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Advocacy

[Postponed] How to Be an Informed Voter

Posted in
Date: 
Monday, August 23, 2021 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: 
Prairie Hill Park, 2901 N Abendroth St, Appleton

This event has been postponed and will be offered at a later date yet to be determined.

ESTHER & WISDOM present:

School of Democracy:

Be an Informed Voter

Want to know how your local government and your vote affect your everyday life? Then this workshop is for you!

It’s an interactive, in-person learning opportunity sponsored by ESTHER and WISDOM. Explore engaging more deeply in politics with the WISDOM Integrated Voter Engagement Team.

  • Stay informed on issues affecting you
  • Learn how to connect with your elected officials
  • Vote your values

Monday, August 23, 2021
Prairie Hill Park Shelter, 2901 N Abendroth St, Appleton

Register Now

Taking a Faithful Stand for Equity

Date: 
Monday, August 16, 2021 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Location: 
Zoom Meeting

Taking a Faithful Stand for EquityRegister here: Faithful Stand for Equity Aug 16

In July, nearly 200 people participated in the first monthly gathering and started learning how to stand up for truth in public schools. Many people want to keep our children from learning about our country’s troubling past and present regarding how African-American, Native American and other people of color have had their land, labor and liberty stolen from them. 

Since that first Zoom meeting, people in all parts of the state have taken action (like joining Prayer Vigils and testifying at School Board meetings), More than 200 people have taken the Faithful Equity Pledge. All are invited to this month’s meeting as we work to keep building the momentum and to keep organizing.

If you want truth (even when it hurts) and equity taught and practiced in our schools and in our whole society, join this meeting to learn how to keep your voice heard, and not drowned out by the voices of those who are afraid of the truth.

Register here: Faithful Stand for Equity Aug 16

This initiative is co-sponsored by the Wisconsin Council of Churches, WISDOM, Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice, Wisconsin Council of Rabbis, and the Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin.

Building a Theology of Restoration and Fairness in Wisconsin

Date: 
Saturday, July 10, 2021 - 9:30am - 11:30am
Location: 
Zoom Meeting

Building a Theology of Restoration and Fairness

A Multifaith Response to End Mass Incarceration

Why should faith communities be involved in the work to end mass incarceration?

Featuring reflections from Senator Raphael G. Warnock, Senior Pastor of the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta and founding member of the Multifaith Initiative to End Mass Incarceration.

Who Should Attend

Leaders and members of congregations from various faith traditions in Wisconsin, those who are engaged in jail and/or prison ministry and want to do more, and those who are ready to partner with faith communities to reduce incarceration rates in Wisconsin.

REGISTER AT https://tinyurl.com/EMI-Wisconsin

For more information, contact: Joya Schmidt at jschmidt@the-temple.org

Sponsored by the Multifaith Initiative to End Mass Incarceration.

Postcard Party: Fight for BadgerCare Expansion!

Date: 
Tuesday, June 29, 2021 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: 
Jefferson Park, 989 Kargus Dr, Menasha

Citizen Action of Wisconsin NE Coop LogoJoin Citizen Action of Wisconsin for a postcard party to ask the Governor to veto any state budget that does not expand BadgerCare!

A State budget without BadgerCare expansion doesn't support the people of Wisconsin. Every Wisconsinite, rural or urban, needs healthcare to survive and thrive. Unfortunately, certain Wisconsin politicians are blocking over 90,000 Wisconsinites from the healthcare they need. In doing so, those politicians are keeping billions of dollars in federal aid from reaching Wisconsin. We need to make our voices heard NOW, and do everything we can to demand that Wisconsin expand BadgerCare.

This event is free and open to the public. Advance registration requested:

RSVP Now

Feel free to bring your dinner, listen to the speakers, and fill out a postcard!

Rally for Public School Funding

Date: 
Monday, June 21, 2021 - 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Location: 
Houdini Plaza, 111 W College Ave, Appleton

State-wide Day of Action
to Fund K-12 Schools

Fox Cities Advocates for Public Education is holding a Rally for Public School Funding, to challenge recent action by the Joint Finance Committee.

The proposed 2021-23 state budget for education, approved by the Joint Finance Committee, does not meet basic inflationary benchmarks for funding K-12 schools. Since the proposal also does not meet the requirements of U.S. COVID relief packages, $2.3 billion in federal relief funding is now at risk.

JOIN US in a Fox Cities Rally to urge lawmakers to act! 

  • 111 W. College Ave. at Houdini Plaza, Downtown Appleton
  • 4 – 5 pm, Monday, June 21
  • Rain or shine
  • Bring a sign if you can. Otherwise FCA4PE will provide one for you.


