What are Task Forces?
Task forces are action groups that plan and implement activities and events to evoke positive change in our community. Issues we address arise from the voices of those in our community and are supported by our member congregations. If you have interest and wish to become involved with our task forces, please send us a message using the contact form for each task force (links below), or give us a call at 920-843-8083. For dates and locations of task force meetings, including unusual meeting times and locations, see our calendar.
Transformational Justice Task Force
The ESTHER Transformational Justice Task Force strives to reduce the number of people in county jails and state prisons by
- Supporting safe community alternatives
- Encouraging humane treatment of people
- Supporting individuals as they return to their communities
“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.”
Place: St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 140 S. Green Bay Rd., Neenah. Leave us a message at esther-foxvalley.org/prtf for questions or to be added to the mailing list.
Time: 6:00 PM on the First Monday of each month
ESTHER participates in the statewide ROC (Restore Our Communities) Wisconsin campaign. The campaign is a movement of people of faith calling for change in the Wisconsin incarcerating system.
For more information on the statewide ROC Wisconsin work, click here: www.rocwisconsin.org
Oshkosh ESTHER Task Force
Our Oshkosh ESTHER Task Force meets monthly to address issues of social injustice that uniquely impact the Oshkosh area. Currently we are working to understand the lack of affordable housing in Oshkosh and Winnebago County. Anyone who is interested in the issues we focus on is welcome. Our task force meeting doors are always open!
Place: Meeting in person and via Zoom. For Zoom link and meeting location, contact Task Force Chair Jennifer Considine by leaving a message at esther-foxvalley.org/oetf.
Time: 4:30 PM on the First Tuesday of each month
Mental Health Task Force
Monthly meeting discussing issues and working for change related to mental health services, criminal legal system, child welfare, and related topics.
Place: Online meeting via Zoom. Leave us a message at esther-foxvalley.org/mhtf for Zoom link or questions
Time: 6:00 PM on the second Monday of each month
Immigration Task Force
This task force works to address issues related to immigration, specifically those affecting the Latino/a population in the Valley. In addition to national comprehensive immigration reform, our task force is working locally in two areas: the allowance for Wisconsin state driver’s certificates for resident undocumented workers, and in-state tuition rates for all residents of Wisconsin meeting the academic guidelines for acceptance into our state's public universities, colleges and technical schools. ESTHER member Casa Esther, a Catholic Worker House in Omro, is an outreach center for Latinos in the Appleton and Oshkosh/Omro areas.
Place: Online meeting via Zoom. Leave us a message at esther-foxvalley.org/itf for Zoom link or questions
Time: 6:30 PM on the first Wednesday of each month
Transportation Task Force
Our Transportation Task Force is working to address issues that have an impact on the transit systems serving the greater Fox Valley region. Public transit connects people to jobs, education, training, and medical services. An accessible transit system also connects residents with family and friends, and allows riders to remain engaged and active in their community.
Join us if you are interested in connecting with transit riders, local officials, and policy makers to work towards a strong, sustainable, dependable transportation network in the Fox Valley - one that will serve all residents and visitors fairly and well.
Place: Online meeting via Zoom. Leave us a message at esther-foxvalley.org/pttf for Zoom link or questions
Time: 6:30 PM on the third Tuesday of each month
Environmental Justice Task Force
A group of concerned citizens dedicated to reversing the environmental decline of our planet and committed to addressing issues of injustice arising from climate change.
Place: Online meeting via Zoom. Leave us a message at esther-foxvalley.org/ejtf for Zoom link or questions
Time: 7:00 PM on the fourth Tuesday of each month
