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".
Oakland We’ve always been clear, organizing is an art, not a science. We count everything of course and measure the probabilities closely in order to predict turnout, growth, staff development, and a host of other things, but mostly that is necessary to provide the infrastructure. It doesn’t change the organic nature of the work …
Chicago In the array of workshops, panels, and ballroom presentations there were some about organizing in the South, which has been the holy grail for the future of US unions ever since companies poured into the region to take advantage of cheap labor and abundant resources. Hearing what was on union activists’ minds made …
Toronto At the ACORN Canada head organizers’ meeting there were deep dives into issues, campaigns, staff development, training methodology, grant prospects, and more. All of this was exciting. Reports on meetings the federal government’s housing and justice ministers and their staffs requested with us, when usually it has been the other way around, often …