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Thibaut, the organizer from Brussels is in his final month of training in New Orleans. In February, I will be traveling to visit our other trainees in Albania and Bulgaria, as well as spending three days in Frankfurt assisting the development of a potential ACORN-affiliated tenants’ union there. Along with UK ACORN’s Nick Ballard, I am also visiting Dublin to advance the prospects of a potential affiliation in Ireland.

News in the United States is encouraging. The new year brings an organizer with ACORN and the Home Savers Campaign in Detroit. This month, we are also starting a six-month training and consulting contract with Amani United, a community organization in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the Dominican Center, potentially also an ACORN affiliate. Campaigns: Lessons from the Field was published in December and is now being distributed. “The Organizer” is scheduled for a week of showings at the Zeitgeist Theater in New Orleans in January and at a theater in Harlem in March, with more dates on an East Coast swing at the same time. Finally, initial steps are being taken to develop internet and terrestrial radio stations in Uganda in January. Watch this space…

Mark your calendars! The international staff and leaders meeting date is set for Friday, July 19th and Saturday, July 20th in Lyon, France. See ACORN International’s full 2019 calendar here.

Wade

See some more highlights below.

ACORN Around the World

UK ACORN members double down on housing campaigns

ACORN members have been organizing for affordable, livable housing across the UK. Brighton members carried out several actions as part of an ongoing campaign against a slum landlord, as did Birmingham members. Bristol members focused on their affordable housing campaign, turning out large numbers to a carol-singing demonstration, campaign and member defence meetings. In Newcastle, members have been building a new local group covering three tower blocks. Sheffield members held their Quarterly General meeting, elected officers and held several door-knocking sessions. Manchester ACORN organized a training session for members with ACORN’s National Organiser, as well as phone banking and door knocking sessions and a Christmas social and meeting.

Exciting meetings for Kenya ACORN!

Kenya ACORN recently hosted the ACORN International’s Chief Organizer, Wade Rathke. Wade shared a lot of information to benefit Kenya ACORN’s organizing work! We also visited the only local radio station in Korogocho (KOCH FM) to discuss a potential partnership with the officials of the station.

Fighting for child care in Delhi

As a part of the broader network of Delhi-based organizations working on issues affecting kids aged 0-6 years, Delhi ACORN launched a campaign demanding a creche in the local community. Meetings were organized in Lalita Park, Mandawali and Shashi Garden. Later, district level larger meetings will be organized collectively to set the demand of creche on the agenda of political parties. The general election is scheduled for March/April 2019.

Czech ACORN finds important artwork during demolition

During the demolition of a villa on the outskirts of Prague, workers from the ACORN Czech Republic movement found a collection of paintings from Jewish painter Gertruda Kauders, who died in a concentration camp during WWII. The paintings had been kept between the walls, so that the Nazis could not destroy them during the war. The discovery is not only important for the Czech Jewish community, but is also a major breakthrough in Central European art history. As a result, the Jewish community is organizing a joint exhibition with ACORN Czech Republic! News reports here and here.

Victory! Access to free drinking water in Douala

Douala 5e residents will finally have better access to drinking water as a result of the actions of OnEstEnsemble members to force Town Hall to repair defective boreholes. Actions taken include a petition signed by 200 people, a neighborhood walk from one water point to another, and a children’s theater stage at one of the defective boreholes. After a number of delays, work finally began in December, thanks to the perseverance of OnEstEnsemble members. Residents will quickly have access to free drinking water.

Experimental organizing for ACORN Italy!

ACORN Italy has been busy co-staging a community organizing course in Rome together with Community Organizing ONLUS, an Industrial Areas Foundation affiliate, marking the perhaps first time ever that the ACORN and IAF methods and visions have been blended into one, trying to take the best out of the two and make it one common experimental path. So far, the response has been fantastic and for ACORN Italy this represents a thrilling opportunity to do what ACORN International rightfully pushed them to do for a long time: real community organizing in Italy, and Vatican State too, since the course takes place on an urban farm next door to St. Peter’s!

Honduras ACORN board meets

The board of Honduras ACORN recently had their first meeting since formally registering.

