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

Environmental Justice Task Force Hosts a Cookout

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Date: 
Thursday, August 22, 2024 - 4:30pm - 7:00pm
Location: 
Telulah Park Pavilion, 1300 E. Newberry, Appleton

Here’s another event celebrating ESTHER’s 20th Anniversary

All are invited to join us in a meal and social gathering sponsored by ESTHER’s Environmental Justice Task Force at Telulah Park in Appleton.

Includes entertainment by Karma’s Mailbox Band, playground equipment for kids and kids games, networking opportunities among environmental action and environmental justice groups.

Cost: $15 for adults; kids under 12 free.

Featured speaker: Sharon Cook, Development Director, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Sharon will speak about challenges to the Northeast Wisconsin ecosystem, why Fox-Wolf addresses them at a watershed level, and how the alliance builds partnerships with diverse stakeholders.

Register here

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Wisconsin Primary Election

Date: 
Tuesday, August 13, 2024 (All day)
Location: 
https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/Find-My-Polling-Place

Issues and candidates before the Wisconsin electorate in August 2024 include:

  • 2024 primary election for contested US and Wisconsin offices and seats
  • Referendums on Constitutional Amendments

    These amendments would put Wisconsin’s share of federal funds, including the distribution of emergency funds, at risk.

    *****Go here *** to learn from the WI League of Women Voter's research why you should vote “no” to both of these Constitutional Amendments. These constitutional amendments are confusing and harmful. Learn what’s at stake.

  • Find your polling place:
    https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/Find-My-Polling-Place
  • Get information on statewide issues
    (Wisconsin League of Women Voters)
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Better Together BBQ

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Classical Guitar Concert featuring Ivan Resendiz

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Date: 
Saturday, July 27, 2024 - 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: 
Fox Valley UU Fellowship, 2600 E Phillip Ln, Appleton

Join us for this special event in celebration of ESTHER’s 20th anniversary,
hosted by the Immigration Task Force

Register at esther-foxvalley.org/concert0724

Originally from Mexico City, Ivan Resendiz began his study of classical guitar at age 16 at La Escuela Superior de Musica del Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes in Mexico with teacher Alejandro Mendez. Mr. Resendiz has participated in numerous national and International guitar competitions alike, receiving top prizes in more than 13 competitions including South Carolina Guitar Competition and Boston Guitar Fest, to name a few. Ivan has performed in Mexico, France, Spain, Europe and the U.S. in festivals including Musica en Compostela in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, and Festival del Museo Nacional del Virreinato in Mexico. In 2011, Resendiz founded the first Latin American Guitar Festival in Chicago. The festival offers concerts, workshops and conferences to the Latin American Community in Chicago and continues to achieve its goal of bringing classical music to the immigrant community of Chicago.

No charge. Suggested donation: $10.00. Dessert reception to follow.

Register at esther-foxvalley.org/concert0724

Resendiz is the son-in-law of ESTHER leader Connie Raether. For a glimpse of Resendiz’s repertoire and talent, visit this YouTube link.

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Rally for Democracy

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Date: 
Sunday, July 14, 2024 - 2:00pm - 6:00pm
Location: 
Helene Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts, 2419 E Kenwood Blvd, Milwaukee

Don’t miss Rally for Democracy, a part of MICAH’s “We All Belong” campaign! Hear local and national speakers! Help achieve a more inclusive and democratic society.

This rally will take place on Sunday, July 14th, at the Helene Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts at 2419 E. Kenwood Blvd. Milwaukee, WI 53211. Doors open at 1:00; event runs from 2:00-6:00. National and local speakers. Livestream available for those who cannot attend in person.

Tickets: General Admission tickets (first-come, first-served) are $5. Purchase tickets here in advance

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More community support needed for people who have no shelter. June 6, 2024 ESTHER Press Conference

Here is June 7th story from Civic Media about the press conference  

Advocacy groups say Oshkosh homeless told to “Move Along.”

by Lisa M. Hale from Civic Media

OSHKOSH, WI – (WISS) – Shelters are full. Housing is unaffordable. And the Oshkosh homeless do not have a safe place to sleep. Law enforcement ask the community to “Move along,” prompting action from social justice groups, churches, and community advocates.

First Presbyterian Church in Oshkosh recently offered a safe space for the homeless, said Pastor Deb Swets.  However, the City of Oshkosh told the church it was violating a zoning code by operating an “unauthorized campground.” 

