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 in a new tab, click here
Tuesday, June 17, 2025 - 10:00am - 11:30am
 ESTHER Finance Committee Meeting Zoom Meeting
Tuesday, June 17, 2025 - 3:00pm - 4:30pm
 ESTHER Communications Committee Meeting Zoom Meeting
Tuesday, June 17, 2025 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
 ESTHER Immigration Task Force Meeting Zoom Meeting
Tuesday, June 24, 2025 - 7:00pm - 8:30pm
 ESTHER Environmental Justice Task Force Meeting Zoom meeting
Tuesday, July 1, 2025 - 4:30pm - 6:00pm
 Oshkosh ESTHER Task Force Meeting Zoom and Various Locations in Oshkosh
more
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Move Together, Rise Together

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Date: 
Monday, August 18, 2025 - 5:00pm - 7:30pm
Location: 
Fox Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 2600 E. Philip Ln, Appleton

An Evening of Folk Dance, Food & Justice
Move Together, Rise Together

Join ESTHER and the Folk Dancers of the Fox Valley on August 18 for a joyful evening of connection, movement, and purpose! People of all abilities are welcome. Learn or enjoy watching simple, fun folk dances from around the world—no experience needed—and enjoy a delicious spread of fresh sandwiches and sides. Also, consider participating in our 50/50 Raffle.

All proceeds support ESTHER’s community organizing for racial equity, justice system reform, and affordable housing. We will not be having a fall banquet fundraiser this year. This is one of the events that will take its place.

Ticket Price:  $25 (Kids under 12 free!) Register Here

Let’s dance, dine, and rise together for justice.
5 pm:  Doors Open, 5:30 pm:  Meal, 6:15: Program, 6:30 - 7:30 pm: Dancing

Come solo, with friends, or bring the whole family—everyone’s welcome!
Recharge, refresh, renew!
RSVP or Questions? 920-843-8083

Folk Dancers of the Fox Valley meet each Monday from 6:30 - 8:00 pm at South Greenville Grange, W6920 County Road BB, Appleton. Come join us anytime!  We know hundreds of dances and it is so much fun!  

Take a look at these dance videos (you will need to "skip ad" to get to some of these):Gori More: Serbian dance, Miserlou: Armenian dance Pogonishte: Albanian dance (this one is a backyard party, possibly in Albania!), 't Smidje: Belgium, danced in many European countries.  Wow, you will love this setting!

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“Does Nature Have Rights?” Film Showing

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Date: 
Tuesday, June 10, 2025 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: 
Appleton Public Library, 200 N Oneida St, Appleton

The Fox Valley group for Rights of Nature–Wisconsin, along with many co-sponsors, will host a showing of the PBS film “Does Nature Have Rights?” followed by discussion at the Appleton Public Library at 6:00 PM on June 10th. 

The 28-minute film asks the questions, “What if everybody lived with the understanding that if we harm nature, we’re harming ourselves?” and “Should nature truly have rights?” It will be followed by a discussion of the worldwide rights of nature movement, including possible local and state political action on these issues.

Please help spread the word by downloading and sharing the attached flier.

WISDOM's 25th Anniversary Celebration: August 7, 2025

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Date: 
Thursday, August 7, 2025 - 6:30pm - 9:00pm
Location: 
Pfister Hotel, 424 E. Wisconsin, Milwaukee WI

Notify ESTHER by June 6 if you want to be part of an ESTHER table of 10 at this celebration.  See info below.

Join friends of WISDOM as we mark a milestone of impact, resilience, and progress! For the past 25 years, WISDOM has stood at the forefront of the fight for social justice, advocating for equity, dignity, and opportunity for all in Wisconsin. Together, with the unwavering support of our community, we have transformed communities, challenged inequities, and ignited lasting change.  

WISDOM invites you to celebrate this remarkable journey:
25th Anniversary Banquet "Celebrating 25 Years of WISDOM: Empowering Through Unity"
An evening of reflection, inspiration, and hope for the future. Come honor the partnerships and passion that have fueled our mission, and help us continue building a brighter tomorrow.WISDOM is celebrating 25 years AND we are honoring David Liners for his service to WISDOM as executive director.

Please leave a message on the ESTHER office phone 920-843-8083 or email office@esther-foxvalley.org by June 6 if you are interested in making arrangements through ESTHER to be part of a table for 10 (discounted at $675 for a table of 10) at this event. Click here if you want to register directly.  Individual banquet tickets are discounted at $75 per ticket through June 7.  After June 7, tickets will increase to $100 per banquet ticket.

