Building community, sharing hope, and standing for justice since 2004

ICE Statement

Posted in

January 30, 2026

Dear Friends,

The state of our country feels catastrophic right now. Many people are saying that what we are witnessing looks like Nazi Germany. While that comparison is chilling and, in many ways, accurate, we must also remember that Nazi Germany took notes from the United States. This nation was founded on the genocide of Indigenous peoples and the kidnapping and enslavement of Africans. Even after the formal abolition of slavery, Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC) have continued to face violence, terror, and state-sanctioned oppression. A more accurate analogy for what we are seeing today is that the logic and function of slave patrols are once again — or more truthfully, still — operating in our society.

BIPOC communities have never been fully free or safe in this country. For centuries, government systems have killed people of color with impunity. What we are witnessing in the murders of Keith Porter, Renee Good, and Alex Pretti follows a long and brutal pattern: facts are denied, victims are dehumanized, and narratives are manipulated to justify state violence. It is telling that Keith Porter was killed first, yet his death received little attention until after two white people were killed. The order of coverage reveals the order of value in our society — whose lives are centered, whose deaths are mourned publicly, and whose suffering is rendered invisible. For many white Americans, this reality feels shocking and unbelievable. For BIPOC communities, it is tragically familiar.

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Upcoming Events

Please join us for any of these upcoming ESTHER and related events!

  • To learn more about a particular event, click on its title
  • To see the complete ESTHER calendar in a new tab, click here
Monday, February 9, 2026 - 6:00pm - 7:30pm
 Mental Health Task Force Monthly Meeting First Congregational United Church of Christ, 724 E. South River St, Appleton
Thursday, February 12, 2026 - 4:30pm - 6:00pm
 ESTHER Leadership Board Meeting Zoom Meeting
Tuesday, February 17, 2026 - 3:00pm - 4:30pm
 ESTHER Finance Committee Meeting Zoom Meeting
Tuesday, February 17, 2026 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
 ESTHER Immigration Task Force Meeting Zoom Meeting
Thursday, February 19, 2026 - 2:30pm - 4:00pm
 Oshkosh Housing Task Force Zoom + Trinity Episcopal Parish Hall, 311 Division Street, Oshkosh
more
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Recovery in Our Community

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Date: 
Wednesday, March 4, 2026 - 9:30am - 3:00pm
Location: 
UW-Oshkosh Culver Family Welcome Center, 625 Pearl Ave, Oshkosh

Plan now to attend the third annual We Heart You: Recovery in Our Community event, a day dedicated to hope, connection, learning, and action. This gathering brings together professionals, families, people in recovery, and community partners from across the region to strengthen our collective response to substance use and mental health challenges.

Register Here: https://solutionsrecoveryinc-bloom.kindful.com/.../we...

This year’s event features a powerful lineup of regional and local presenters, storytellers, and breakout sessions. CEUs will be available.

Housing Policy Institute

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Date: 
Saturday, March 14, 2026 (All day)
Date: 
Saturday, March 21, 2026 (All day)
Location: 
Richard Mauthe Center, 2418 Leon Bond Dr (UW-Green Bay), Green Bay

Make plans now to attend the 2026 Housing Policy Institute, a regional training for housing advocacy, to be held on Saturdays March 14 and March 21.

In 2024 ESTHER and JOSHUA, alongside local affiliates, county agencies, and housing organizations, helped host the first-ever Housing Policy Institute for our region. The institute educated participants on the policies that shape local, state, and national housing outcomes, tenant rights and law, community resources, and more. It featured a panel of housing professionals from our area and a mock council meeting to give participants a snapshot of public meeting processes. This institute was a way to activate your passion to make change in your community, providing a plethora of connections to assist you.

This year, you can expect the same, with an emphasis on and tools and training for writing and sharing your own narrative. Everyone has a story, and we want to help you shape your experience into a deliverable, powerful message that can lead to real policy impact. Save the date for March 14th and 21stto attend the Housing Policy Institute, a regional training in Northeastern Wisconsin.

If you are curious to learn more about the Housing Policy Institute, on January 29, we are offering an informational session that will provide you with answers to your questions . There are two time-slots available: 10 AM or 5 PM. Join us for an hour of your time to listen in and ask questions about this two-day training.

Hope to see you there!

REGISTER for the Informational Session

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Oshkosh City Council Candidates Forum

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Date: 
Thursday, March 26, 2026 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: 
Becket's Restaurant, 2 Jackson St, Oshkosh

Organized by Oshkosh ESTHER housing task force. ESTHER housing advocates will be asking questions of candidates for the three open positions on the Oshkosh City Council.

