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

Introduction to Community Organizing

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Date: 
Wednesday, April 13, 2022 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Date: 
Wednesday, April 20, 2022 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Date: 
Wednesday, April 27, 2022 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Date: 
Wednesday, May 4, 2022 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Date: 
Wednesday, May 11, 2022 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Location: 
Zoom Meeting

Wisdom Wisconsin will be holding a 5 week Zoom series from April 13-May 11 on Introduction to Community Organizing. This is open to everybody and is a great way to learn about organizing.

 

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ESTHER Leadership Award Winners 2021-22

Each year at its banquet, ESTHER traditionally announces recipients of two leadership awards, one to an individual and the other to an organization in the community. In both cases, the awards recognize significant positive impact on the greater Fox Valley in building community, sharing hope and standing for justice. Even though ESTHER did not hold a banquet in 2021, and our planned February 2022 gathering had to be cancelled, we are pleased to recognize our award recipients:

Individual Leadership Award:

Sara Companik

Community Leadership Award:

People of Progression

 

MMIW2GS Rally Live-Stream Video Available

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Waking Women Healing Institute, Inc. and ESTHER held an important event in Houdini Plaza in Appleton on February 14, bringing awareness to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Girls and 2-Spirits (MMIWG2S). We heard from family members and leaders who are working to create change and healing.

Thank you to everybody who showed up on this cold day to show support. If you were not able to attend and are interested, Waking Women Healing Institute Inc. live-streamed the event from Houdini Plaza and from other locations. You can watch the recording, which is available on Facebook:

 

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Thoughts on “Standing Together, Speaking Out for MMIWG2S, Land & Water”

Submitted by knessmann on Tue, 02/08/2022 - 10:46am
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—By Rick Kitchen

“Standing Together, Speaking Out for MMIWG2S, Land & Water” is the name for our upcoming 3rd annual vigil in Houdini Plaza in downtown Appleton on February 14th. If you are interested in this hybrid (live and live-streamed) event, here is the ESTHER link: Standing Together, Speaking Out for MMIWG2S, Land & Water. The vigil is co-hosted by Kristin Welch’s Waking Women Healing Institute (WWHI) and ESTHER.

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2 Spirits (MMIWG2S) is an epidemic across North America, which is known as Turtle Island to Indigenous people. Indigenous people want an end to molestation, rape, trafficking, and murder. American Indians and Alaskan Natives are 2.5x as likely to experience violent crimes and at least 2x more likely to experience rape or sexual assault crimes compared to all other races. In the United States and Canada, an average of 40% of the women who were victims of sex trafficking identified as American Indian or Alaskan Native. About 85% of Indigenous women experience violence in their lifetime and more than 55% of Indigenous women experience sexual violence in their lifetime.

Standing Together, Speaking Out for MMIWG2S, Land & Water

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Date: 
Monday, February 14, 2022 - 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Location: 
Houdini Plaza, 111 W College Ave, Appleton + Facebook Livestream

Plan to Attend This Powerful Event

Live at Houdini Plaza in downtown Appleton, and live-streamed on Facebook at @wakingwomenhealing and @esther.foxvalley.

Co-sponsored by ESTHER and Waking Women Healing Institute.

This recent ESTHER blog post describes the epidemic of Murdered & Missing Indigenous Women, Girls and 2-Spirits in this region and shares background on ESTHER’s efforts to be in solidarity with indigenous peoples on this issue and others.

More information on the February 14 rally at wakingwomenhealingint.org

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BIPOC Community Organizer

 

WELCOME to our additional Organizer

We are excited to announce the latest addition to our team, Miracle Wheeler. She joined us in mid-February. We have the privilege of having the funds to offer this as a 6 month opportunity. Our hopes are to find additional funding to make this a permanent position. 

 

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Climate Change From a Human and Religious Perspective

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Date: 
Tuesday, March 8, 2022 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Date: 
Tuesday, March 15, 2022 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Date: 
Tuesday, March 22, 2022 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Date: 
Tuesday, March 29, 2022 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
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Tuesday, April 5, 2022 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Date: 
Tuesday, April 12, 2022 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Location: 
Zoom Meeting

ESTHER’s Envirnomental Justice Task Force is pleased to bring this study series to your attention. St. Bernard Parish is a partner with ESTHER in social justice work.

The St. Bernard Social Justice Committee of Appleton is pleased to present a Zoom study of climate change this Lent. We will be using the book How to Avoid a Climate Disaster by Bill Gates, along with the Laudato Si encyclical and several other articles and sources. The program will be facilitated by Dr. Robert Hausserman. Meetings will be held on Tuesdays during Lent, from March 8 thru April 12 at 6:30 to 8:00 PM. Please join us in discussing this very important topic.

To register or for more information please contact Dr Robert Hausserman at rlhausserman@hotmail.com or Kathie Gribble at kathg109@aol.com.

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Transit Equity Day

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February 4 is Transit Equity Day

Each February 4th we celebrate civil rights and transportation equity icon Rosa Parks. Her birthday, recently honored as Transit Equity Day, reminds us that transportation is essential to our community. Her efforts, along with those of so many others, remind us of the need for a continued commitment to freedom of mobility for all and access to quality public transportation services.

Governor Evers and several Fox Cities mayors have each shared a proclamation declaring Feb. 4 as Transit Equity Day. See attachments.

How do we build transportation equity?

Your Community, Your Voice

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Date: 
Thursday, February 8, 2024 - 4:30pm - 6:00pm
Location: 
First Congregational United Church of Christ, 724 E. South River St. Appleton

Thursday, February 8, 2024, 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 724 E. South River Street, Appleton.
                                       Register here.

ESTHER wants to hear about what matters to YOU in our community. We value your life experiences and your voice.  

  • What have you observed or experienced that is making it difficult for you or others to thrive in our community?
  • What needs to happen? (next steps)  
  • How can we work together?

There will be a group discussion and smaller conversations. We hope you can be there for most of the meeting, but stop in when you can get here.  And come eat free pizza with us! 

Good news! We can provide free childcare if we find some of you would like to make use of it for your kids.  The registration link (above) will let us know you are coming, ask you to answer a few other questions including dietary restrictions, and if you plan to bring children with you, how many and what are their ages.

This discussion will help ESTHER with decisions about our next steps and hopefully can be helpful to other groups too!!  HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

Help ESTHER Double Its Impact

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Help ESTHER Double Its Impact!

Prison Reform Vigil at Governor’s Mansion

With only a few days left in 2023, time is running out for ESTHER to claim a $5,000 challenge grant that can double new or increased contributions received before December 31.

We’re very close to claiming the entire $5,000 challenge, thanks to generous support from so many friends of ESTHER. But we’re not there yet!

Your gift today can help put us over the top. Will you consider financial support of ESTHER before midnight Sunday, December 31?

Yes, I'll Help!

In these times, when there are so many negative challenges, it’s wonderful to have this positive challenge—an opportunity to help make ESTHER stronger for the work of the future.

For 19 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, lack of adequate public transportation … and so many more. We tackle these challenges by working WITH people who are most affected by them. 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.

Will you help us do more, by responding by December 31 to this challenge grant opportunity

Yes, I'll Help!