Toronto ACORN delivers the gift of affordable housing to mayor

More than 40 Toronto ACORN members and 5 supportive city councillors turned out to City Hall to deliver holiday gifts during the mayor’s swearing-in ceremony. Members were eager to remind the mayor to keep his promise of making housing a #1 priority this term! They rallied outside City Hall before entering to deliver their house-shaped gifts under the mayor’s tree.

Hamilton ACORN’s housing platform packs a punch at City Hall

Hamilton ACORN released their Housing Platform at City Hall recently. The platform and accompanying report detail what the City of Hamilton needs to do to ensure affordable housing is preserved, and that tenants are ensured health and safety standards in their apartments. The platform urges the City to create an anti-renoviction and displacement strategy, a city-wide registration program for landlords and calls for a complete overhaul of the city’s property standards bylaws.

Ottawa ACORN members celebrate a successful year!

Members and allies enjoyed good food, TONS of prizes fundraised by some rockstar leaders and received awards at Ottawa ACORN’s People Power party. The highlight of the night was when member MCs gave out blooper awards to targets! 2018 was a year with lots to celebrate. Members made huge gains on campaigns like internet for all, inclusionary zoning, landlord licensing and payday lending and we’re expecting in 2019 to be bigger and stronger!

Victory! Members of the Alliance Citoyenne elected to the board of social housing authorities

Members had 3 victories in Grenoble and Aubervilliers. In the Grenoble Habitat, where have been campaigning since last April, tenants supported the Alliance and elected Fatiha Belhachemi. In another Grenoble housing authority, Marie Rodriguez (aka Xena) was elected in 2nd place. In Aubervilliers, Paris, Fatouma Camara was also elected. The first election campaign of the Alliance Citoyenne was a success, proving the strength ACORN’s organizing approach. After many direct actions to demand the renovation of apartments and the improvement of the public service, this victory marks a new stage.

ACORN Radio: The Video of the People!

Listen in to ACORN Radio to hear tales of organizing, member stories, local updates, and more!

Check out the schedule here and listen in at acornradio.org

Join ACORN International or volunteer.

ACORN International is GROWING. Organizing invitations are pouring in all around the world — from New Zealand, the Maldives, Germany — demand is high for ACORN tenants unions! New organizations have started out in Montpellier, France, and there is now work in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Trainee organizers are coming to New Orleans from Bulgaria and Albania for a month and from Belgium for almost three months for ACORN training!

The Organizer movie is showing in Thessaloniki, Greece as we try to trigger organizing interest, and in Brussels at the International Film Festival. In Brussels, organizer Adrien Roux will also deliver workshops on community organizing. An exciting joint proposal for training and support was recently submitted under the leadership of ACORN France, to bring together organizations and our allies in the UK, France, Bulgaria, Slovakia, and Tunisia.

 

OnEstEnsemble fight for street lights in Cameroon

 

A lack of street lighting lights is causing security concerns in the Grand Moulin neighbourhood, Douala. Members targeted the Urban Community of the city (CUD), taking 250 petition signatures to the administration office. This resulted in CUD agents working with OnEstEnsemble leaders, to identify where street lights are required. Members will track this issue to make sure CUD keeps their promise, and other neighborhoods affected by the same problem will also be putting the pressure on CUD.

 

Organizing tenants & more in the UK

 

Bristol has continued its campaign for better housing provision for survivors of domestic abuse while the BS5 group launched a campaign against two local letting agents. Manchester is planning simultaneous pickets of a management company alongside Birmingham members. Sheffield’s Sharrow & Netheredge group’s first action forced a letting agent to comply with the law on fees, while Brighton has supported a demonstration in support of elderly residents trapped in a nursing home, and are organizing the student community who are in some of the most dangerous and expensive rental housing. Tenants have been coming out to Newcastle ACORN’s drop-in advice sessions.

 

Workers rights and Medicare organizing in Arkansas

 

Little Rock members rallied at the Governor’s Mansion, to fight Medicare work requirements that have resulted in over 6,000 people being kicked off the program and left uninsured. Members and allies won a proposal on the ballot for the upcoming election for an $11/hr Arkansas minimum wage by 2021, and are now working to educate and mobilize voters. Shreveport members have an upcoming bargaining with one of our nursing facilities are looking into ways to get workers to contact us about issues of harassment, discrimination, and bullying in the workplace.

