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Events

ESTHER: Celebrating 20 Years!

Justice, Hope and Action


Events we're highlighting as part of our twentieth anniversary

The Woman’s Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote

By Penny Robinson

Her Voice Her Vote Our VictoryOn the evening of Thursday, August 25, The League of Women Voters of Appleton hosted keynote speaker Elaine Weiss, author of the highly acclaimed narrative history The Woman’s hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote.

An accomplished storyteller, Ms. Weiss riveted the well-informed audience with details and photos, allowing them to feel that they almost were present. For three generations the suffragettes persisted, continuing to organize even after repeated failures and, for many years, lacking even the telephone (invented in 1876).

The campaign began with the 1848 Seneca Falls convention, at which Frederick Douglass was the only man to express support. Through a world pandemic, a civil and world war, numerous failed state campaigns, court battles and petitions to Congress, it culminated in marches and protests (which resulted in some arrests, imprisonment, and force-feeding), that led to the Nineteenth Amendment:

History and Culture of Afghanistan: Welcoming Our New Neighbors

Date: 
Saturday, November 6, 2021 - 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Location: 
Zoom Webinar

History and Culture of AfghanistanFor 20 years the U.S. fought the Taliban in Afhanistan for harboring those reaponsible for 9/11. Even though hundreds of Afghan people assisted our soldiers, we have learned very little about them. This webinar features three panelists (see below) who will explain some of the Afghan history, culture and resettlement.

Advance registration is required to participate in the Zoom webinar.

Register Here

Sponsored by Appleton Public Library, Friends of Appleton Public Library, Fox Valley Islamic Society, ESTHER, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, League of Women Voters of Appleton, World Relief Fox Valley.

Help spread the word — download and share the attached flier.

Sisters Rising - Film Showing & Discussion

Date: 
Thursday, November 18, 2021 - 6:30pm
Location: 
First Congregational UCC, 724 E South River St, Appleton (River Room)

Please join us to view and discuss Sisters Rising. This documentary is an urgent call to action, a stunning portrait of women acting in solidarity, and a demand for tribal sovereignty and self-determination as the necessary step towards ending violence against Indigenous women in the United States.

The film follows six women who refuse to let this pattern of violence continue in the shadows: a tribal cop in the midst of the North Dakota oil boom, an attorney fighting to overturn restrictions on tribal sovereignty, a teacher of Indigenous women’s self-defense, grassroots advocates working to influence legislative change, and the author of the first anti-sex trafficking code to be introduced to a reservation’s tribal court. Their stories shine an unflinching light on righting injustice on both individual and systemic levels.

Discussion will follow, led by Cecilia LaPointe of the Native Justice Coalition.

No charge. All are welcome. This is an indoor, in-person event. Participants are asked to follow COVID-safe protocols, including masking and maintaining social distance. Donations will be accepted at the event for the work of the Native Justice Coalition.

Please register in advance:

Register Now

Sponsored by ESTHER, Native Justice Coalition, and First Congregational UCC, Appleton

American Indian Studies in Wisconsin: A Conversation

Date: 
Thursday, December 2, 2021 - 9:00am
Location: 
Zoom Meeting

David J. O’ConnorJoin ESTHER’s Equity and Racial Justice Committee for a public conversation (on Zoom) with David J. O’Connor, American Indian Studies Consultant at the Wisconsin DPI. He consults with and supports school districts in providing instruction on the history, culture and tribal sovereignty of Wisconsin’s American Indian nations and tribal communities, and about the education of Native American students under Wisconsin’s Act 31.

The conversation will occur on Zoom, and advance registration is required.  The Zoom link will be sent to registrants before the meeting.

Register Now

DPI WI LogoDavid is originally from and is a member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (Ojibwe) in northern Wisconsin. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin with both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, he join the DPI staff in 2012. In October 2021, O’Connor received the National Indian Education Association’s (NIEA) Educator of the Year award at the organization’s 52nd Annual Convention and Trade Show in Omaha, Nebraska. The organization presented the award to O’Connor for his work in changing the landscape for all students, with an emphasis on Native American studies and education, in Wisconsin and across the Midwest.

