Building community, sharing hope, and standing for justice since 2004

Upcoming Events

Please join us for any of these upcoming ESTHER and related events!

  • To learn more about a particular event, click on its title
  • To see the complete ESTHER calendar in a new tab, click here
Monday, June 5, 2023 - 6:00pm - 7:30pm
 ESTHER Transformational Justice Task Force St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 140 South Green Bay Road, Neenah
Tuesday, June 6, 2023 - 4:30pm - 6:00pm
 Oshkosh ESTHER Task Force Zoom and Various Locations in Oshkosh
Tuesday, June 6, 2023 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
 EXPO/FREE Meeting Most Blessed Sacrament Church 448 High Avenue Oshkosh
Wednesday, June 7, 2023 - 10:00am - 11:30am
 ESTHER Transportation Task Force Zoom Meeting
Thursday, June 8, 2023 - 4:30pm - 6:00pm
 ESTHER Leadership Board Meeting Hybrid Meeting
more
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Outdoor Movie Night: Wakanda Forever

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Date: 
Friday, June 9, 2023 - 7:45pm
Location: 
Houdini Plaza, 111 W College Ave, Appleton

Join People of Progression, STAR, Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, Fox City Flix and the Appleton Public Library to celebrate the end of the school year.

Free Event

  • Friday, June 9, Houdini Plaza, Appleton
  • 7:45-8:30 pm - Community Activities
    • Fox Cities PAC Listening Session
    • Public Library Summer Programs
  • 8:45 pm - Outdoor Movie: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
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Reflections on the May 13 Blanket Exercise: Remembering (unforgetting) 450 years+ of Indigeneous History

Submitted by ckan516 on Thu, 06/01/2023 - 11:49am
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Indigenous Peoples’ Blanket Exercise

The Blanket Exercise acknowledges what has been buried by honoring the truth.

Blanket Exercise Participants“Opening our eyes and unforgetting the past” was the theme of the recent Blanket Exercise, designed to help participants understand how colonization of the land has impacted the people who lived here before Columbus and other settlers arrived.

On May 13 at First English Lutheran Church on Ballard Road, nearly 70 participants gathered for the Blanket Exercise to build understanding about our shared history as Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. Blankets arranged on the floor represented the land before the arrival of Europeans.  Everyone stepped onto blankets that represent the land, and took the role of the Indigenous peoples. As I listened to the history from pre-contact, treaty-making, colonization and resistance, I could see the people and the land disappear. At the end of the exercise only a few people remained on the blankets. Going through this visible history of eliminating people and stealing land was an intellectual and emotional experience.

13th Annual Appleton Juneteenth

Posted in
Date: 
Sunday, June 11, 2023 - 12:00pm - 5:00pm
Location: 
Jones Park, 301 W Lawrence St, Appleton

Be sure to stop by the ESTHER booth when you come!

African Heritage, Inc., Presents 13th Annual Appleton Juneteenth. Free Admission. Boost your digital skills.<br /> Covid 19 shots. $$$. Black health & wealth is dope! Destiny Child Experience. MC Keith L. Brown Mr. I'm Possible.<br /> Poet 22. Milwaukee African Drum and Dance. Afro Pop Music with Mimi. Comedian Kelly Kelly. 2023 Black Excellence Graduation.<br /> Children's Activies. Food. Music. Community Organizations, Retail Vendors, Black Greek-Letter Organizations. Stone of Hope.<br /> Sponsored by Kimberly-Clark, United Way, Wisconsin Public Radio, Sargento, Walmart, Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region,<br /> Get Boosted, Community First Credit Union.

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Community Living Room

Date: 
Wednesday, June 14, 2023 - 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Date: 
Wednesday, July 12, 2023 - 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Date: 
Wednesday, August 9, 2023 - 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: 
First Congregational U.C.C., 724 E South River St, Appleton

Presented in cooperation with Ebb & Flow Connections Cooperative and First Congregational United Church of Christ of Appleton.

The Community Living Room is a non-clinical, person-centered environment for people seeking social connection and emotional support.