“First Presbyterian Church is more than willing to be fined to do what is right in providing temporary refuge for people with nowhere else to go,” said Swets during a press conference. “We believe that every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect no matter their circumstances. And we believe that we are called to help care, especially for the most vulnerable people in our community.”

Jennifer Verderami, a housing advocate with social justice organization ESTHER said there has been an increased police presence outside the Orrin King building on Algoma in Oshkosh, used for years as a safe space for Winnebago County’s homeless. She said law enforcement demands the unhoused to “move along.”  The Orrin King building has grates that have provided a safe, dry, warm area for the unhoused to sleep until recently.   

   Click below on "read more" to see the rest of the news story.

The Health of Lake Winnebago

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Date: 
Tuesday, June 25, 2024 - 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Location: 
Zoom meeting

 ESTHER Environmental Justice Task Force is hosting a public meeting via Zoom
June 25 2024, 7:00pm

See zoom link at end of story. . .

Featured speaker: Dr. Bart T. De Stasio Professor of Biological Studies at Lawrence University 

“The Health of Lake Winnebago”

What do 3.4% of Wisconsin residents have in common?
We all get our drinking water from Lake Winnebago.


So how healthy is Lake Winnebago?
For the answer to this and other questions about Lake Winnebago,
join ESTHER’s Environmental Justice Taskforce Zoom meeting on June 25

 Dr. De Stasio is an expert on fresh-water environments. After his presentation there will be time for your questions.
Join us on from your den, office or living room. Remember “Water is Life”

Zoom link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84878940801?pwd=S3RVOWozYi9CUk1oMFJHdlRUSDNvZz09    

The Black Experience: Family

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Date: 
Saturday, June 1, 2024 - 12:00pm - 3:00pm
Location: 
116 E Wisconsin Ave, Appleton

The Black Experience: Family

Save the Date!

NOTE THE NEW LOCATION - this event has been moved to Appleton

Learn about some of the strong traditions and characteristics of some Black families. Although no one family is identical to any other, there are similarities.

Free Admission • Donations Accepted

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How I Lost BadgerCare and What Happened Next

Submitted by jfrohn on Wed, 03/13/2024 - 2:13pm
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Testimony given by Joyce Frohn at the Poor People’s Campaign March in Madison, WI, on March 2, 2024. Thank you, Joyce, for sharing your testimony with ESTHER in this blog post.

2024 Poor People’s March Wisconsin

In December of 2023, I knew that I might be losing BadgerCare.

I should first explain why I was on BadgerCare. My husband is on disability. He has an auto-immune disease that makes him not only unable to work but also in pain almost all the time. I am also a caregiver for my elderly parents who are in senior living and can’t move to assisted living until financial matters beyond my control are finished. Since I need to make sure they take their pills twice a day, I can’t take most jobs. I’m trying to make a living as a freelance writer, but that income is neither sufficient nor predictable.

During the pandemic, both my college student daughter and I could stay on BadgerCare. But as the post-pandemic “unwinding” began we were both worried. What pushed me over the limit was one simple thing: my husband’s disability check was increased.

That increase—$200 a month—wasn’t enough to cover the house taxes that went up, the fuel bill that went up or even the grocery bill that went up. But it was enough to kick me off BadgerCare.

ESTHER’s 2023 Yearbook Available for Viewing/Download

ESTHER 2023 Yearbook CoverESTHER’s 2023-24 Yearbook is now available for online viewing or download, along with a limited number of printed copies. The book was produced under the editorial leadership of ESTHER member Jill Smith with significant contributions from other ESTHER volunteers and ESTHER communications coordinator Kayla Nessmann.

Inside you’ll find…

  • descriptions of ESTHER’s goals, values and accomplishments, including the work of each of its task forces and work groups
  • a tribute in memory of Jill Smith, for whom the yearbook was a labor of love
  • many photographs
  • profiles of our annual award winners
  • feature essays about ESTHER people making a difference in the Fox Valley and beyond.

The yearbook also contains notices and ads sponsored by many friends of ESTHER in business, non-profit, and government circles.

The 2023-24 yearbook is available online now for you to review, or to download and read at your leisure (PDF). Click on the cover image (to the left), or use the button below to check it out.

View ESTHER Yearbook

We are enormously grateful to our financial sponsors, who are listed in the book. Please show your appreciation for their support of ESTHER by patronizing them or participating in events they sponsor.

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