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Transformational Justice

Transformational Justice Task Force

Below are some actions and events that move us toward our goal of treatment instead of prison related to drug and alcohol offenses for non-violent offenders.  We are working to gain additional funding to support treatment and alternatives to incarceration. Unless otherwise noted, events are free and open to the public.

For more information, contact the chair, Lisa Hanneman.

ESTHER Transformational Justice Task Force

Date: 
Wednesday, March 13, 2024 - 2:00pm
Location: 
St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 140 South Green Bay Road, Neenah

Meets hybrid first Monday of each month from 6:00-7:30 pm. (The September meeting is held on the second Monday.)

Leave us a message at https://esther-foxvalley.org/tjtf with questions or to be added to the mailing list.

“We can’t punish people into being healthy. We need for families to stay intact and for offenders to be responsible to their communities. We are all better off when people can be healed and made whole through these effective programs that bring accountability to the offender and to the community. Alternative treatment programs work better than incarceration.”

Zoom option: Click HERE

End the Lockdowns Community Forum - Green Bay

Date: 
Thursday, March 7, 2024 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: 
Mulva Library St. Norbert College 400 3rd Street De Pere WI 54115

WISDOM and Partners Host End the Lockdowns Community Forum in Green Bay

End the Lockdowns Community Forum flierWISDOM, ESTHER and JOSHUA host End The Lockdowns Community Forum on Thursday, February 22, 2024 from 6:00-8:00PM at St. Norbert College (Mulva Library) 400 3rd Street, De Pere, WI 54115.

Join us to meet Green Bay elected officials, learn about WISDOM’s End the Lockdowns Campaign and provide input on transformational justice priorities in Wisconsin. This event follows successful events in Milwaukee and Madison with elected officials.

WISDOM’s End the Lockdowns Campaign seeks to:

  • Raise awareness on the detrimental effects of lockdowns to people who are incarcerated in Wisconsin’s prisons and their loved ones.
  • Build build grassroots support urging Governor Tony Evers to use his authority to take action.
  • Close prisons, reduce the prison population, and reinvest spending into community resources that decrease crime and strengthen communities.

Register to attend the event in advance at https://bit.ly/greenbayendthelockdowns. If you would like to participate in car-pooling from the Fox Cities to attend this event, please leave a message at https://esther-foxvalley.org/tjtf.

EXPO/FREE Meeting

Date: 
Tuesday, January 2, 2024 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Date: 
Tuesday, February 6, 2024 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Date: 
Tuesday, March 5, 2024 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Date: 
Tuesday, April 2, 2024 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Date: 
Tuesday, May 7, 2024 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Date: 
Tuesday, June 4, 2024 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Date: 
Tuesday, July 2, 2024 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Date: 
Tuesday, August 6, 2024 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Date: 
Tuesday, September 3, 2024 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Date: 
Tuesday, October 1, 2024 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
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Tuesday, November 5, 2024 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Date: 
Tuesday, December 3, 2024 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Location: 
Most Blessed Sacrament Church 448 High Avenue Oshkosh

We will be serving food & beverage, and child supervision is available for school-age children. In addition, rides can be arranged. All are welcome! Come join us and let's reimagine justice in Winnebago County!

If you have any questions, contact Marianne Oleson at marianne@expowisconsin.org

ESTHER Transformational Justice Task Force

Date: 
Monday, May 6, 2024 - 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Date: 
Monday, June 3, 2024 - 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Date: 
Monday, July 1, 2024 - 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Date: 
Monday, August 5, 2024 - 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Date: 
Monday, September 9, 2024 - 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Date: 
Monday, October 7, 2024 - 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Date: 
Monday, November 4, 2024 - 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Date: 
Monday, December 2, 2024 - 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Location: 
St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 140 South Green Bay Road, Neenah

Meets hybrid first Monday of each month from 6:00-7:30 pm. (The September meeting is held on the second Monday.)

Leave us a message at https://esther-foxvalley.org/tjtf with questions or to be added to the mailing list.

“We can’t punish people into being healthy. We need for families to stay intact and for offenders to be responsible to their communities. We are all better off when people can be healed and made whole through these effective programs that bring accountability to the offender and to the community. Alternative treatment programs work better than incarceration.”