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You Belong Block Party

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Date: 
Saturday, June 17, 2023 - 11:00am - 3:00pm
Location: 
Jefferson Park, 989 Kargus Dr, Menasha

Celebrating Volunteers & Diversity in Our Community

A community event by Volunteer Fox Cities & Celebrate Diversity Fox Cities

  • Live Entertainment
  • On-Site Volunteering
  • Food Trucks
  • Carnival Games
  • Communty Cookout
  • Family-Friendly Fun!

 

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Soliltary Confinement Cell Tour

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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

Indigenous Peoples Blanket Exercise

Posted in
Date: 
Saturday, May 13, 2023 - 9:00am - 2:00pm
Location: 
First English Lutheran Church, 6331 N. Ballard Road, Appleton

First English Lutheran Church’s Racial Equity Team, The Green Sanctuary Justice Action Team of the Fox Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, the Indigenous Peoples’ Allies Committee (IPAC) of the First Congregational United Church of Christ and ESTHER are proud to sponsor: 


Indigenous People’s Blanket Exercise

 

May 13, 9 am - 2 pm

First English Lutheran Church, 6331 N. Ballard Road, Appleton

The blanket exercise is a kind of simulation designed to help participants understand how colonization of the land we now know as the United States of America has impacted the people who lived here long before Columbus and other settlers arrived.

A traditional Talking Circle is included in the exercise to allow participants to debrief.

In addition to the exercise, a traditional indigenous meal will be served.

Register Here

Cost per person is $30, which includes the meal.
A no-cost registration option is also available thanks to the generosity of several sponsors.

See more on the Facebook event page.

Madison Action Day 2023

Posted in
Date: 
Thursday, April 27, 2023 (All day)
Location: 
State Capitol, Madison

Latest news for Madison Action Day 2023

BREAKING NEWS!!  This is the link to the booklet that outlines our values and recommendations for the state budget.  It is called Building the Beloved Community:   WISDOM Priorities for 2023-25. We will use this to prepare for our visits and leave a copy with each of our legislators.  Review the information and share with others.  And if you haven't already, be sure to register for Madison Action Day! 

Ride and Rally for Reform!

Ride . . . . .     the bus to Madison
Rally . . . . .    on the Capitol Steps
Relay . . . . .   your views and values to your legislators
Reignite . . .   your fire for justice!

Register Now: MAD2023 Registration cost is $25, + optional t-shirt order is $10.  Your bus ride is free!

We will gather at the Wisconsin Masonic Center, 301 Wisconsin Ave, Madison at 9:00 am and then make our way together to the Wisconsin State Capitol Building. Event in Madison ends at 3 pm.

ATTENTION:  
We still need more participants from the Fox Valley.  We have yet to fill our bus which can seat 48 people.

Let's come together, show up in Madison to share our values and budget priorities with our legislators.  We will be making recommendations regarding more funding for TAD, Driver's Licenses for undocumented residents, funding for lead abatement and expanding Badger Care. The morning plenary includes speakers to renew our energy and focus as we hear about costly reconciliation, radical inclusion, living for the seventh generation, and Brothertown. 

ESTHER is planning a zoom meeting on Wednesday, April 19 at 7:00 to help organize our district meetings. Zoom link is here This meeting will help us identify speaking roles in each legislative district and explain our budget recommendations that we will share with legislators. 

Questions:  Call the ESTHER office at 920-843-8083  or email at office@esther-foxvalley.org

Earth Day Rally & March and Lawrence University Earthfest

Date: 
Saturday, April 22, 2023 - 11:30am - 4:00pm
Location: 
Houdini Plaza: 111 W. College Avenue, Appleton and Lawrence University


Bring an earth related sign for the rally.  There will be many signs available also for your use. A very special fun feature at Lawrence University is Porky's Groove Machine will be performing from 1-2.

"On earth day we come together to speak with one voice.  We celebrate the Earth's gifts and draw attention to the work that needs to be done."  Terry Dawson, one of the event's organizers and chair of ESTHER's Environmental Justice Task Force.
These earth day activities will be held rain or shine.