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".
New Orleans What can we learn from the Canadian blockade in Ottawa and along the USA and Canadian border? There are bound to be lessons worth examining even if the whole affair is a troubling bit of déjà vu and profound confusion. Déjà vu, because there is way too much of this that just …
Pearl River Blockades are usually pretty serious business. Of course, there are a number of varieties. As Russia encircles Ukraine or when ships block ports in war, that’s brinkmanship that could lead down a bloody path. Another variety is becoming a more common tactic it seems for some groups. That intrigues me, but I …
Montreal There are probably thousands of sayings about measurements. “Measure twice, cut once,” is the rule in carpentry and many other trades. In business, “if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.” In life and much of work, “if you don’t measure it, you can’t improve it.” In general, “a good measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions,” and …
Montreal Listening to one great report after another from office directors in ACORN Canada was exciting, whether they were talking about growth or campaign victories. It was hard to believe that this record-breaking performance was being achieved against the obstacles of the pandemic. Internally, the new membership numbers were the best in a dozen years. The dues paid …
Montreal Increasingly, I have to say, all airline travel has become epic in the pandemic. Going to Montreal for the ACORN Canada Year End / Year Begin meeting was another mountain climb, but this note is less about “misery loves company,” and more about how even two years into this global horror, we’re still all confused about …