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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, April 22, 2025 - 7:00pm - 8:30pm
ESTHER Environmental Justice Task Force Meeting Zoom meeting
Wednesday, April 23, 2025 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
The Power of Community Organizing Zoom
Monday, April 28, 2025 - 6:30pm
Understanding Your Mental Health First Congregational United Church of Christ, 724 E. South River Rd. Appleton
Wednesday, April 30, 2025 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
The Power of Community Organizing Zoom
Monday, May 5, 2025 - 6:30pm
Understanding Your Mental Health First Congregational United Church of Christ, 724 E. South River Rd. Appleton

The Power of Community Organizing

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

Sharpen your organizing skills with WISDOM’s top organizers from across the state by joining our virtual “The Power of Community Organizing in 2025” training series. We equip organizers 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

Understanding Your Mental Health

Date: 
Monday, April 28, 2025 - 6:30pm
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Monday, May 5, 2025 - 6:30pm
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Monday, May 12, 2025 - 6:30pm
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Monday, May 19, 2025 - 6:30pm
Location: 
First Congregational United Church of Christ, 724 E. South River Rd. Appleton

 

 

 

Understanding Your Mental Health Workshop

4 Part Free Workshop Series

6:30 - 8 PM on Mondays:  April 28th, May 5th, May 12th and May 19th, 2025

Upper Room, First Congregational United Church of Christ
                       724 E. South River Rd., Appleton

Register by calling the church office:  920-733-7393

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Madison Action Day 2025

Posted in

 

Ready to take action for social justice? Join us for Madison Action Day 2025 in Madison, WI!

 Engage with policymakers, connect with advocates, and make your voice heard. We are sharing our priorities for the State Biennium Budget. Priorities include Justice Reinvestment, Immigration, Public School Funding, and Badgercare Expansion. Together, we can create a more equitable future.  Includes box lunch and Madison Action Day tshirt. We are taking a coach bus with a bathroom. Sign up for bus in registration, additional $10 per person towards bus costs. 

 April 10, 2025

Look below for schedule and locations of buses leaving from Fox Cities.

Arrive to Madison Masonic Center by 9:00 am.  Finish meeting with legislators including a wrap up of the day by 4 pm, and bus will depart at that time.

Register now at $45: https://bit.ly/madisonactionday2025  

Those who register will receive information and zoom link about a April 3 zoom one hour meeting meeting at 6 pm which will give an overview of the day, including a sample of a legislative visit. Participants also will be receiving a digital copy and a hard copy of a booklet that summarizes WISDOM and our affiliates and our priorities for the budget. 

Bus Pickup Times and Locations:
No glass allowed on the bus.  Food & beverages allowed in paper, plastic or aluminum only.

WisDOT Park & Ride 05-02 [DPE], Lawrence Dr. De Pere    Arrive for loading 5:45/6:00 am departure
First Congregational Church UCC, 724 E. South River Road, Appleton Departs at 6:35 am
St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 149 S. Green Bay Road, Neenah Departs at 6:55 am
Washburn Park and Ride, 70-01 Park & Ride, 2500 S.Washburn Street, Oshkosh   Departs at 7:20 am
Arrive at Masonic Center, 301 Wisconsin Avenue, Madison at 9:00 am

Return from Grace Episcopal Church,  116 W. Washington Ave. Madison at 4:00 pm, returning to all the drop off sites.  See more for list of budget issues and schedule for the day. 

Defend our Democracy Rally

Join us this Saturday, April 5th to defend our Democracy!

Houdini Plaza, Appleton 11:00am-1:00pm

 

Winnebago County Executive Candidate Forum

For those of you who couldn’t make it in person please watch our recording:

 
Passcode: m*&Kx!8a
 

How to Effectively Advocate for Housing Justice

Posted in
Date: 
Monday, March 3, 2025 - 10:00am - 11:30am
Location: 
First United Methodist Church of Appleton, 325 E. Franklin, Appleton
 
 

Register here . You can identify your plans to participate in person or via livestream.
You can participate in person at First United Methodist Church

 

ESTHER's Promise in 2025

ESTHER’s Promise in 2025
Empowerment, Solidarity, Truth, Hope, Equity, and Reform
Connie Kanitz, ESTHER President

ESTHER is rooted in the commitment of knowing there is inherent worth and dignity in each and every person. Everyone deserves respect, access to rights and to the promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

ESTHER is committed to acting in love for one another. When we expand our understanding of “family” to include everyone; when we welcome cultural, racial, economic, and gender diversity AND a diversity of ideas and perspectives; AND when we ensure everyone has access to rights and opportunity, we can build a community that is amazing to behold. 

As the new administration begins on January 20, 2025, on the very same day we celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., ESTHER will continue to tell the truth and stand up for the truth…

Eye on Oshkosh

Learn more about ESTHER:

On this edition of “Eye on Oshkosh,” host Cheryl Hentz spends the hour talking with representatives from ESTHER, a Fox Valley interfaith nonprofit that seeks to find social justice in all areas of life – whether it be in affordable housing, the prison and court systems, environmental, mental health, race and sexual identity, even transportation. ESTHER works to identify leaders who can focus on and lead others in working to correct problems and injustices in these very issues. You can see the show by clicking on the image to the left or by following this link:

https://youtu.be/lvdPtX_C7Hw