Water Celebration at Stephenson Island

Date: 
Friday, July 16, 2021 - 12:00pm - 6:00pm
Location: 
Stephenson Island, Marinette, WI

Water Celebration and Bridge Walk

Friday, July 16

Stop the Back 40 Mine

  • 12:00 pm: Event Opening - Bring Your Lawn Chairs
  • 1:30 pm: Special Guest Speaker: Dr. Al Gedicks
  • 1:50 pm: Western Mining Action Network (WMAN) Speech
  • 2:10 pm: Menominee Nation Speech
  • 2:30 pm: BLESSING OF THE WATERS CEREMONY
  • 3:30 pm: “River’s Edge Trio” Performance & Raffle Drawing - Custom-Built Guitars appraised at $4,500.00
  • 4:00 pm: Bridge Walk w/ Signs to the demonstration site
  • 6:00 pm: Return to Stephenson Island to adjourn, with our thanks!!

Car-pooling from the Fox Valley is being arranged. Leave a message at https://esther-foxvalley.org/ejtf if you are interested.

Sponsored By: Coalition to SAVE the Menominee River, Inc.

Website: https://jointherivercoalition.org

Citizen Lobby Training by Wisconsin Conservation Voters

Date: 
Thursday, May 27, 2021 - 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Location: 
Zoom Meeting

Wisconsin Conservation Voters LogoWisconsin Conservation Voters is offering Citizen Lobbying Training on Thursday, May 27 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Learn how to meet with local decision makers and urge climate action.

In the training, participants will learn what lobbying is and how to have a successful meeting. Participants will get to put their newly learned skills into practice with a mock lobby meeting.

Click here to save your spot.

Can’t make it but still want to get involved? Contact Casey Hicks, Northeast Organizer, Wisconsin Conservation Voters by emailing casey@conservationvoters.org.

Statement on Xenophobia, Racism, and Anti-Asian Violence

The Appleton, WI, Common Council hesitated this past Wednesday (April 21) when asked to pass a resolution condemning xenophobia, racism and anti-Asian violence and encouraging Appleton to become a more welcoming, inclusive community. ESTHER president Gary Crevier has issued this statement in response. For more background, please see this article from the Appleton Post-Crescent, published the day after the Council’s deliberations and decision. Click Read More below for the full text of the proposed resolution.

Dear ESTHER Folks,

As ESTHER president I spoke to Appleton’s common council this past week to support the resolution condemning xenophobia specifically related to our Asian & Pacific Islander community. We as ESTHER stand in solidarity with this beloved community. We are collectively disappointed in the Appleton Common Council’s action to push back the resolution to condemn xenophobia, racism, anti-Asian violence, and we are disturbed by their desire to change the AAPI narrative and lived experiences.

Thank you to Council Member Maiyoua Thao and all the sponsors of this resolution. We stand with you in calling out xenophobia, racism, sexism, and all forms of hate. We hope this resolution is not gutted from its original intent and that when it comes back to Council, the City will make a stand to support the AAPI community fully.

In these times of crisis, let’s come together and build strong communities of trust, where we all feel safe, where all workers are treated with dignity and respect, where all children feel comfortable going to school, where our elders are not shrouded in fear, and where all our loved ones have the freedom to thrive.

Please contact your Common Council representative to share your thoughts on this issue.

Gary Crevier

S/ Gary Crevier

ESTHER President

“What Happens When Your Government Stops Listening?” - Film and Webinar

Posted in
Date: 
Thursday, April 29, 2021 - 6:30pm
Location: 
Zoom Webinar

Can You Hear Us Now? film posterThe League of Women Voters of Appleton is proud to host a special screening of Can You Hear Us Now?, a new film that shows the personal impact of gerrymandering in the state of Wisconsin.

Viewers can watch the film anytime from April 25 - 29, then join a live community discussion about what’s happening to improve the nonpartisan redistricting process and obtain fair maps in Wisconsin.

Register for both the film screening and Zoom Webinar Here.

The Zoom Webinar link will be sent on April 29


John Lewis Voter Advancement Day Votercade

Posted in
Date: 
Saturday, May 8, 2021 - 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Location: 
Appleton East High School Parking Lot, 2121 E Emmers Dr, Appleton

On May 8th, let’s make some Good Trouble

Hands Off Our Vote!

Defeat Voter Suppression

Save the Date John Lewis Voter MobilizationThe League of Women Voters of Appleton invites you to join them in their John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Action Day “Votercade” on Saturday, May 8 at 1pm! This event is one of over 100 events across the nation to pass the For the People Act (H.R. 1), the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (H.R. 4), D.C. Statehood and address the filibuster to do so.

The Appleton Votercade will be following Covid-19 pandemic precautions (outdoors, no close contact, masks) and assemble at Appleton East High School on Saturday, May 8 at 1pm.

Participants should have their cars decorated with signs, placards, streamers, etc. Some signage will be available during assembly. The Votercade will begin at 2 pm and follow a designed route through Appleton, following all traffic rules and speed limits and return to the high school. The event will end around 3:00 pm.

The parade will be strictly nonpartisan in keeping with the League’s nonpartisan status and core mission of “empowering voters and defending democracy.”

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