You may be wondering how to get involved and advocate for progressive issues from home. One of the most impactful actions you can take is to contact your representatives directly about issues you care about.
Join us to learn tips, tricks, and best practices for writing emails that inspire action.
These weekly Zoom meetings, sponsored by WISDOM and EXPO, cover community organizing approaches and social justice topics of concern in the state and region during the summer of 2020.
On July 11 the focus will be on how transportation and transit have such an impact on equity and justice. For one thing, mass transit is much easier on the environment than individual vehicles. With more and better transit options, we could reduce our carbon emissions significantly. A robust transportation system is also about inclusion – making sure that everyone has access to jobs, health care, recreation, worship, and all the other activities we all hope to return to soon!
WISDOM Transit Task Force members, including several from ESTHER, will lead us as we talk about specific challenges we face in the state of Wisconsin and in our local communities. And, they will lead us to see that we CAN be part of the solution, creating a future beyond our excessive dependence on cars.
July 18 – Housing for Women Returning from Incarceration
July 25 – Voting and Voting Rights
August 1 – Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women
August 8 – Crimeless Revocations
August 15 – Policing
August 22 – Environmental Justice
If you would like to participate in any of these, contact WISDOM (wisdomforjustice@gmail.com) for information about registering for the Zoom presentations.
We care about people in prison; Governor Evers should too!
Join WISDOM/EXPO & our network of affiliates across the state as we show Governor Evers that we CARE about people in prison & want him to care, too.
On Thursday, June 18, 2020, people who are TIRED of Governor Evers’ inaction/lack of concern regarding incarcerated people & COVID-19 will hit the highways & take our concerns to the Governor’s door in Madison!
(Register Now and we will contact you with exact times, locations and other important information about this action.) If you would like to join the caravan from the Fox Valley, please contact Cindy Carter at 920-903-6350.
As part of their efforts to shine a light on missing and murdered indigenous women (MMIW), our allies at Menīkānaehkem are asking for the support of ESTHER members and friends to:
Sign and circulate this petition regarding the murder of 22-year old Kozee Montana Featherstone Medicinetop Decorah. The petition asks that the charges against the alleged perpetrator be increased from manslaughter to second-degree murder, that five additional charges be added, and that he not be released on bail.
Contact the US Attorneys assigned to the case by mail, email or phone (contact info at Read more below) to urge that the charges be modified.
Why are we asking? On May 15th, 2020, Kozee Decorah celebrated her 3-month sobriety anniversary and was working hard to move back home to Wisconsin in the coming months. The very next day she was murdered in Winnebago, Nebraska, by her fiancé, Jonathan Daniel Rooney, who then mutilated her body.
On June 1, 2020, Rooney was charged with MANSLAUGHTER OCCURRING IN INDIAN COUNTRY for the death of Kozee Decorah – a minimal charge given the severity of the killing and the subsequent mutilation of her body.
A Call to Action from WISDOM Executive Director David Liners:
Dear WISDOM Leaders,
This Wednesday (May 20) at 11 am, it will be time for WISDOM to Storm the Capitol. That is when we need everyone who is concerned about the health of the people in our prisons to contact Governor Evers. Let him know that this is the time to use the authority he has as Governor to safely reduce our prison population by at least 25%, starting with the elderly, the sick, those who pose no danger to society, and those who are due to come home soon anyway.
On the form, you can let us know how you will contact the Governor – by e-mail, by phone, on Facebook, or any way you are comfortable. We will send you back some ideas: talking points, memes, facts, that you can incorporate into your message.
Please share this with others. We need the Governor to understand that there are thousands of us, from all parts of the state, who are very concerned about the inevitable spread of COVID-19 in our prisons, endangering incarcerated people as well as the thousands of people who work in the prisons.
A recent report by the Legislative Reference Bureau made it very clear that Governor Evers has the authority to commute sentences, to grant pardons, and even to defer punishment – and that his authority is only limited by his own policies. You can read that report here: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/lrb_reports/prisoners_emergency_release_4_7.pdf
So, please sign up, please spread the word, and please take action on Wednesday at 11 am to STORM THE CAPITOL.
A Special Invitation for ESTHER Faith Communities & Individual Members
from Bread for the World Midwest Regional Organizer, Zach Schmidt & Prince of Peace ELCA Advocacy Team
When Prince of Peace’s ELCA Advocacy Team realized our annual Bread for the World Offering of Letters would need to go virtual, we also realized it was an opportunity to invite area congregations to join us in advocating for the hungry.
We are excited to announce that our 2020 Offering of Letters will be kicked off with a special webinar for ESTHER member faith communities and individuals.
Please plan to join us on Thursday, April 30, at noon for this fabulous opportunity to join with neighbors throughout the Fox Valley to address food insecurity and nutritional needs even as we are physically distanced.
