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League of Women Voters Endorses Treatment Alternatives

The Wisconsin League of Women Voters has endorsed a central aim of WISDOM’s 11X15 campaign—increased use of alternatives to incarceration for non-violent offenders. In a memo sent to LWV leaders state-wide on March 8, Executive Director Andrea Kaminski asks League members to contact their state Senators and Assembly Representatives to urge expansion of Treatment Alternatives and Diversion funding, instead of increased funding for jails and prisons.

Changes Coming for Immigrants

Hispanic faces on US mapPresident Obama has pledged to work for immigration reform, including a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, and the results of the last elections have convinced most Republicans that some reform is needed. Even so, the outcome is far from assured.

The administration has implemented some of the proposals of the Dream Act and has recently announced a policy change that will allow undocumented immigrants who are married to citizens to avoid having to return to their home countries to apply for visas as spouses of citizens.   

Locally, to provide more information in the Fox Valley about immigrants’ experiences, ESTHER has been tapped to finish developing and test a Latino Simulation (similar in concept to a poverty simulation). The potential value of such a resource grew out of investigations by ThedaCare's Community Health Action Team (CHAT), which held an Immigration Plunge during the fall of 2011. CHAT then developed the concept of the simulation and sponsored its initial development. Nan Gutierrez has been named project leader and will be working with ESTHER’s Immigration Task Force to complete the project in the next few months.

Watch our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/esther.foxvalleyand this website for updates on immigration reform.

A Message from ESTHER's Incoming President

Penny  RobinsonAs president of ESTHER beginning in January, I am excited about our work ahead, because I have seen the successes of faith-based community organizing. I once felt almost powerless to change any of the problems of our communities, but Gamaliel’s leadership training and several years of ESTHER experience have taught me how to develop relationships and work with others to bring about change. ESTHER will continue to grow and advance our three main issues:

  1. The 11 X 15 campaign for prison reform            
  2. Immigration reform and building relationships that reflect the diversity of our community.
  3. RTA legislation and a steady funding source for public transit.

—Penny Robinson

Nov 30 Presentation of HIA Moves 11x15 Forward

People listening to results of HIA study - November 30, 2012Results released on November 29 of a year-long Health Impact Assessment conducted by Human Impact Partners and WISDOM, with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, show that increasing funding for Treatment Alternative Diversion (TAD) programs in Wisconsin to $75 million annually will create savings for the state by reducing the number of prisoners, and will make our communities safer at the same time by reducing the number of crimes committed.

Tell us your Logisticare transportation story

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logisticare logoWhat has your experience been with Logisticare? ESTHER has heard that some Logisticare clients in Wisconsin have been denied transportation and have not been informed of their rights. We have also heard that some local transportation providers working with Logisticare have not been paid or were not paid in a timely manner. Some legislators are calling for an audit, but knowing specific stories and details would help a great deal. Click here to send us your story.

Immigration event helps students

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Clients at deferred action eventESTHER sponsored sessions on “Deferred Action Assistance” to help young immigrants with applications as part of an executive order by the federal administration.

The free one-on-one help was available at St. Therese Parish in Appleton on Saturday, Sept. 15, and at St. Mary Parish, Omro, on Sunday, Sept. 16.

Information packets [English] [Español] are available on the ESTHER web site and more than 300 copies of forms and instructions were made available.

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