WADE RATHKE is the founder of ACORN, Chief Organizer at ACORN International, and Author of "Citizen Wealth", "Global Grassroots", and "The Battle for the 9th Ward".
San Pedro Sula There’s no agreement in Honduras about much except the fact that the economy continues lagging and unemployment is acute, government is inept, and corruption is rampant. Getting specifics past these general statements is a longer climb. The big topic on all tongues is the conviction of the President’s brother in a jury …
Managua We rolled out at dawn for Matagalpa with Managua stirring all around us as the city waited on corners for buses to work. In two and a half hours ,we were rolling up the narrow streets and steep hills looking for the gas station near the Centro, which was our landmark, in a journey …
New Orleans Sometimes you know it’s bad, but you still haven’t wrapped your mind around the full ripple effects of how bad it might be. Focusing on the immigration crisis for children and families at the Mexico-United States border, I have concentrated on the problems we knew were coming from communities organized by ACORN International, …
Lima and Miami In Bolivia coca leaves in hot water is the drink recommended for altitude adaptation. It’s what they grow, so it’s what they drink. In Peru they grow some pretty good beans. We’ve handled some Peruvian fairtrade at Fair Grinds Coffeehouse to brew a good cup, so it’s not as if there isn’t …
New Orleans Fairtrade has a language problem that is quickly becoming a huge commercial and consumer problem. There’s no copy write to the name “fairtrade,” so like it or not, anyone can use it, claim it, or con with it. As a relatively new movement trying to build commercial strength and consumer identification, a “classic” …