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

Transformational Justice Campaign Launch

Date: 
Thursday, December 8, 2022 - 10:00am - 4:00pm
Location: 
Capitol Building and nearby, Madison, WI


Transformational Justice Campaign Launch

2023 and Beyond

State Capitol and nearby, Madison, WI

Register at https://bit.ly/transformationaljusticelaunch

Email scompanik@yahoo.com if you are interested in carpooling to Madison.

Watch recorded video of the first hour of the program here
Sponsored by WISDOM, FREE and EXPO

Program

10 - 11 AM
Public presentation at the North Hearing Room in the State Capitol featuring remarks on Solitary Confinement, TAD, Old Law Parole, and Post-release Issues. Video of this is segment is available here.
1-2 PM
Start of Transformational Justice Convening: Welcome, Reflection, Icebreaker
11 AM - 12 PM
Drop Lit at Legislative offices and the Governor’s Office in the Stated Capitol
2-3 PM
Breakout Sessions by region: Madison Action Day and Joint Finance Committee hearings discussion
12 - 1 PM
Lunch at Grace Episcopal Church, 116 W Washington Ave, Madison
3-4 PM
- Breakout sessions: strategic planning for issue campaigns
- Closing remarks and calls to action


Help spread the word. Download and share the attached flier.

Support ESTHER through Alternative Gifts

package with red bowAre you a person who’s “hard to buy for” at holiday time or on birthdays or other special occasions? You already have all the shirts, ties, scarves, slippers, motorized shoe polishers or battery-powered wine openers you need. And you hate fruitcake.

More and more, people are turning to “alternative gifts” in situations like these.

ESTHER would love to be the recipient of alternative gifts made in your honor.

Please suggest to your friends and family that they visit esther-foxvalley.org/altgifts

This #GivingTuesday, Show Your Support for ESTHER

This #GivingTuesday
Show Your Support for ESTHER

Giving Tuesday Logo

If we work together, we can make things better! Help us build our financial strength as an organization, so that we can be a force for positive change in our community for years to come.

Will you consider supporting ESTHER this #GivingTuesday?

Yes, I’ll Help!

For 18 years, ESTHER members have been working tirelessly to tackle the challenges that face us in building a better world: challenges like racism, mass incarceration, childhood poverty, unfair immigration laws, gun violence, gerrymandering, voter suppression … and so many more. We do this by working WITH people who are most affected by these issues and building public support for common-sense approaches.

We raise up, train and support leaders in their communities. We advocate for systemic changes that make our community better for everyone who lives here. We educate the public through forums, films, speakers, and other events. We educate ourselves through intensive self-study and reflection.

This #GivingTuesday, help us stay strong financially, so we can keep on building community, sharing hope, and standing for justice in the coming months and years.

Yes, I’ll Help!

Thank you!

Introducing ESTHER’s new organizer, Katie Olson

Katie OlsonESTHER’s Leadership Board is proud to announce that Katie Olson has been named our new Lead Organizer. Katie brings energy, vision and experience to her work with ESTHER. And, in the words of Gary Crevier, president of ESTHER, her “passion and commitment to doing justice for the poor promises to make a huge impact in the Fox Valley.”

We invite you to read Katie’s own words explaining why this new work excites her and how she plans to approach being ESTHER’s lead organizer:

… To me, the most important part of my new role is to empower the members of ESTHER to be change-makers in our community. Knowing that ESTHER is already a force to be reckoned with, I plan to come in and really listen with my heart to everyone involved with the organization. I will take the time to learn why people are engaged with social justice and use that knowledge to connect with other community members….

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. 

 

Earth Day: Election Edition

Date: 
Saturday, October 22, 2022 - 12:30pm - 2:30pm
Location: 
Pierce Park Pavillion, 1035 W Prospect Ave, Appleton

EARTH DAY: ELECTION EDITION
Saturday, October 22, Pierce Park Pavilion, 1035 W. Prospect, Appleton WI

12:30 - 2:30 pm

MUSIC • KEYNOTE SPEAKER • MARCH

Because we need all our voices, all our votes to protect the earth.

Join with local organizations to make climate the hot topic this election by celebrating Earth Day in October.  The Earth deserves more than one day a year! See event flyer in the attachment.

  • Informational booths
  • Music from Christopher Gold
  • Keynote speaker Ligia Rivera on:
    The League of Women Voters of Appleton-Fox Cities’ two-year study on local climate impacts and adaptations for our communities’ climate resilience
  • A march across the Memorial Drive Bridge and back to Pierce Park.

This event is co-sponsored by the following nonpartisan local organizations:

Citizens’ Climate Lobby-Appleton/Fox Cities • ESTHER Environmental Justice Task Force •
League of Women Voters-Appleton/Fox Cities • PopEarth

Let’s make climate the hot topic this election! EARTH DAY: ELECTION EDITION Facebook Event page is here.

Help Send Postcards to Voters

Posted in

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

Lawrence University 7th Annual Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Date: 
Monday, October 10, 2022 - 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: 
Main Hall Green, 501 E College Ave, Appleton

Join the Lawrence and Appleton Communities in Celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Many cities and states across the United States have replaced the Columbus Day holiday with the official recognition of Indigenous People’s Day. Lawrence University welcomes the entire Fox Cities community to join in celebrating and learning about the many contributions of Indigenous people globally through song, dance, food, and local Native American guest speakers/leaders.

Main Hall Green (outside), 501 E College Avenue Appleton, WI.
Somerset (Warch Campus Center)

All ages welcome. Free and Open to the public.

Additional information on the Lawrence University Calendar.

This collaborative event is sponsored by LUNA (Lawrence University Native American Organization), AASD (Appleton Area School District), and the D&IC (Lawrence University Diversity and Intercultural Center).

Help ESTHER Get Out the Vote!

ESTHER has received funding to help with voter engagement and is looking to hire 10 canvassers. Each canvasser will be hired to work five hours a week for the months of September and October plus the first week of November. Our goal is to begin to establish relationships with residents of some specified neighborhoods and increase participation in voting. Canvassers will be paid $20 per hour (make door-to-door visits in evenings after 5 and/or weekend hours of your choice). The conversations will involve listening to voters’ concerns, answering voting questions, and helping people realize how important their vote is!

Training and helpful links to share with voters will be provided. Use of a smart phone will help assist voters. Canvassers can help voters become acquainted with myvote.wi.gov

Qualifications: Anyone age 16 or over with an interest in getting people out to vote in a non-partisan manner. We are looking for applicants who have enthusiasm for talking with people about how voting can strengthen democracy and how informed voters who show up to vote can select candidates to help shape a better future for us all.

Here’s how to apply:  Anyone interested in applying should send an email to davidhaas70@yahoo.com by September 15. Please include your name, best way to communicate with you (phone, text, email), a brief statement of why you would like to be one of ESTHER's canvassers, and any questions you may have.

ESTHER Fall Gathering: September 15

Posted in

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