Bending the Arc

“The House of Representatives has shown that real work for real people can indeed get done on a bipartisan basis,” said Katie Boller Gosewisch, Executive Director of the Alliance to End Human Trafficking. “The Alliance and NAC applaud the voice vote passage of the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act and call on the Senate to quickly take up and pass this bill that vacates certain convictions for survivors of human trafficking forced to commit non-violent crimes. This bill gives survivors the ability to reclaim their lives and build a future.”

The National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd (NAC) and the Alliance to End Human Trafficking (AEHT) continue our joint work at the federal level to end human trafficking, keeping the needs of those vulnerable to being trafficked and those who have survived at the forefront of our effort. Many trafficking survivors face arrest, conviction and incarceration, often without recognition of their extenuating circumstances. H.R. 4323 would provide critical relief for survivors who already have been convicted as a result of their trafficking victimization through vacatur, expungement and sentencing mitigation. Specifically, for a court to grant a motion to vacate a conviction or expunge an arrest, a defendant must show by a preponderance of evidence that the offense was committed as a direct result of having been a victim of trafficking. Additionally, the defendant must establish, by clear and convincing evidence, that the defendant was being trafficked at the time the offense was committed.

“NAC and the Alliance cheer the House passage of the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act that balances victims’ rights with public safety,” said Fran Eskin-Royer, Executive Director of the National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd. “When survivors are prosecuted and jailed after being forced to commit non-violent offenses by their traffickers, their trauma is exacerbated, making it more difficult for them to rebuild their lives. This bipartisan, victim-centered approach helps them regain their lives and futures. Next up, the Senate. Let’s give survivors of human trafficking some relief as we close out 2025 and prepare to welcome in 2026.”

Click here to urge your Senators to quickly take up and pass H.R. 4323.

About AEHT and NAC:
AEHT and NAC are dedicated to eradicating human trafficking through advocacy, collaboration, and education. They work tirelessly to bring awareness to the issue and support legislative measures that protect and empower the most vulnerable in society.

Alliance to End Human Trafficking was founded in 2013 by a group of Catholic Sisters committed to ending human trafficking and supporting survivors. They created a national network of resources and support that includes many different congregations of women religious and mission-aligned partners. Today, this member-based organization has grown to include more than 115 congregations and another 100+ individuals and organizations spread throughout the United States. AEHT is also the U.S. member of Talitha Kum, the international network of consecrated life working to end human trafficking.

The National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd educates and advocates on social justice issues for the transformation of society to the benefit of all people reflecting the spirituality, history and mission of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd. NAC advocates at the Federal level for people living in poverty, immigrants, survivors of human trafficking, survivors of domestic abuse, and other vulnerable populations. NAC reflects the spirituality, history and mission of the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd (better known as the Sisters of the Good Shepherd). The sisters and their agencies work in solidarity with the disenfranchised – particularly families, women and children – who often are forgotten, left-behind or dismissed.

For a PDF of the Press Release, please click here.

This week, a group called Community Solutions, released a statement of deep concern in response to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s new Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), which threatens rental support for more than 170,000 people who have overcome homelessness.

The primary issue is the NOFO’s shift away from permanent housing - one of the most effective tools communities have to reduce homelessness and strengthen public safety. This shift is occurring during a nationwide shortage of more than 4 million homes and rising housing costs in nearly every community. With so few affordable homes available, people in permanent supportive housing would have nowhere to move to if subsidies become temporary, pushing many back into homelessness.

A second challenge follows the timing of the NOFO. Long-standing Continuum of Care (CoC) grants begin to expire as soon as January 2026, while new awards may not be accessible until late summer, creating a dangerous funding gap that could further destabilize thousands of households.

Community Solutions is urging Congress to renew all existing CoC grants for 12 months. YOU CAN HELP!

The best chance we have for renewing existing CoC grants and overriding the NOFO is Congress. The lawmakers listed below have the power to decide whether to approve an extension of funding, including Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin. CALL TODAY!

• Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) 202-224-5653
• Sen. Shelley Capito (R-WV)
• Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)
• Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE)
• Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
• Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM)
• Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND)
• Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
• Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
• Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK)
• Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)
• Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA)
• Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD)
• Sen. Christopher Van Hollen (D-MD)

You can contact these lawmakers by calling the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121. Use this toolkit for messaging guidance on what to say when you get patched through. We are urging Congress to take action by December 15 before lawmakers recess for winter break.
 

Who is responsible for materials too often easily discarded? From design to disposal, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws say manufacturers are. Could this be the solution toward zero waste?

In a recent article by Dr. Julie Peller, writer for Green Junction, a weekly column of the Creation Care Ministry of the Gary, Indiana Archdiocese, Julie provides good information and a call to action. She writes:

“Recycling and repurposing are methods for processing materials that keep valuable resources in use. These are mostly opposite to the common linear system of goods where materials are used and then discarded. In order to pivot to systems that keep resources in circulation, governments are turning to extended producer responsibility (also known as EPR). It is an effective means to reduce waste, value resources and hold producers of materials accountable.

A number of countries and states have formulated EPR or are determining ways to implement EPR laws. The Product Stewardship Institute is an organization leading these efforts and documenting productive changes. Batteries are a prime example of materials that should not be discarded after their use since they contain valuable resources such as manganese and zinc. Additionally, metals used in batteries are mined using energy-intensive processes and many batteries contain hazardous materials, including cadmium and lead. A number of states have enacted battery EPR laws that cover single use and rechargeable batteries. Last year, the state of Illinois initiated its “Portable and Medium-Format Battery Stewardship Act.” This created a statewide program where battery producers are required to “fund and manage the collection, transportation, and recycling of portable primary and rechargeable batteries, as well as medium-format batteries.”

The Product Stewardship Institute lists numerous materials (including plastics) that should be part of reclaim and reuse systems through EPR. The institute anticipates a need to address newer materials that contain valuable resources, such as solar panels, and encourage a return and repurpose system with producer responsibility. “Globally, an estimated 86 million tons of photovoltaic waste from solar panels will be generated by 2050 – representing $15 billion worth of precious metals, rare earth elements, aluminum, and glass that could be recycled.” Currently, the state of Washington is the only state that has established EPR for solar panels.

In the season of thanksgiving, it is good to remember the natural resources that make our lives better and commit to using them in the most responsible manner. Encourage your elected officials to support EPR for many of our materials."

No matter where you’re situated on the political spectrum, you doubtlessly have loud voices telling you to watch out for unreliable information or “fake news”. Some of those voices are from your past: parents, priests, and schoolteachers. Other voices are current: journalists, politicians, entertainers, and neighbors. We’re all formed by the encounters and experiences we’ve had, and our worldview shapes how we receive new information. An important task of any mindful person is to sift what we hear to discern what’s actually true.

One of the best tools we have in countering misinformation is a healthy dose of skepticism. Don’t take things at face value. Seek confirmation elsewhere, especially when it too closely matches your hopes or when it seems too good to be true. Lots of people benefit from our unexamined belief. Even sources we trust need verification; every source has a bias, even if you agree with it. Look for confirmation from multiple, unrelated sources.
Read the full article, written by Ryan W. Roberts, OLF, in this November 2025 offering from the Sisters of Mercy: https://sistersofmercy.org/mercy-for-justice/critical-considerations/#misinformation 

The Institute Justice Team provides the following recommendations for information sources:

• CLINIC
• Reuters
• Vatican News
• AFP
• Catholic Charities USA
• Democracy Now
• Brennan Center
• Heather Cox Richardson
• BBC
• National Catholic Reporter
• Associated Press
• FAIR

They also suggest these fact-checking sites to try:

• Media Bias / Fact Check
• FactCheck
• AllSides Media Bias
• PolitiFact
• Snopes
• AP Fact Check

COP30, the 30th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), is a global summit dedicated to addressing climate change through international cooperation, policy negotiation, and action.

COP30 took place in the city of Belém, in the state of Pará, Brazil, November 10-21, 2025. This marked a significant moment, as it is the first time the conference will be hosted in the Amazon region, a vital area for global climate stability due to its vast rainforest ecosystem.

