the green economy.

This summer's Green House Call season is happening right now across the Bay Area and Central California, so if my experience has you curious, there's no better time to sign up.

If you'd like to support the work of Rising Sun Center for Opportunity, you can make a donation or amplify their message on social media. Follow them on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or YouTube, and help spread the word about the program that's quietly saving Bay Area households money and energy, one house call at a time.

 

Feel Good Friday - Brennan Center for Justice

Tomorrow, America turns 250, and it felt like the right week to spotlight an organization working to make sure that milestone still stands for something: the Brennan Center for Justice.

Founded in 1995 and headquartered in New York City, the mission of the Brennan Center for Justice is "to hold our political institutions and laws accountable to the twin American ideals of democracy and equal justice for all." The nonpartisan law and policy institute marked its own 30th anniversary in 2025, and in its latest annual report, it ties that milestone direction to this year's 250th anniversary, writing that America still has it in its power to begin the world over again.

The Brennan Center's Democracy Program fights for free and fair elections through research, litigation, and advocacy that reaches every level of government. Earlier this year, their attorneys represented the League of Women Voters and other allies in a lawsuit challenging an executive order that would have required documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote, something research shows millions of eligible Americans don't have on hand. A federal judge agreed, ruling that the Constitution puts states and Congress, not the president, in charge of election rules. They've also worked with allies across the political spectrum on dozens of friend-of-the-court briefs that helped lead to a landmark ruling blocking the administration's worldwide tariffs. That's the kind of quiet, unglamorous work that keeps a 250 year old system of self government functioning.

Beyond elections, the Justice Program pushes for a fairer, more effective criminal justice system, and the Government Power Program works to balance safety with constitutional rights. 

If you'd like to celebrate Independence Day by supporting an organization fighting for  the democracy and equal justice this country was founded on, there are many ways to do so. A monetary donation to the Brennan Center helps fund the litigation and research that keeps these fights moving, and you can also explore their Take Action page to weigh in on live legislation. As always, you can amplify their message on social media too. Follow the Brennan Center on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or YouTube, and help carry their case for democracy forward.

Here's to the next 250 years.

Feel Good Friday - CenterLink

June is Pride Month, and what better way to close out the celebration than by spotlighting CenterLink, an organization working quietly behind the scenes to make sure LGBTQ+ community centers across the country can keep their doors open.

Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, their mission is explained on their website, "CenterLink strengthens, supports, and connects LGBTQ community centers and LGBTQ serving community-based organizations." 

As the world's largest association of LGBTQ+ centers, Centerlink’s network spans more than 375 member centers across the US and internationally, collectively serving more than three million people each year. They operate on the belief that LGBTQ+ community centers are the true heart of the movement, offering health care, mental health support, youth programming, elder care, housing assistance, and safe spaces for connection, and that the strength of the entire LGBTQ+ community depends on the strength of those local centers.

CenterLink builds that strength through five programs. The Leadership Institute provides training and strategic planning support for center executives and board members. YouthLink helps youth-serving centers foster collaboration, and uplift young LGBTQ+ voices across the network. HealthLink  advances health equity by training providers in affirming, evidence-based care and supporting centers as policies shift. SAGELink, launched in 2024, ensures LGBTQ+ older adults are connected, valued, and cared for across their lifespan. ActionLink keeps member centers and advocates informed and mobilized, tracking 533 anti-LGBTQ bills introduced in 2024 and working alongside national partners to stop most from becoming law.

The results are meaningful. In 2024, CenterLink distributed $1.27 million in grants directly to member centers and trained more than 200 leaders at their annual Leadership Summit in Chicago. Their biennial Community Center Survey found that 97% of member centers provide community and social programs, 86% offer basic needs support like food and housing, and 55% provide mental health care. The network is growing, and so is its impact.

If you’re looking for a way to support hundreds of LGBTQ+ centers at once, CenterLink can help. Make a monetary donation and amplify their message on social media. Follow CenterLink on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn, and share their stories of resilience and community with your network.

Happy Pride! 🌈

Feel Good Friday - Emancipation Park Conservancy

Today is Juneteenth, a federal holiday commemorating June 19, 1865, the day Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation and free the last enslaved people in the country. Today’s organization, the Emancipation Park Conservancy exists to honor that moment every day.

Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Houston, Texas, the mission of the Emancipation Park Conservancy (the Conservancy) is "to enhance Emancipation Park by preserving its integrity and enriching its heritage as a local, state, national, and international landmark."

The park itself has a fascinating origin story. In 1872, just seven years after emancipation, a group of formerly enslaved community leaders pooled $800 to purchase ten acres of land in Houston's Third Ward as a place to celebrate Juneteenth. That act of collective freedom and investment is now a Houston Protected Landmark. During the Jim Crow era, it was the only public park and swimming pool available to African Americans in the city.

