WILPF Board Member Reflects on New York May Day Celebration

By Julie Leak, WILPF US board member

Julie Leak represented WILPF at the 2025 May Day Commemoration in Union Square, New York City.

As a new WILPF US board member living part of the year in New York City, where we don’t currently have a branch, I thought I’d attend the annual May Day gathering at Union Square and introduce WILPF by carrying a big poster to invite conversation. Also known as International Workers’ Day, May 1 honors the struggles and successes of the labor movement, particularly the fight for an eight-hour workday. 

I chatted with new friends that I’ve met at the People’s Forum, a movement incubator that builds unity across historic lines of division here in the Big Apple. I was also pleased when a woman approached me and told me of her connection with WILPF through our Fresno Branch! I’m working on starting a branch here in NYC. Please get in touch with me at jeleak@gmail.com with any leads that you’d like to share.

Eva Egozi Receives Silver Knight Award

By Jan Corderman and Jeneve Brooks

We are excited to share that Eva Egozi recently received the Silver Knight Award!

The Miami Herald’s Silver Knight Award program honors outstanding 12th-grade students selected by their high schools. John S. Knight, past publisher of the Herald and founder and editor emeritus of Knight-Ridder Newspapers, won the Pulitzer in 1968. 

When Eva was a sophomore in high school, she looked for a peace group to work with and found WILPF’s website. She and her friends formed the Miami Mujeres and gave their branch a name that is welcoming to women of Cuban descent—and all women (and men!). 

“One of their projects has been to build a relationship with women at a local shelter in Miami, as well as international support for a school in Hispañiola where the women of Miami Mujeres help curate digital language-learning storybooks for the students living there. “Miami Mujeres is an initiative with long-lasting hopes to foster education where it matters, whether through storybooks or everyday needs,” said Eva. 

“When Eva’s email came through, I was the Membership Committee member who responded. It was a joy to work with Eva every step of the way through the launch of the Miami Mujeres branch,” said Jan Corderman of WILPF US. 

Despite her young age, Eva has given so much to WILPF. She recently served as the dynamic and enthusiastic host of WILPF’s 110th Anniversary Celebration on April 28. The audience loved her! She truly represents that WILPF’s history, important mission, and initiatives can excite activism across the generations. Please check out the 110th Anniversary video if you haven’t yet.

Eva Egozi of WILPF’s Miami Mujeres branch recently received The Miami Herald’s Silver Knight Award for her work for justice in her community.