In Memoriam: Christopher Blake

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Christopher Blake Madison Action Day 10 April 2025

Announcing a Community Conversation in Memory of Christopher Blake

Wednesday June 4, 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Fox Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 2600 Philip Lane, Appleton

This gathering will be a space to reflect, share stories, and celebrate Christopher's commitment to justice, compassion, and community.  Whether you knew him personally or were impacted by his work, your presence is welcome and valued. 

Click here if you would like to donate to the Christopher Blake Legacy fund.

Former announcement from ESTHER posted on May 19th

It is with heavy hearts that we write to share the devastating news about our beloved friend, advocate, and fellow board member Christopher Blake. 

Late in the second week of May, Christopher suffered a medical emergency due to his chronic lung disease. Although paramedics were able to restart his heart, there was a significant period during which he was not breathing. Tragically, this resulted in a complete loss of brain activity incompatible with life. 

Christopher was transferred to the ICU at Aurora Medical Center in Oshkosh, where he died on May 19, 2025. In keeping with the generosity and selflessness that defined his life, Christopher was an organ donor, a final act of selflessness and love. During an Honor Walk just before his passing, family, friends, and hospital staff lined the halls of the hospital to honor his life and his gift of donation, and to say goodbye as he made his final journey.

A memorial fund has been established on GoFundMe to support the costs of his final arrangements and to help his fiancée Michelle remain in the home they shared and built together.

Christopher Blake Memorial Fund

Christopher Blake, courageous activist, tireless advocate, loyal friend, and ESTHER Board member, died in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on May 19, 2025. Please see his obituary here.

A fund has been created in his memory to help cover the unexpected and overwhelming expenses of his final arrangements and to support his fiancée Michelle in staying in the home they shared. No one should have to grieve the love of their life while worrying about how to remain housed.

If you are able, please give. If you cannot give, please share.

And please hold Michelle and all who loved Christopher in your heart during this time of unimaginable loss.

Donate Here

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Please Help ESTHER Give Away Books at Juneteenth, Saturday, June 7

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ESTHER’s Juneteenth book give-away has been so successful in the past, we want to celebrate reading again.  We’re asking you to share in this effort by purchasing a book or two by authors of color from Black-owned bookstores with stories about Black people.

You can drop them off at the office in First Congregational UCC, 724 E South River Street, Appleton, 9-3 weekdays, before June 7.

Then come to Juneteenth at Fox Cities Exhibition Center, 355 W. Lawrence, Appleton on Saturday, June 7, 1- 4 pm, to celebrate with our Black friends and neighbors. No reservations needed. No admission charge (food available for purchase).

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Madison Action Day 2025 / Building a Beloved Community

Submitted by Sara Companik on Wed, 04/30/2025 - 11:45am
Posted in

Madison Action Day 2025 CrowdAbout 400 leaders from the WISDOM network across Wisconsin met in Madison on April 10 for a day of action to get our values and issues on the minds of legislators while they are making state budget decisions. Northeastern Wisconsin was well represented, with delegrations of almost 50 from ESTHER in the Fox Cities and a similar number from JOSHUA in Green Bay.

The Power of Community Organizing (5-part series)

Date: 
Wednesday, April 23, 2025 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Date: 
Wednesday, April 30, 2025 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Date: 
Wednesday, May 7, 2025 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Date: 
Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Date: 
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Location: 
Zoom

5-Session Community Organizing Basic Training

The Wisconsin-based WISDOM network, of which ESTHER is a part, is offering a 5-week training series on community organizing. The sessions will be held over Zoom from 6:30-8:00 on five consecutive Wednesday evenings starting April 23. They will include a mix of presentations and discussion designed to sharpen your organizing skills and connect you with local efforts in Wisconsin.

WISDOM’s top organizers from across the state will equip you with tried-and-true methods that strengthen organizations, empower people, and change communities. Some sample topics that will be covered include:

Course outline:

  • Week One — Intro to Organizing
  • Week Two — One-on-ones
  • Week Three — Issues and Actions
  • Week Four — Effective Meetings
  • Week Five — Building a Team

Register Here

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Postponed: Understanding Your Mental Health

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Date: 
Monday, May 5, 2025 - 6:30pm
Location: 
First Congregational United Church of Christ, 724 E. South River Rd. Appleton

This event has been postponed. Watch this space for information on the new time.