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

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

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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

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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

Menominee Way Day

Date: 
Friday, September 16, 2022 - 10:00am - 3:30pm
Location: 
Menominee Sustainability Institute, N172 HWY 47/55, Keshena, WI

Learn Menominee Sustainable Ways that can be applied across ecosystems and cultures. Visit Sustainable Development Institute, Logging Museum, and Heritage Museum on the Menominee Reservation in Keshena, WI.

Lunch will be available for individual purchase at Farmers Market

Advance registration requested: https://esther-foxvalley.org/menomineeway

Lights of Hope: 4th Annual WI Recovery, Celebration, and Memorial Walk

September 11, 2022: LIGHTS OF HOPE

The 4th Annual WI Recovery Celebration and Memorial Walk
Raise Awareness about Addiction, Celebrate Recovery and Help Those Impacted by Loss

City Park, 500 E. Franklin St, Appleton, WI.
Walk starting at 4:00pm.
$18 for adults and $10 for children under age 17. 

Local and National Speakers, Silent Auction, Recovery Resource Tables, Narcan Training
Subs and Water will be proved after the event
The fee includes a t-shirt, memorial sign and water. 

Please arrive no later than 3:30pm for registration and T-shirt pick up. 
Get signed up today Here


September 10: FREE Documentary Screening of Tipping the Pain Scale

Fox Valley Technical College, 1825 Bluemound Drive, Appleton
Room 170 ABC Parking Lot, North Entrance 16
3:00 Viewing the Film
5:00 PM Panel with Joseph Green, Travis Sacket, Bev Kelley-Miller, Patrick Danforth

 

Online Organizer Training hosted by WISDOM

Date: 
Thursday, August 25, 2022 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Date: 
Thursday, September 1, 2022 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Date: 
Thursday, September 8, 2022 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Date: 
Thursday, September 15, 2022 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Date: 
Thursday, September 22, 2022 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Location: 
Zoom

WISDOM is hosting a 5-Week Online Organizer Training starting on August 25 and continuing for five Thursday evenings from 6:30-8:00 pm.

The course covers the basics of the kind of community organizing WISDOM affiliates (including ESTHER) do. We'll talk about the “Attitudes and Disciplines” of Organizing, One-on-Ones, Issues and Actions, Effective Meetings and Team-building. Past attendees have found these sessions to be very helpful and energizing. They are good for anyone, including “veterans,” who may be looking for a refresher. (During breakout groups, they have a lot to share.)

Register Here

This training is especially helpful for people who are getting involved with a WISDOM affiliate but have not yet had a chance to go to Weeklong Training and would appreciate seeing the “big picture” of what we're trying to do. People from other justice-seeking organizations are also welcome to join in.

The training series is free of charge. We do ask that people register only if they are reasonably confident that they will be able to attend at least 4 of the 5 sessions.

Register Here

Strive to Thrive Week: August 22-26, 2022

Strive to Thrive Poster ImageImagine Fox Cities is an inclusive community-wide initiative created to be intentional about shaping the future of the Fox Cities when it comes to well-being.

During Strive to Thrive Week August 22-26, Imagine Fox Cities will once again unite the Fox Cities to help advance the four pillars of the vision, which are:

  • Kids get off to a great start to life
  • An economy that works for all
  • Thriving natural and cultural spaces that bring us together
  • Everyone feels like they belong

From hands-on workshops to local events and guided site visits of places that connect us, join us in showing up for one another.

Find a detailed schedule and registration links on the Imagine Fox Cities website at https://imaginefoxcities.com/thrive