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

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, click on More at the bottom left of the listing
Monday, August 9, 2021 - 3:30pm - 5:00pm
 ESTHER Communications Committee Meeting Zoom Meeting
Monday, August 9, 2021 - 6:00pm - 7:30pm
 ESTHER Mental Health Task Force Zoom Meeting
Thursday, August 12, 2021 - 4:30pm - 6:00pm
 ESTHER Leadership Board Meeting Zoom Meeting
Monday, August 16, 2021 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
 Taking a Faithful Stand for Equity Zoom Meeting
Tuesday, August 17, 2021 - 10:00am - 11:30am
 ESTHER Finance Committee Meeting Zoom Meeting
more
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Healing the Land

Submitted by wvanlopik on Wed, 07/21/2021 - 8:49pm
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On Friday, July 16, I along with other ESTHER members went to Marinette in support of the Coalition to Save the Menominee River. This event was inspiring and allowed me to hear the stories of those who are working diligently to protect the river.

The extractive industry is a threat to wildlife, the surrounding environment, and Native communities. The extractive industry brings violence to Native communities and exacerbates the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women. Being at this event, I heard from people who are working specifically on this issue and how I can get more involved. This is my biggest passion, and it felt reaffirming hearing from people who care just as much as I do.

If we are looking for ways to better protect the environment, we need to listen to Indigenous communities such as the Menominee. Indigenous communities have been protecting and healing the land for many years. Their relationship with the land provides the best template for how we can move forward and heal the land and ourselves.

It was such an honor to witness a water blessing done by five generations of Menominee women. They mentioned how in their community, women are the water protectors. Women have a sacred connection with the water as the womb holds life-giving water. That relationship with the water is so beautiful and is just one of the many reasons why the Menominee River needs to be protected.

Kayla Nessmann

ESTHER Communications Coordinator

Taking a Faithful Stand for Equity

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

Taking a Faithful Stand for EquityRegister here: Faithful Stance 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 tp 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 Stance 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.

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Celebrate Diversity Fox Cities - Community Cookout

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Date: 
Saturday, August 21, 2021 - 11:00am - 3:00pm
Location: 
Jefferson Park, 989 Kargus Drive, Menasha

Celebrate Diversity Fox Cities will be hosting its annual Community Cookout on Saturday, August 21, 2021 from 11:00 am-3:00 pm. Come celebrate progress with food, entertainment, and laughter. The theme for this year is, “We All Call This Home.”

Visit the event page on Facebook: www.facebook.com/events/538802710712233/

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The Woman’s Hour

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Date: 
Thursday, August 26, 2021 - 4:30pm
Location: 
UW Fox Cities, Perry Hall, 1478 Midway Rd, Menasha

You’re Invited to the Woman’s Hour

Thursday, August 26

4:30 PM

The Fox Valley 19th Amendment Centennial Coalition invites us to attend The Woman’s Hour on Women’s Equality Day, August 26. The event starts at 4:30 PM at Perry Hall on the University of Wisconsin-Fox Cities Campus and features award-winning author, journalist and speaker Elaine Weiss.

In her book, The Woman’s Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote, Weiss provides a gripping account of the ratification of the 19th Amendment. Steven Spielberg’s Amblin TV is currently developing The Woman’s Hour for television, with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton serving as executive producer.

A wine and hors d’oeuvre reception will precede the program, which starts at 5:45 PM. Elaine Weiss will sign copies of her book following the program.

Tickets are $5 and are required in advance. No tickets will be sold at the door. Registration deadline is August 15, 2021. Register now.

This event is presented by the Fox Valley 19th Amendment Centennial Coalition.

ESTHER 2021 Annual Banquet - Save the Date

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Date: 
Sunday, November 7, 2021 - 5:00pm - 8:30pm
Location: 
Liberty Hall, 800 Eisenhower Dr, Kimberly

Save the Date
Sunday evening, November 7, 2021

ESTHER’s 2021 Annual Banquet

“Bridging Our Differences”

Keynote Speaker: Pardeep Kaleka, Executive Director, Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee and the Zeidler Group. Founder of Serve2Unite. Co-author (with Arno Michaelis) of The Gift of Our Wounds.

A native of Punjab, India, Kaleka grew up in Milwaukee and received his B.A. at Marquette University, and M.S. at Alverno College.  He is a former police officer and educator in the inner city of Milwaukee. As a clinician, he uses a trauma-informed approach to treat survivors and perpetrators of assault, abuse, and acts of violence.

At this early stage, we are actively planning for an in-person banquet at Liberty Hall in Kimberly.

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June 12 MMIWG2S Billboards for Change Rally Video

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MMIWG2S Billboard Rally Video Now Available

On morning of June 12, ESTHER, in collaboration with the Native Justice Coalition and Waking Women Healing Institute, sponsored a rally at the Urban Evolutions store on West College Avenue in Appleton. The purposes of the rally were 1) to draw attention to the epidemic of missing and murdered indigenous women, girls and two-spirits in Wisconsin and the nation, and 2) to dedicate a new billboard placed nearby. About fifty people attended, and the event drew media attention from WBAY TV in Green Bay and Appleton radio.

The rally was streamed live on Facebook. If you did not attend, or would like to experience the program again, click on the image to watch the recorded video on Facebook. (This video is publicly visible; you do not need a Facebook account to watch it. The program starts about 10 minutes in, so you may want to fast-forward to that point.)

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Ice Cream Social and Outdoor Movie *Postponed* to July 20

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Date: 
Tuesday, July 20, 2021 - 7:00pm - 10:00pm
Location: 
Jefferson Park, 989 Kargus Drive, Menasha

ESTHER Presents: Ice Cream Social and Outdoor Movie

Evening of Tuesday, July 20

Due to Severe Weather Concerns on July 14, this event has been rescheduled to July 20. Same Time and Location. No need to re-register.

Dawnland, A story of stolen children and cultural survival. (more below)

Join members and friends of ESTHER at Jefferson Park in Menasha on the evening of July 20 for an ice cream treat and an outdoor showing of this special film.

Dawnland PosterAbout the film: For decades, child welfare authorities have been removing Native American children from their homes to “save them from being Indian.” In Maine, the first official Truth and Reconciliation Commission in the United States begins a historic investigation. Dawnland goes behind-the-scenes as this historic body grapples with difficult truths, redefines reconciliation, and charts a new course for state and tribal relations.

  • Please try to arrive between 7:00 and 7:30. You will want to have time to enjoy some ice cream and socializing.
  • Brief program at 8:00 featuring highlights from ESTHER’s task forces and an introduction to the film.
  • Dawnland (1-hour movie) begins at 8:30.
  • Please bring lawn chair(s).
  • In the case of rain, the film will be shown in the pavilion.

ESTHER gratefully acknowledges event sponsorship by Mary Beth Nienhaus.

Film shown by Fox City Flix.

No charge. Free-will donations for ESTHER will be accepted.

We invite you to register, but know that you are welcome to attend even if you have not registered.

Register Now

Building a Theology of Restoration and Fairness in Wisconsin

Posted in
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.

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Real America’s Jorge Ramos Covers MMIWG2S

On May 20, Univision’s Real America with Jorge Ramos featured an 8-minute segment on the movement to fight for justice and raise awareness about the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2-spirit people. This important national report features our sisters Alysse Arce and Kristin Welch.


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