Zoom option: Click HERE

Circles of Support Can Help

Community Circles of SupportHelping individuals successfully return to the community after incarceration in prison or jail is the mission of Circles of Support.* Through weekly meetings or individual contacts, volunteers from all walks of life meet with men and women who have been incarcerated to provide support and help to them in dealing with everyday challenges they face in returning to the community. The meetings provide a positive, non-judgmental environment which focusses on individual strengths and the future.

Information about community resources is provided by the participants and volunteers.  Discussions about challenges focus on problem-solving and helping individuals explore effective options that might work for them. Participation is voluntary and there is no cost. Success is celebrated.

A variety of meeting times and places are available in Green Bay, Appleton, Oshkosh, and Neenah-Menasha. Participants describe the groups as a “caring family environment,” a place to get useful community resource information, and a non-judgmental, trusting and respectful setting that gives them hope.

Anyone interested in being involved as a participant or volunteer can connect by calling (920) 840-2918 or emailing circlescanhelp@gmail.com.  A volunteer will contact you personally to answer any questions.


*ESTHER is the fiscal sponsor of Circles of Support.

Film Screening: The Invisible Class

Date: 
Wednesday, July 19, 2023 - 6:00pm
Location: 
First Congregational Church, 137 Algoma Blvd, Oshkosh

Casa Esther Catholic Worker, ESTHER, Trinity Episcopal Church Oshkosh, and
First Congregational Church Oshkosh present
a screening of The Invisible Class.

The Invisible Class - Documentary FilmThis powerful film is about homelessness all across America, its criminalization and the devastating impacts of the loss of affordable housing. Mass homelessness in the United States didn’t always exist, so how did we get to where we are today?

The screening is free and open to the public. Cash and material donations will be collected (see more below).

Doors open at 5:30.

Talkback and refreshments to follow.

ESTHER Brings Solitary Confinement Cell Replica to Appleton

Special thanks to Fran Nelson for this report on the Transformational Justice Task Force’s Appleton event featuring a replica solitary confinement cell.

Talib Akbar with replica solitary confinement cell he builtESTHER’s Transformational Justice Task Force organized an educational event and public tour bringing an exact replica of a Solitary Confinement Cell to Appleton on May 11 and 12, 2023.  The replica was designed and built by Talib Akbar, a formerly incarcerated man, who has brought it to communnities around the state. This event was meant to increase awareness of the harm of solitary confinement in Wisconsin prisons.

In Appleton, Akbar explained to many citizens and public administrators the severe impact of prolonged isolation (used on both male and female prisoners), including the mentally ill. Akbar was placed in isolation ten different times—the longest was almost two years—during his 20 years in Wisconsin prisons. (More than 15 days in isolation has been defined as torture by the United Nations since 2011.)

Soliltary Confinement Cell Tour

Date: 
Thursday, May 11, 2023 - 10:00am - 6:00pm
Date: 
Friday, May 12, 2023 - 10:00am - 6:00pm
Location: 
St. Joseph Catholic Church, 404 W Lawrence St, Appleton

This event is on both Thursday, May 11 from 10 am - 6 pm and Friday, May 12 from 10 am - 6 pm
To schedule a group or class to experience the cell, contact us at 920-843-8083 or office@esther-foxvalley.org

EXPO/FREE Meeting

Date: 
Tuesday, January 3, 2023 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Date: 
Tuesday, February 7, 2023 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Date: 
Tuesday, March 7, 2023 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Date: 
Tuesday, April 4, 2023 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Date: 
Tuesday, May 2, 2023 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Date: 
Tuesday, June 6, 2023 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Date: 
Tuesday, July 4, 2023 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Date: 
Tuesday, August 1, 2023 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Date: 
Tuesday, September 5, 2023 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Date: 
Tuesday, October 3, 2023 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Date: 
Tuesday, November 7, 2023 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Date: 
Tuesday, December 5, 2023 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Location: 
Most Blessed Sacrament Church 448 High Avenue Oshkosh

We will be serving food & beverage, and child supervision is available for school-age children. In addition, rides can be arranged. All are welcome! Come join us and let's reimagine justice in Winnebago County!

If you have any questions, contact Marianne Oleson at marianne@expowisconsin.org

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