Today, the Conservancy manages the park under a 30-year agreement with the City of Houston, offering community programs in four areas: Education, including coding, robotics, vocal development, and an Emancipation Conversations Lecture Series; Economic Empowerment, with budgeting workshops, small business assistance, and financial planning; Health & Wellness, addressing significant health disparities in the predominantly Black and Hispanic/Latinx Third Ward community; and Arts & Culture, connecting local artists to a community long underserved by policymakers.

And this Juneteenth, there's even more to celebrate. The Conservancy just completed an $18.5 million expansion of the park, including a new 5,000-square-foot performance stage and a renovated cultural center. Tonight, the newly expanded park hosts Juneteenth: The Reunion, featuring live music, food vendors, a Kids Zone, and more. If you're in Houston you should definitely check it out!

If the celebration inspires you to get more involved, there are many ways to support the Emancipation Park Conservancy. You can volunteer, make a donation, or amplify their message on social media. Follow the Conservancy on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn  or YouTube and help keep this piece of living history at the center of the community where it belongs.

Happy Juneteenth!

 

Feel Good Friday - Lambda Legal

June is Pride Month, and today I'm highlighting Lambda Legal, an organization that has spent more than five decades in courtrooms across the country fighting for LGBTQ+ civil rights.

Founded in 1973 and headquartered in New York City, the mission of Lambda Legal is "to achieve the full recognition of the civil rights of LGBTQ+ people and all persons living with HIV through impact litigation, public education, and policy work." 

It's easy to forget how recently these rights had to be fought for at all. When founder Bill Thom filed the organization's incorporation paperwork in 1972, a panel of New York judges rejected it. In their view, the mission was 'neither benevolent nor charitable.' Thom appealed their decision, and won.

Lambda Legal has been fighting on three interconnected fronts ever since: pursuing high-impact cases in court, equipping people to understand and exercise their rights through public education, and advocating for stronger legal protections at the local, state, and federal level. Clients pay nothing for Lambda Legal's representation.

Right now, that work has never been more urgent. Since January 2025, Lambda Legal has filed six major cases challenging executive orders targeting transgender people, gender-affirming care, accurate identity documents, and military service for trans people. In 2025 alone, they had active cases in 24 states. One of their recent wins is a court injunction that restored $6.2 million in federal funding to LGBTQ+ and HIV organizations after the Trump administration moved to cut it. You can track their ongoing federal cases with their Trump Tracker.

Lambda Legal also maintains a national Help Desk for people experiencing discrimination, and a network of volunteer Cooperating Attorneys that extends their reach far beyond their staff team. With more than 50 years of landmark wins behind them and some of the most consequential cases of our time ahead, they are exactly the organization this moment calls for.

If you’d like to support Lambda Legal you can do so by making a donation, becoming a volunteer, and amplifying their message on social media. Follow Lambda Legal on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn and share their stories of resilience and resistance with your network.

Happy Pride Month!

Feel Good Friday - Latino Outdoors

June is National Great Outdoors Month, and there's no better time to celebrate Latino Outdoors, a Latine-led organization connecting comunidades to the beauty and healing of the natural world.

Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Oakland, California, the mission of Latino Outdoors is "inspiring and connecting comunidades to the outdoors, centering cultura, celebrating familia and heritage, and uplifting our history and leadership as part of the outdoor experience." The Latino community is one of the fastest-growing in the United States, yet remains underrepresented in conservation and outdoor spaces. Latino Outdoors works to change that, rooted in the belief that an ethic of conservation and a deep connection to the natural world have always been part of la cultura Latina.

LO's three programmatic pillars make that vision real. Vamos Outdoors is the heart of the organization, offering free hikes, picnics, bird walks, camping trips, and more through a national network of over 200 volunteer leaders. From first-timers to seasoned trail regulars, everyone is welcome. About 85% of outings include participants who attend together with family members, and nearly 80% include someone experiencing the activity for the first time. Yo Cuento Outdoors amplifies the voices and stories of community members, celebrating real lived experiences in nature through blog posts, films, and photography. And Crecemos Outdoors supports the next generation of outdoor leaders through training, mentorship, and access to a Jobs+ board  that has shared over 8,000 outdoor-related job, internship, fellowship, and scholarship opportunities since 2020.

The impact speaks for itself. Since launching outdoor programming in 2014, LO's volunteer network has delivered over 2,200 outings for more than 44,000 participants across more than 30 locations nationwide, with about half of that growth happening since 2024. One in four participants is a child or youth.