See the outcomes, fast facts, the Pope’s message to the bishops, and other helpful resources at https://unanima-international.org/cop30/ 

Pilgrim United Church of Christ in Fond du Lac (535 Stow Street) is hosting their Annual Alternative Gift Fair on Sunday, December 7, approximately 10 - 11 am (following their 9 am worship service). The public is invited to attend!

This is a positive holiday experience that bypasses the annual steps of holiday shopping and the accumulation of “stuff” while honoring friends and relatives with donations that fit their values. The Annual Gift Fair provides critical support for a diverse collection of local, national, and international nonprofit organizations that have established track records of helping people - diverting money to these charities rather than to the department stores and malls. This year nine organizations will be represented. Shoppers are sure to find something for pet lovers, environmental enthusiasts, educators, and more.

Attendees use a “shopping list” with the names of all nine nonprofits who are represented at the fair. They can stroll the tables and talk to the organization’s sponsor who will have information to share about their mission and current projects. As shoppers browse, they can match the interests of those on their shopping lists with the charities there. Shoppers check out and pay for all gifts at once. They may pay by cash or check. The shopper then receives a gift card for each monetary gift donated to a designated charity that they can give to their recipient.

Your gift choices emphasize community, outreach, service, and justice - and honors the true meaning of Christmas.

One of this year’s featured organizations is Glacial Lakes Conservancy. On January 10, 2022, the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes (CSA) signed a Conservation Easement Document, in partnership with Glacial Lakes Conservancy (GLC), protecting 237 acres of Earth in perpetuity. CSA land, with its buildings, forests, prairies, wetlands, farm fields, cemetery, labyrinth, nature trails, and three stream channels running down the Niagara Escarpment will be protected from commercial development for all time. You can learn more about the easement here.

The local Just Fare Market will also be selling their goods at the December 7 Alternative Gift Fair.

Data centers have been all over the news lately, with new ones and new proposals popping up across the state of Wisconsin. These data centers need massive amounts of energy to operate and water to cool their systems - resources they expect Wisconsin to provide.

The only legislation the state has passed on data centers so far include tax breaks and no requirements attached. But help is on the way! On Friday, Sen. Jodi Habush Sinykin and Rep. Angela Stroud introduced the Data Center Accountability Bill (LRB 5432) – the first measure to hold tech and utility companies accountable when building, powering, and operating data centers. It ensures communities and ratepayers aren’t left bearing the financial and environmental costs.

The Data Center Accountability Bill (LRB 5432) would:

• Require data centers to contribute to Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy Fund, which supports energy efficiency, renewable energy, and low-income energy assistance. And, half of the contributions would go to the Green Innovation Fund, which supports next-generation environmental and clean energy technologies and projects in Wisconsin.
• Require data centers to source at least 70 percent of their annual electricity from renewable sources to qualify for state tax exemptions.
• Mandate that utilities provide transparency on water and energy use.

This also protects workers by requiring those who build data centers be paid the prevailing wage or, if covered by a collective bargaining agreement, the higher of the two. 

It is crucial that our state legislature adopt these standards for data centers. 
Please contact your Wisconsin State legislator and ask them to support the Data Center Accountability Bill.

Don’t stop there! Take a stand against unchecked data center development with Clean Wisconsin too. They are calling on state and local leaders to pause AI data center approvals until Wisconsin has a comprehensive state plan to ensure their projects will not harm our communities. Learn more at https://www.cleanwisconsin.org/take-a-stand-against-unchecked-data-center-development/ 
 

The public is invited to join Ebony Vision’s November Member Meeting on Monday, November 17 at 6:30 pm CST.

Hear from guest speaker, Kimberly Barrett, PhD, where she will provide a Conversation of the Process and Purpose of Writing her book, “Rethinking Race.” Dr. Barrett will share how her views about race shifted—from seeing it as something fixed and unchangeable to realizing it’s more of a powerful idea that shapes how we see ourselves and others. You won’t want to miss this thought-provoking and inspiring meeting!

At the meeting, you will also hear community updates from this Fond du Lac organization. 

Join Zoom Meeting
Https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8163421769?pwd=VDVKZGZMVG8zTkV0SU5OUGVOVU9kZz09&omn=83288988021 

Meeting ID: 816 342 1769
Passcode: EVFDL