ESTHER February 6 Banquet Cancelled

WHAT?! IT’S NOT HAPPENING?

Our concern for the health and safety of our community along with the year-end sale of Liberty Hall (our venue) brought an end to plans for ESTHER’s Annual Banquet planned for February 6!

ESTHER’s Work Continues

Please support our continuing efforts to build community, share hope and stand for justice by making a financial contribution. Contributions in any amount are appreciated. Donations of $50 or more by Febuary 28 will receive a copy of The Gift of Our Wounds, by Pardeep Kaleka (our intended keynote speaker) and co-author Arno Michaelis, along with a printed copy of ESTHER’s 2022 Yearbook.

Contribute Now

We are planning a fall gathering, to be held outdoors on September 15, featuring Pardeep Kaleka. Stay tuned for details.

Thank you for your patience during these changing times and for your steadfast support of ESTHER.

 

Fall Gathering

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Date: 
Thursday, September 15, 2022 - 4:30pm - 7:30pm
Location: 
Jefferson Park, 989 Kargus Dr, Menasha

ESTHER Fall Gathering: September 15

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FALL GATHERING

ESTHER is celebrating 18 Years
Building Community, Sharing Hope, Standing for Justice

Thursday, September 15, 2022
Social 4:30-5:00 Dinner 5:00-6:00 Program Following
Jefferson Park, 989 Kargus Drive, Menasha

“Bridging Our Differences”

Keynote speaker Pardeep Kaleka
Author and CEO of Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee 

***NOTE THIS CHANGE IN OUR PROGRAM:  Our guest speaker Pardeep Paleka will not be able to attend our event in person due to an exciting and unexpected invitation from President Biden to speak at the White House on September 15 at a summit to help counter the effects of hate-fueled violence. But good news: Pardeep helped us come up with another plan. Fox City Flix will be showing the video of the address Pardeep had planned to share with us at our event on a giant inflatable outdoor screen. We will miss this opportunity to meet him in person, but are grateful for this plan.

$50 per person in person; $25 if attending via zoom. Registration deadline is September 10, 2022.

Register and optionally pay online: esther-foxvalley.org/fallgathering2022

Celebrate Diversity Fox Cities Annual Community Cookout

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Date: 
Saturday, August 13, 2022 - 11:00am - 3:00pm
Location: 
Jefferson Park, 989 Kargus Drive, Menasha



Enjoy food, entertainment, children's games, conversations, and more as we celebrate the broad spectrum of diversity in our communities.

Help Send Postcards to Voters

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Let’s get out the vote.

Help complete postcards to voters: Oct 13th

…because democracy needs all our voices.

Please note that Oct. 11 event has been canceled due to the hard work of people at Oshkosh ESTHER meeting on Oct.4.  You're welcome to register for Oct. 13.  We will easily meet our goal of 1,000 postcards.

You are invited to join us in non-partisan voter outreach as we write postcards to encourage Wisconsin citizens to vote in the upcoming election. We know how important it is for voters in this election to take the time to get informed about candidates and vote for officials who will protect both democracy and the issues which are at the heart of ESTHER’s work. We want to remind Wisconsin citizens that their voice and vote are vital to the future of Wisconsin, and this is a proven method of increasing turnout.

Here are the details. Please register and share the invite!

 

  • Thursday, Oct. 13th:  First Congregational UCC, 724 E. South River Street, Appleton WI  54915, 6-7:30, Includes pizza and beverage. RSVP at esther-foxvalley.org/postcardsoct13

Video: Fall Gathering 2022

Our Fall Gathering was a huge success. Thank you to all who helped make this possible, and all who participated. 

Anyone who would like to watch the video can find it online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jfM40AFFFY

Please enjoy and share your feedback. 

 

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