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Immigration Community Action Night

Date: 
Wednesday, February 4, 2026 - 5:00pm - 6:30pm
Location: 
ESTHER Office, 874 E South River St, Appleton

Join us for a hands-on community action night focused on protecting immigrant families and advancing local advocacy. Together, we will assemble whistle packets to support ICE preparedness, share know-your-rights information and practical tools for community safety, and take collective action by writing letters to local sheriffs and legislators.

This gathering is designed to be accessible for both new and experienced advocates. You’ll receive guidance, materials, and talking points, and you’ll be in community with others committed to immigrant justice.

All are welcome!

Help spread the word - download abnd share the attached flier.

LWV Appleton-Fox Cities Legislative Town Hall

Posted in
Date: 
Monday, February 2, 2026 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Location: 
https://lwvappletonfoxciti.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=4091&club_id=264322&item_id=2858075

Legislative Town Hall

Monday, February 2, 2026
6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Virtual Session

The League of Women Voters Appleton-Fox Cities is once again partnering with the League of Women Voters of Winnebago County on a virtual Legislative Town Hall. 

This is an excellent time to hear where our legislators stand on issues important to Wisconsin. All area legislators have been invited with a bipartisan group already agreed to participate.

It promises to be another interesting evening, so please join us if you can and invite your friends and family.

This event is virtual only and registration is required to receive the link to join the session.

If you haven’t already done so, you can Register here

 

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Rising Together 2026: Investing in Liberation

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Date: 
Saturday, January 24, 2026 - 9:00am - 3:00pm
Location: 
Fox Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 2600 E. Philip Ln, Appleton

  • Wondering how we can reimagine safety to reflect our commitments to liberation for all people?
  • Longing for dogma-free spiritiual grounding as you work to change your community?
  • Join us to explore how we can invest in each other rather than unjust systems.
  • Light breakfast, snacks, lunch, and childcare are provided free of charge — we just ask that you register to help us plan!
  • Registration and more at fvuuf.org/rising


Hosted by the Fox Valley UU Fellowship, along with co-conspirators from First Congregational UCC Appleton, the Green Bay Area UU Fellowship, ESTHER, JOSHUA, and the Wisconsin UU State Action Network, Rising Together gives local advocates, activists, justice-makers, and community-builders the opportunity to get centered on what matters most and feel grounded in a nurturing community.

Help spread the word: Download and share the attached flier.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Celebration - 35th Annual

Posted in
Date: 
Monday, January 19, 2026 - 8:00am - 7:30pm
Location: 
Lawrence University Memorial Chapel, 510 E College Ave, Appleton

MLK Day Flier 2026Lawrence University and Fox Cities partners invite the wider community to join in celebrating the legacy of Dr. Margin Luither King, Jr. – the 35th annual Fox Cities commemoration.

Keynote speaker: Dr; Sam Coleman, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction, Oshkosh Area School District

Guest Performing Artist: Sam Thousand

More information at https://www.lawrence.edu/institutional-access-belonging/events/mlk-day

 
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Help ESTHER Double Its Impact

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Facing Challenges Together

ESTHER Table at an event

At ESTHER, we believe that lasting change begins when people of faith and conscience work together for justice. Every day our volunteers and staff work together to build a more compassionate and equitable community.

Amanda MartinezNow, we have an exciting opportunity. Generous supporters have offered a challenge grant. Every “new” dollar (details below) given in 2025 will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $5,000.

Your gift will help strengthen our volunteer network, as we welcome our new colleague Amanda Martinez, who is working with ESTHER’s lead organizer Katie Olson to connect and inspire our growing community of justice seekers.

Yes, I'll Help!

With this expanded capacity, ESTHER will be able to:

  • Support volunteers in building stronger teams
  • Take meaningful local action to support your rights
  • Train leaders to advocate effectively for equity, sustainability, and inclusion
  • Equip and support new staff like Amanda


In these times, when there are so many negative challenges, it’s wonderful to have this positive challenge—an opportunity to help make ESTHER stronger for today and for the future.

For 21 years, ESTHER members have been working tirelessly to tackle the challenges that face us in building a better world: challenges like racism, mass incarceration, childhood poverty, unfair immigration laws, lack of adequate public transportation … and so many more. We tackle these challenges by working WITH people who are most affected by them. We raise up, train and support leaders in their communities. We advocate for systemic changes that make our community better for everyone who lives here. We educate the public through forums, films, speakers, and other events. We educate ourselves through intensive self-study and reflection.

Will you help us do more, by responding by December 31 to this challenge grant opportunity?

Yes, I'll Help!