What are Task Forces?

Task forces are action groups that plan and implement activities and events to evoke positive change in our community.  Issues we address arise from the voices of those in our community and are supported by our member congregations.  If you have interest and wish to become involved with our task forces, please click on the "send us a message" link on the left.

Transportation Task Force

Our Transportation Task Force is working to address issues that have an impact on the transit systems serving the greater Fox Valley region.  Public transit connects peoplt to jobs, education, training, and medical services.  An accessible tranist system also connects residents with family, friends, and allows riders to remain engaged and active in their community. 

If you are interested in participating in the Transportation Task Force, please contact Penny Robinson at pennyrobinson1@gmail.com or attend one of the task force meetings.

Place: First English Lutheran Church, 326 E. North Street, Appleton, Rm 201

Time:  6:30 PM on the third Tuesday of each month

 Immigration Task Force

This task force works to address issues related to immigration, specifically those affecting the Latino population in the Valley.  In addition to national comprehensive immigration reform, our task force is working locally in two areas: the allowance for Wisconsin state driver's certificates for resident undocumented workers and in-state tuition rates for all residents of Wisconsin meeting the academic guidelines for acceptance into our state's public universities, colleges and technical schools.  ESL classes are also being offered at St. Therese Parish.  The newly formed Casa Esther in Omro is looking to be an outreach center for Latinos in the Oshkosh/Omro area.

If you are interested in participating in the Immigration Task Force, please contact Nancy Bourassa at bourkim57@yahoo.com or Michelle Rupp at MRupp@firstcongoappleton.org or attend one of the tasks force's regular meetings

Place: Emmanuel Methodist Church, 740 E. College Avenue, Appleton

Time: 6:30 PM on the second Tuesday of each month
 

Treatment Instead of Prison (TIP) & 11x15 Campaign Task Force

ESTHER is part of the statewide 11x15 Campaign for Healthier and Safer communities.  11x15 is a movement of people of faith calling for change in the Wisconsin incarcerating system. Our goal is to reduce the prison population in Wisconsin by 11,000 by the end of 2015...eleven by 15.

“We can’t punish people into being healthy. We need for families to stay intact and for offenders to be responsible to their communities. We are all better off when people can be healed and made whole through these effective programs; bringing accountability to the offender and the to community. Alternative treatment programs work better than incarceration,” says Gwen Gibson, ESTHER President.

Wisconsin has the experience and the expertise necessary to cut our prison population to 11,000 by 2015.  We need only the will and the courage to act.

For more information on ESTHER's 11x15 work, click here.

Visit the 11x15 campaign page here: prayforjusticeinwi.org

Workforce Housing Task Force

This task force's goal is to ensure that the Fox Valley has enough housing within the reach of working families.  The Fox Cities have a need for workforce housing—that is, housing that is within the economic reach of those who work in necessary jobs that pay less than the county median income.  The concept for workforce housing is simple: If you work in a community, you should be able to afford to live in that community.