WADE RATHKE is the founder of ACORN, Chief Organizer at ACORN International, and Author of "Nuts & Bolts", "Citizen Wealth", "Global Grassroots", and "The Battle for the 9th Ward".
Pearl River Mildred Edmond’s daughters were arranging a visit for me early in 2020, but then came the pandemic, postponing everything until the coast was clear. Sadly, a Facebook message from the oldest daughter found me overseas with the news that Mildred had passed away while I was gone. She would be buried before I returned, so …
London Four-forty in the morning saw me jumping into a cab to head for the Lyon airport. Three emails from British Airways warning of a potential strike by security there advised – in the strongest terms – everyone to be there two hours early. I was sixth or seventh in line, but of course …
Grenoble When I sat down in the evening to visit with some of the Grenoble leaders of ACORN’s Alliance Citoyenne affiliate, one kidded me about being “on tour.” Now at the end of this UK-France trip, maybe they had a point. Counting quickly, I had met with organizers and leaders in eight cities that …