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Statement from ESTHER Religious Leaders Caucus

The ESTHER Religious Leaders Caucus met this morning, November 9, and agreed to issue the following statement regarding the anger, fear, tension and division that many people are feeling in light of our national elections:

Since ESTHER’s founding 12 years ago, we have been, and we intend to continue to be people of faith united by our passion for justice, commitment to community and a practice of hope. We stand together understanding that our lives and destinies are intertwined. We are committed to transforming our community by dissolving boundaries of race, creed, social and economic divides. We build power and act together, drawing courage and inspiration from our faith. We believe that God has called us to live, speak, and act courageously in accordance with our faith beliefs.

Introducing ESTHER's new organizer, Bill Van Lopik

Bill Van LopikESTHER's Leadership Board is proud to announce that Bill Van Lopik has been named our new Lead Organizer. Bill brings both vision and experience to his work with ESTHER. And, in the words of Fr. Joe Mattern, president of ESTHER, his “passion and commitment to doing justice for the poor promises to make a huge impact in the Fox Valley.”

We invite you to read Bill's own words explaining why this new work excites him and how he plans to approach being ESTHER's lead organizer:

… I have been so impressed with the history, mission and members of ESTHER who are committed to social justice and making our community an accepting place to live for all people. This is a movement that I am excited to be a part of and one that I feel that I can contribute to in a positive and substantive way. I come to this position with many experiences in my life that….

Building a Better Community Discussion - OSHKOSH - Potluck Supper

Date: 
Thursday, October 27, 2016 - 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Location: 
St. Andrew Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1100 Algoma Blvd., Oshkosh

Friends and family enjoying a meal togetherYou are invited to further explore Your Faith, Your Values, and What You’re Willing To Stand For. This is the third and concluding session of community discussions during 2016, led by ESTHER. (You’ll enjoy the event whether or not you were able to attend earlier sessions.)

Bring a dish to pass, and share dinner with the diverse Oshkosh community as we explore the many facets of individual beliefs.

Topics:

  • How does your faith manifest itself in your actions?
  • How do your values inform your choices?
  • What actions do you choose to grow yourself?
  • What responsibility do you have to family, friends, congregation and community?

For more information, contact Pastor Jewell at 920-235-6616

ESTHER's 12th Annual Banquet - November 13, 2016

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12th Anniversary Banquet: Speaking Truth to Power

Andy HallDee J. Hall

  • Sunday, November 13th - 5:00 PM
  • The Grand Meridian (2621 N. Oneida St.), Appleton
  • Keynote speakers: Dee J. Hall and Andy Hall, co-founders of the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism and WisconsinWatch.org

Join us for fellowship, a great silent auction, joyous music, a delicious meal, well deserved awards, and an altogether wonderful celebration.

Click here to download the banquet flyer.

Register Now

Fox Valley Islamic Society 2016 Interfaith Event

tree with arms for branches and hands for leaves“Building Cultural Diversity within Faith Communities”

Hosted by Fox Valley Islamic Society

Keynote speaker: Jon Pahl, Professor of History, Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia

Panelists: representing Christian, Jewish, Unitarian-Universalist, and Muslim perspectives.

Dinner: follows the program

Sunday, August 14, 3:00-5:30 pm
Fox Valley Islamic Society
103 Kappell Dr, Neenah

An interfaith gathering where all are welcome.

RSVPs appreciated: fvis.interfaith@gmail.com


Click “Read more" to learn about two other events during 2016 Interfaith Weekend in the Fox Valley and download flyers.

Conversaciones Comunitarias y Convivio

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“Construyendo una Comunidad Mejor: Igualdad, Equidad y Justicia”

Serie: Fe, Valores y Comunidad. Parte 2

Únase a ESTHER en un convivio seguido de una conversación con la comunidad para hablar sobre igualdad, equidad y justicia. Discutiremos preguntas como:

  • ¿Qué significa tratar a la gente de una manera justa?
  • ¿Cómo es una comunidad justa? ¿Quienes se benefician?

El evento es gratuito y abierto al público. Invitamos a cada hogar a llevar un platillo para compartir en el convivio.

Descargar folleto aquí y compartir con sus amigos y familiares.

Community Conversation and Potluck

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“Building a Better Community: Fairness, Equity & Justice”

Part 2 of our faith, values, and community series

Join ESTHER on July 19 (Appleton) or July 21 (Oshkosh) for a potluck supper followed by a community conversation discussing fairness, justice and equity. We’ll be exploring questions like these:

  • What does it mean to treat people fairly?
  • How does lack of fairness arise in a community?
  • What does a fair community look like? Who benefits from it?

These events are free and open to the public. We invite each household to bring a dish to share for the potluck.

Download flyer here and share with your friends and family.

Juneteenth Festival 2016

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Juneteenth Festival 2016 PosterNoon-6PM
City Park
500 E. Franklin St
Downtown Appleton

Juneteenth is the oldest national program commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. African Heritage, Inc. (AHI), in collaboration with the City of Appleton, is hosting its seventh annual Juneteenth Celebration on June 19, 2016 in downtown Appleton. The family-friendly program will feature musical, dance and poetry performances as well as a Children‘s Village and community resource fair with food sales. Stop by and see us at the ESTHER booth! More info at African Heritage Inc.

Restore our Communities: Restorative Justice for Wisconsin

David LinersDavid Liners, State Director for WISDOM, will be speaking in Appleon on March 2, 2016 under sponsorship of the Noonhour Philosophers program of Trinity Lutheran Church, Appleton. His topic will be ROC Wisconsin, an ongoing project of WISDOM, working alongside its affiliates and partners (including EXPO—Ex-Prisoners Organizing), to reform the criminal justice system in our state so that it helps to build up our communities instead of tearing them down.

  • Wednesday, March 2, 2016
  • 12:00-1:00 p.m.
  • Trinity Lutheran Church
    209 S. Allen St., Appleton
  • Free and open to all; no advance registration required

One More Bus!

We need your help!day without latinos

The past couple weeks have been a tough battle to stop anti-immigrant and racist policy from making it through the Wisconsin State Legislature. Tomorrow, thousands of Latino families, advocates and allies will come together at the State Capitol in Madison to speak out against  these policies and to lift up the many ways the Latino community betters the lives of all Wisconsinites.  The gathering is called A Day Without Latinos.  People from all around the stand are standing together with Latinos because we know our lives are interconnected.

We now have four full buses heading to Madison from Appleton tomorrow morning.  We are astounded by the outpouring of support!  Local businesses, organizations, and individuals have come forward to help fund the buses, but we aren't quite there yet!

We are asking you—especially if you want to stand in support of this action but cannot make it to Madison—to sponsor the fourth bus. We need to raise $500

If you can give $10, $25, $50, $100 or more, you would be part of making this day possible!

Click below to give online by credit-card or sign up to show your support now and pay later.

 

Yes, I'll Help! (click here)

 

Your gift is tax deductible. If we receive funds that exceed the cost of the bus, we will direct that additional support to leadership training and support of Latino organizing in the Fox Valley area.

Thank you for all that you do to make ESTHER an organization that can be strong and flexible enough to quickly direct our energies into this critical work! Sí, se puede!

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