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ESTHER: Celebrating 20 Years!

Justice, Hope and Action


Events we're highlighting as part of our twentieth anniversary

Better Together BBQ

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Rising Together 2025: Lessons on Healing from the Front Lines of Activism

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Date: 
Saturday, January 25, 2025 - 9:00am - 1:00pm
Location: 
Fox Valley UU Fellowship, 2600 E Phillip Ln, Appleton

Rising Together 2025: Lessons on Healing from the Front Lines of Activism

As we look ahead to 2025, many of us are feeling anxiety, dread, or at least trepidation about the political moment we are heading towards. But we also know that, in community, we can find a different path forward filled with possibilities, support, and hope! If you're looking for spiritual sustenance, community connections, and opportunities to deepen your skills for making change, please plan to join us here at the Fellowship for Rising Together: Lessons on Healing from the Front Lines of Activism on Saturday, January 25th from 9 am - 1 pm.

Hosted by the Fox Valley UU Fellowship, along with co-conspirators from the Green Bay Area UU FellowshipCongregational United Church of Christ Neenah/Menasha, and ESTHER Interfaith Community Organizing, 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.

More info & register here: https://fvuuf.org/rising/

 

See choices for breakout sessions below!

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.

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!) 
SORRY, REGISTRATION IS CLOSED: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 danceMiserlou: 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!

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

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

 

ESTHER Annual Banquet

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Date: 
Saturday, November 21, 2026 (All day)
Location: 
Bridgewood Resort Hotel & Conferenced Center, Neenah, WI

Theme: The World Is on Fire

Keynote speaker: Jeffrey A. Mandell, President and General Counsel, Law Forward, Madison, WI

Finding Hope in Dark Days for Democracy

No Kings March & Rally - Appleton

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Date: 
Saturday, March 28, 2026 - 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Location: 
Houdini Plaza, 100 W Lawrence St, Appleton

Letter to the Editor, Palm Sunday Path Participants

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A Letter to the Fox Cities Community from
Some of the Palm Sunday Path Participants

(This letter was sent to the Appleton Post Crescent in hopes it could be published as a letter to the editor. It was, however, rejected by the Post-Crescent due to their policy of not publishing group letters. So we are sharing it here in order that the Fox Cities [and wider] community may become aware of it.)

March 25, 2026

When clergy and people of faith from across the Fox Cities gather at Houdini Plaza on March 29 (1 pm), we will continue what began at our respective congregations’ Palm Sunday celebrations. A day when Christians remember Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, not on a warhorse, not a conquering king, but humbly riding a donkey and filled with compassion. Together, we will lament the harms done to our immigrant neighbors, shine Christ’s light of truth and justice, and proclaim faith in Christ, who came not to be served but to serve.

This Palm Sunday is different because our neighbors have been threatenedabused, dehumanizeddisappeared, and even killed by agents of our own government. Together, on the Palm Sunday Path, throughout Wisconsin and across fifteen other states, we stand in solidarity with people of faith across traditions and those who aren’t part of a faith community to support the vulnerable among us, because Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.”

Palm Sunday Path - Next Steps

Date: 
Tuesday, May 26, 2026 - 5:15pm - 8:00pm
Location: 
First Congregational UCC, Fellowship Hall, 724 E South River St, Appleton


You are invited to continue the path we started on March 29. As we move, our next steps invite us to better understand how county government shapes daily life and how proposals like HR 1 (“Big Beautiful Bill”) affect local services and the future of our communities. This is an opportunity not only to be informed, but to become engaged locally in shaping a more compassionate and healthy community for all.

The Palm Sunday Path continues- and everyone has a place on the journey. Join us: 5:15PM-8PM with a gathering meal and following a program. Meal Registration Closes on May 23.

Register at esther-foxvalley.org/nextsteps

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