Building Bridges:

A Mural Project

Click Here for Flyer

If you could paint just one message to your community, what would it say?

We are inviting high school and college students to participate in a mural project that will work to build bridges between immigrant and non-immigrant youth. There will be two relationship building gatherings for students to get to know each other (lunch included). Students will meet to design the mural in September and will paint the mural design in September through October. Students can paint as their schedule allows. This will be a large traveling mural, all painting will be done indoors.

LOCATION: Emmanuel United Methodist Church, 740 East College Avenue, Appleton. Bridging Gatherings and painting will be done at this location. (See Mural Timeline)

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Stephanie Gyldenvand, (920) 216-0891, esther.foxvalley@gmail.com. There is no cost to participate. Adult advisors will be present for all meetings and painting sessions.

Mural Timeline:

August 6th – 10:00-1:00, Bridging Gathering I

August 20th – 10:00-1:00, Bridging Gathering II

September & October – Plan design, and paint mural

November – Unveiling event and display of mural at community events

This mural project is sponsored by LUNA, a youth group that works to strengthen leadership skills, build positive relationships, and addresses issues that impact Latino youth. LUNA is a project of ESTHER, an interfaith nonprofit that works to impact issues of poverty and injustice in the greater Fox Valley area.

 New location of Joint Finance Committee Hearing - Neenah!

10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
April 13, 2011
Pickard Auditorium, Neenah High School

Speak out for a just state budget! 

We will all be impacted by the proposed state budget.  Those that will sacrifice the most are those that are the most vulnerable in our midst.  The poor and working low-income families, students, seniors, immigrants, and those in need of health care will see dramatic cuts to service.  At a time where we need a focus on jobs to increase the quality of life, we call for our state legislature to consider first the quality of life for the those with the most to lose. 

If you can’t attend, please consider making a written statement (click here) for us to give to the committee.  To read WISDOM's statement on the budget, click here and visit the website Pray for Justice in Wisconsin.

Click on link above to watch an interview of ESTHER leader Penny Robinson during the Joint Finance Committee hearing in Stevens Point held on April 8th.

Let Your Voice Be Heard

Joint Finance Committee Budget Hearings April 7 in Stevens Point!

Tell the Committee That the Budget Must Support Social Justice!

When: Thursday, April 7 at 10:00 AM – SAVE THIS DATE

Where: The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Lee Dreyfus Center

Read more…

Gwen was installed in January 2011 as President of ESTHER. She is the third person to serve in that capacity, following Rev. Joel Schlachtenhaufen and Rev. Maynard Beemer.  Gwen is recognized for her deep faith, courage, and strength in leadership. She has worked with enthusiasm and determination in her congregation, the community, and ESTHER. We are pleased to have her as our new president, and we look forward to benefiting from her leadership.

 Click here to download and print flyer

Click for a printable flyer or to register online.

WISCONSIN DOES NOT NEED TO STRIP WORKERS

OF THEIR RIGHTS TO SOLVE ITS BUDGET PROBLEMS

WISDOM, the interfaith network of congregation-based justice organizations, calls on Governor Walker and the Wisconsin legislature to abandon any plans to undermine or remove the collective bargaining rights of workers.

Our religious traditions speak clearly about the fundamental right of workers in the public and private sectors to be organized into unions which can defend their interests.  We are pleased to see that Methodist Bishop Lee, Catholic Archbishop Listecki, Rabbi Biatch and ELCA Bishop Burnside are among those who have spoken out against the radical policy changes being proposed in the “budget repair” process, which would take away long-established rights from many Wisconsin workers.