By JESSA PEASE / Staff Writer

PELHAM— What started as a small group of women with a focus to empower women in 2001, has grown to an organization with involvement in more than 20 countries, serving thousands of individuals.

Global Women, a Pelham-based nonprofit connecting resources to vulnerable women worldwide, is celebrating its 15-year milestone in 2016.

“Fifteen years ago, there was this group of trail-blazing women who wanted to help empower women,” said Stacy Blackmon, executive director. “Today, we are still guided by that vision of empowering women.”

Blackmon said this year the organization plans to celebrate this anniversary with leaders in the organization as well as its supporters. She explained that they plan to honor what Global Women has been able to accomplish while also looking to the future.

The organization is involved in many of the world’s biggest issues, according to Blackmon, with initiatives related to clean water, sex trafficking, maternal health, education and economic development.

“It takes a lot of folks who believe in a common vision or mission to make this happen,” she said.

In its 15^th year, Global Women announced it has partnered with 12 areas around the world.

The organization will focus on economic development initiatives in Central Asia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Haiti, Myanmar (Burma), Romania and Uganda. Educational initiatives will take place in India and Zambia.

Global Women has partners in Malaysia and Moldova, who focus on ending sex trafficking, and they focus on maternal health initiatives in Haiti. The organization also partners with Seeds of Hope in Zambia to help provide clean water.

Blackmon said Global Women will also be hosting several events throughout the year to celebrate the organization’s milestone. One of those events is a “birthday” dinner in June at the CBF General Assembly with some of the early founders.

“(We plan to) intentionally pause, to really reflect on how far we’ve come and express gratitude,” she said.

Blackmon described an era of change and growth for Global Women, stating that the organization is moving into the future. Not only will the group’s leaders discuss their dream for the future, but Blackmon said they’ll also be listening to other people’s ideas.

“I am more than excited,” Blackmon said. “I’m humbled when I think about those eight women who started in 2001…I’m excited to move into this new era and phase of Global Women, this movement.”