If you like what you learned, you can support Latino Outdoors in many ways. Join a free outing near you, make a donation, and amplify their message on social media. Follow Latino Outdoors on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube and share their stories of community and connection with your network.

Happy Great Outdoors Month!

 

Feel Good Friday - Bikes Not Bombs

May is National Bike Month, and what better way to wrap up the celebration than spotlighting Boston’s Bikes Not Bombs.

Founded in 1984 and headquartered in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, the mission of Bikes Not Bombs (BNB) is "to use the bicycle as a vehicle for social change to achieve economic mobility for Black and other marginalized people in Boston and the Global South."

Each year, BNB collects roughly 5,000 donated bicycles from supporters across Greater Boston and New England, and ships most of them to partner organizations around the world. In fact, BNB is loading a container of bikes and parts headed to their partner Learn, Work, Develop in Rwanda this weekend!

Since 1984, they have shipped over 80,000 bicycles to partners in 14 countries. Current international partners include organizations in Guatemala, El Salvador, Kenya, Rwanda, and Nevis Island, all using bicycles to expand access to economic opportunity, education, and health care in their communities. Bicycles also power pedal-driven machines for grain milling, water pumping, and coffee processing in some of these locations, providing emissions-free technology that improves rural livelihoods. 

Locally, BNB’s Youth Pathways programs have served over 3,000 Boston youth since 1990. Their Earn-A-Bike program gives young people a safe, welcoming environment to learn everything from riding basics to fully refurbishing a bike they can take home. Youth Apprenticeships offer paid, hands-on training in bike mechanics, entrepreneurship, and career development, building skills and resumes that open doors well beyond the bike shop. BNB's Bike Shop and Training Center sells refurbished and new bikes, with profits funding their youth and international work. To hear the origin story of Bikes Not Bombs directly from co-founder Carl Kurz, you can watch this short video about the organization's 40+ years of impact.

There are many ways to support Bikes Not Bombs. You can donate a bike, become a volunteer, make a monetary donation, or shop their online store for gear and accessories. Amplify their message on social media by following BNB on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or YouTube, and sharing their stories of hope and community with your network.

Happy National Bike Month!

Feel Good Friday - Veterans for Peace

This Memorial Day weekend, Veterans for Peace reminds us that some of the most powerful voices for peace are those who have experienced war firsthand.

Founded in 1985 and headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, the mission of Veterans for Peace (VFP) is to build "a culture of peace by using our experiences and lifting our voices." The organization informs the public of the true causes and enormous costs of war, and works with an obligation to heal war's wounds. Their network spans more than 140 chapters worldwide, including international chapters in Vietnam, Japan, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, and they hold a permanent Non-Governmental Organization seat at the United Nations.

VFP's work is organized around three core pillars: educating the public about the full cost of war, resisting militarism and advocating for diplomacy over armed conflict, and healing the wounds of war to build a
more just and peaceful society. Their veteran and associate members represent 70 years of military service, spanning World War II through the present day.

Their national projects bring these pillars to life in tangible ways. The Golden Rule Peace Boat Project restored the original peace boat that set sail in 1958 to stop nuclear testing in the atmosphere, and the vessel is voyaging once more as a living symbol of the belief that a nuclear-free world is possible. The Deported Veterans Advocacy Project supports U.S. military veterans who served this country and were later deported, providing housing referrals, medical support, document assistance, and help navigating VA benefits from an office in Tijuana, just steps from the U.S. border. The Save Our VA Campaign fights to preserve comprehensive, high-quality healthcare for the nine million Americans who rely on VA health facilities. And the Vietnam Agent Orange Relief and Responsibility Campaign advocates for justice for victims of Agent Orange on both sides of that conflict.

If you’d like to celebrate Memorial Day by advocating for peace, consider supporting Veterans for Peace. You can become a member, make a donation, or amplify their message on social media. Follow VFP on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn and share their stories of service, sacrifice, and the enduring pursuit of peace.

Happy Memorial Day weekend!

Feel Good Friday - Center for Biological Diversity

Today is Endangered Species Day, an annual observance held every third Friday of May to celebrate the protections afforded by the Endangered Species Act and the conservation work keeping vulnerable wildlife from disappearing forever. That makes today a great time to spotlight the Center for Biological Diversity.

Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, the mission of the Center for Biological Diversity is "to secure a future for all species, great and small, hovering on the brink of extinction.” They do this by using science, law and creative media, with a focus on protecting the lands, waters and climate that species need to survive.

The Center was born from a scrappy act of defiance. Three wildlife surveyors in New Mexico discovered a rare Mexican spotted owl nest in an old-growth tree slated for logging and reported it to the U.S. Forest Service. They were ignored so they went to the media instead, saved the tree, and decided to keep going. That same relentless approach defines the Center today.