Wisconsin’s April 2020 primary shows what a difference the turnout of informed, motivated electors can make in an election. Some reports indicate that “Relational Voting” may have played a significant role in the outcome of that eletion. That’s why ESTHER is looking for leaders to participate in our Relational Voting Program.
What’s Relational Voting? Research has shown that people are more likely to vote if they have a relationship with someone who is encouraging them to do so.
It is easy to participate in the program, which requires only three simple steps:
Download the “Empower (MyRVP)” app to your smart phone (Apple or Android). Then, register yourself to the Empower network (using your phone number or email address) and enter the code word “WISDOM.”
Choose 20 names from the contact list on your phone and add them to the list in your Empower app
Commit to contacting these people from time to time to remind them to vote in upcoming elections.
You are the only person who will ever contact these people about voting-related matters. Talking prompts will be sent to you to remind you to contact those on your list and suggest topics.
By participating in this program, you could possibly earn money for ESTHER as well as yourself. We have funding to pay up to 40 people $50 each if they follow through on this simple program.
Lawrence University Science Hall, Room 102, 421 E College Ave, Appleton
In a recent announcement, Lawrence University has indicated that all campus events for spring term 2020 are cancelled as a precaution because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It therefore seems unlikely that this event will occur.
A talk by retired UW law professor Bill Whitford on why Wisconsin deserves fair maps. Whitford is the lead plaintiff in Gill v. Whitford, a law suit challenging the constitutionality of partisan gerrymandering. In 2017, the US Supreme Court heard the case and in 2018 remanded it to lower courts, finding that the plaintiffs had not demonstrated standing for the case.
The public is welcome at this presentation.
Read the Wikipedia article on Gill v. Whitford here.
Copper Rock Coffee Co, 210 W College Ave, Appleton
Due to the current coronavirus situation and the need for social distancing, this program is cancelled. The League will reschedule a livestream program on the US Census soon and communicate the date/time and how to access the livestream once the details are available.
On March 16, LWV-Appleton will host a program on the 2020 Census and Fair Maps (not women's history as previously announced).
A representative of the Outagamie County Complete Count Committee will talk about the upcoming census and local efforts to ensure a complete count.
Also, former Wisconsin Representative Penny Bernard-Schaber will speak about gerrymandering and fair maps. Penny served 3 terms representing the 57th district which includes southern Appleton and parts of Menasha. She will be talking about how gerrymandering has changed our local districts, how it impacts municipal clerks, and the partisan roadblocks it creates in Wisconsin. Penny is also leading the 8th Congressional District Fair Maps Coalition, which is working towards a non-partisan redistricting process following the 2020 Census.
Mark your calendars to come and learn more, and bring your questions!
LWV reminds attendees that Copper Rock is providing the venue at no charge, so please buy food and beverages to enjoy throughout the meeting! Come early if you want to order food—the program will begin promptly with LWV announcements at 5:25.
Wisconsin State Capitol, Room 412 East, 2 E Main St, Madison
The Wisconsin State Assembly has scheduled a hearing Wednesday on AB 548, which would create a task force on missing/murdered tribal women and girls. This hearing is an important next step in authorizing and creating the task force!
Come to Madison on Wednesday, March 4, to show your support for the bill.
The primary purpose of this task force is to reduce violence against Indigenous women, resolve and identify systemic causes and contributing factors of violence, and identify the root causes of gender-based violence against Indigenous people.
About this event
Join WISDOM/EXPO & our network of affiliates across the state as we show Governor Evers that we CARE about people in prison & want him to care, too.
As part of their efforts to shine a light on missing and murdered indigenous women (MMIW), our allies at Menīkānaehkem are asking for the support of ESTHER members and friends to:
A Call to Action from WISDOM Executive Director David Liners:
A Special Invitation for ESTHER Faith Communities & Individual Members 
Wisconsin’s April 2020 primary shows what a difference the turnout of informed, motivated electors can make in an election. Some reports indicate that “Relational Voting” may have played a significant role in the outcome of that eletion. That’s why ESTHER is looking for leaders to participate in our Relational Voting Program.
A talk by retired UW law professor Bill Whitford on why Wisconsin deserves fair maps. Whitford is the lead plaintiff in Gill v. Whitford, a law suit challenging the constitutionality of partisan gerrymandering. In 2017, the US Supreme Court heard the case and in 2018 remanded it to lower courts, finding that the plaintiffs had not demonstrated standing for the case.
On March 16, LWV-Appleton will host a program on the 2020 Census and Fair Maps (not women's history as previously announced).
The Wisconsin State Assembly has scheduled a hearing Wednesday on AB 548, which would create a task force on missing/murdered tribal women and girls. This hearing is an important next step in authorizing and creating the task force!
