Curated Community Events with Purpose
REIMAGINING COMMUNITY EVENTS IN WAUKESHA AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
We transform events into professional platforms for advocacy, turning local awareness into tangible support for our communities.
Builder Joel Etzler and Owner Melissa Etzler
At Etzler Events, we believe a community is only as strong as the foundations we build together. Our company was created from a need for deeper local connection and a desire to shine a light on the non-profits and businesses truly changing our community for the good.
As a Certified Emotional Freedom Techniques Practitioner, I know that while advocacy is vital, the support that follows is equally essential. We create with intention and trauma-informed care ensuring our events provide both a beautiful experience and a meaningful foundation for connection.
Who We Are
The LOVE>hate Project
The LOVE>hate Project was born from unimaginable loss and exists to answer one question. What if love is stronger than hate, even after violence?
Their mission is to end interpersonal violence, promote Forgiveness, and presence Love.
Through their prison programming they have now reached:
22 prisons in two states
74 presentations for over 6,000 inmates
15 forgiveness classes for over 250 inmates
Two years of data reveal a powerful trend: participants are showing profound, measurable improvements in anger management, compassion, and forgiveness. Because many of these individuals will eventually return to our neighborhoods, these classes serve as a vital intervention, equipping them with the exact behavioral shifts proven to reduce reoffending and break the cycle of incarceration.
ETZLER EVENTS BENEFICIARY
The LOVE>hate Podcast
The LOVE>hate Podcast is a dedicated, trauma-informed space designed to answer that profound question. This podcast serves as a sanctuary where survivors of interpersonal violence can openly share their lived experiences, their journeys toward deep healing, and the steps they took to reclaim their lives.
Hosted in proud alignment with our non-profit mission, each episode brings you deeply respectful, authentic conversations with people who have directly experienced interpersonal violence and how they’ve moved forward in their lives. This is a collective movement turning pain into a profound, generational purpose.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Etzler Events has a variety of events. We aim to keep all community events free to the public which means everyone can come!
In a world that can feel increasingly divided, we believe that people are far more than the labels often placed upon them. To us, the collective is strengthened when we move past categories and simply focus on how we treat one another. We welcome anyone who arrives with kindness and an open heart. At our events, the only "standard" is the respect we show our neighbors, ensuring every guest feels safe, seen, and valued.
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The community! Our primary focus is on producing our own community-centered event series, we do not host or plan events for third-parties.
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Our community events are designed to donate portions of the proceeds to The LOVE>hate Project, a local (Hartford, WI) 501(c)(3) and our primary beneficiary.
This means when you attend an Etzler Event, a portion of our initiative proceeds and events will directly support their vital mission to end interpersonal violence, promote forgiveness, and presence love where it’s needed most.
When you support Etzler Events, you are actively investing in strengthening our community including the transformative LOVE>hate Prison Program.
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You can contact Melissa directly at Melissa@EtzlerEvents.com
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If you’re interested in being our venue for our Featured Business Pop-Up Series, you will automatically become a co-host!
Every venue hosting a Pop-Up event will be asked to donate a monetary value of special ticket sales to their favorite, local 501(c)(3).
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Absolutely! We have a variety of sponsorships and benefits that will be opening up soon. Some benefits include, shout out on a podcast, naming rights, VIP access, and more.