Their primary tool is the law. With a staff of more than 170, including over 40 attorneys, the Center files petitions and lawsuits to compel government agencies to act on their legal obligations under the Endangered Species Act. Their track record is remarkable: a 93% success rate in litigation and protections secured for more than 700 species of wildlife and plants, along with the designation of 713 million acres of critical habitat. Just this week, the Center reached a legal agreement to advance protections for the Crater Lake newt in Oregon.

But legal work is only part of the picture. The Center also runs creative campaigns to shift public awareness, publishes The Revelator, an independent environmental news outlet, and engages its 1.8 million members and online activists in grassroots action on issues ranging from wolf recovery and climate policy to pesticide regulation and ocean protections.

You can support the Center for Biological Diversity in many ways. Become a member, make a donation, and amplify their message on social media. Follow the Center on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn and share their stories of hope and healing with your network.

Happy Endangered Species Day! 🐺🦋 

Feel Good Friday - Sharks4Kids

Today is Fintastic Friday, an annual observance on the second Friday in May dedicated to raising awareness and advocacy for sharks, skates, and rays. What a great day to spotlight Sharks4Kids.

Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Florida, the mission of Sharks4Kids is "to inspire and empower the next generation of shark advocates through dynamic education, outreach, and hands-on experiences." Founder and President Jillian Morris, a marine biologist, created the organization after years of doing classroom visits for friends and realizing that if kids were armed with facts and enthusiasm, they could be one of the most powerful forces for shark conservation.

Here’s the thing: sharks have a serious image problem. Decades of sensational media coverage have convinced many people these animals are dangerous predators, when in reality they are essential to healthy ocean ecosystems and face massive threats from overfishing, finning, and habitat loss. Sharks4Kids flips the script, turning fear into fascination one classroom at a time.

Their free educational resources offer teachers a full curriculum, activities, coloring sheets, species posters, and crafts that can be woven directly into science programs at any level. Beyond materials, Sharks4Kids brings shark education to life through virtual and in-person school visits led by marine biologists, 360 VR Shark Dives that transport students underwater without leaving the classroom, and the Fin Files video series that spotlights individual species. Kids can also earn a Junior Shark Ambassador designation, empowering them to take their advocacy beyond the classroom.

On the research side, Project Lemon Aid is a hands-on initiative in Turks and Caicos where students join scientists in the field to study juvenile lemon sharks in their mangrove nurseries and learn firsthand what conservation science actually looks like.

Sharks4Kids has had a big impact since they began. By December 2025, they had reached 267,600 students through 1,878 virtual lessons, connecting with kids in 80 countries and all 50 US states, with in-person visits in 19 US states and 18 countries!

You can support Sharks4Kids by making a donation, volunteering with their education and outreach programs, shopping their online store, and amplifying their message on social media. Follow Sharks4Kids on Facebook, Instagram, Threads or YouTube, and help give sharks the voice they deserve.

Happy Fintastic Friday!

Feel Good Friday - Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance

Today is International Workers' Day. It’s also the 33rd founding anniversary of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, making it the perfect moment to spotlight this one-of-a-kind organization.

Founded in 1992 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., the mission of Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) is to "develop a comprehensive strategy to organize Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islanders into Unions, and to promote the participation and leadership of Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islanders within the Labor Movement."

APALA didn't emerge in a vacuum. The organization's own history acknowledges a long legacy of both contribution and exclusion: AANHPI workers helped build this country, from Filipino labor organizer Philip Vera Cruz, instrumental in founding the United Farm Workers, to Katie Quan and May Chen, who led the Chinese Garment Workers strike of 1982. Yet despite these contributions, AANHPI workers faced legalized barriers to joining the labor movement for generations. It was against that backdrop that AANHPI labor activists approached the AFL-CIO in 1990 with a proposal for a national organization. On May 1, 1992, over 500 AANHPI labor activists gathered in Washington, D.C. to make it real.

Today, APALA is the voice of nearly 800,000 AANHPI union members across more than 22 chapters nationwide. Their work spans several interconnected areas. The Organizing Institute is a three-day training that builds power for AANHPI union organizers, researchers, and leaders within the broader labor movement. The Young Leaders Council brings together worker representatives under 35 from across the country, educating the next generation about the labor movement and how to drive change in their communities. Beyond union building, APALA advocates on immigration reform, anti-Asian racism, voter registration, and civil rights, serving as a critical bridge between the labor movement and AANHPI communities.

Today would be a great day to show your support for APALA and here are some ways to do just that. Become a member, make a donation, shop for merch or amplify their message on social media. Follow APALA on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn and share their stories of solidarity and worker power with your network.

Happy International Workers' Day!