 

Victory for Muslim Women in France

 

After gathering 420 petition signatures, Alliance Citoyenne members have their first victory in what is set to be a long-running battle, as Muslim women will be allowed to wear long-sleeved bathing suits in Grenoble public swimming pools. France’s Muslim population is seen as a threat to French identity from the right, and a threat to French secularism and atheism from the left. For thousands of Muslim women, this means daily discrimination and no access to basic rights.

 

Fighting against corruption and privatization in Peru

 

 

ACORN Peru has been working on the issue of rights and anti-corruption. Members are organizing for a better country, with justice and respect, and have been fighting against privatization. We have been organizing in communities in the Andes, San Juan de Lurigancho and have been supporting Ecuadorian communities.

 

Leadership training for Delhi Women!

 

In Delhi, India women were invited out to a leadership training was organized for women which included specific a session on gender. Ms. Sarika Choudhary and Ms. Firdous, members of the Delhi Commission For Women, Govt. of NCT of Delhi participated as guest speakers. Around 80 women of all ages took part in the training!

 

Kenya ACORN is growing as members organize on 3 main campaigns!

 

In Korogocho, one of the largest urban settlements in Nairobi-Kenya, members are organizing on issues related to education, water, and environmental sanitation. The organization has grown to over 360 members and four affiliated community-based organizations. Committee members recently attended a star-gazing meeting, and members participated in a cleanup exercise within the settlement.

 

Holding landlords to account in Glasgow, Scotland

 

Glasgow members successfully forced the Association of Registered Letting Agents to meet our negotiation team after numerous pickets of their members, gatecrashing their conference and an investigation by our union discovered a possible £1.5m in illegal fees being charged annually. Members also helped to organize the occupation of a property owned by a landlord previously imprisoned for the death of two young men, after a fire in one of his properties.

 

Celebrating Local 100 members in Texas!

 

Ms. Lane has been a member of Local 100 for 19 years. She is not only the union steward for her center but also the bargaining committee member. You can hear her life story at acornradio.org.

 

Repairs for Edinburgh Tenants

 

Living Rent members welcomed City Councillors to the Muirhouse neighborhood, to witness the state of disrepair in the tower blocks. As a result, a full investigation has been commissioned and repairs are scheduled.

 

Victory for street vendors in Bengalaru

 

Members are relieved that the government has finally moved, and have issued license and ID cards to street vendors last week. Cards and licenses were issued at the meeting of street vendors.

 

Education and organizing in Honduras!

 

Honduras leaders have been monitoring building improvement in local communities and have been strategizing around advocacy issues. As well as door knocking, we participated in public education workshops – attended by 120 students – and community cleaning sessions.

 

3D printing and BIG renovations in Mumbai!

 

This year, the Innovation Lab has been completely renovated and is now home to exciting workshops, such as 3D printing! ACORN kids are being trained in state of the art technology, to help them qualify for future jobs in the 3D printing industry.

In Canada, Ottawa’s Agenda for Change calls for a shake-up at City Hall

 

In Canada, Ottawa’s Agenda for Change calls for a shake-up at City Hall

 

 

Ottawa ACORN started the Agenda for Change campaign in 2016 to ensure the same old crowd doesn’t continue to hold power at City Hall in the 2018 municipal election. 60 members came out to our Agenda for Change candidates forum on September 20th to demand a council that prioritizes the needs of its low-income constituents!

 

Read More.

 

Calling for landlord licensing to tackle substandard Hamilton housing

 

In Canada, Hamilton ACORN leaders gathered on the steps of City Hall to release a report on the substandard living conditions experienced by low to moderate income ACORN members. Members shared the report at the last Rental Housing Sub-Committee and were pleased that the committee voted to pass a Landlord Licensing Pilot for low-density rentals in two wards. We’re a step closer to city-wide landlord licensing!

Read More.

Fighting for an affordable Mississauga

ACORN Canada members held an affordable housing petition drive to highlight rising rents across the city. Members are demanding that affordable housing is an election issue, and call for the City to take a number of steps to make housing more affordable, including using inclusionary zoning powers to ensure that 25 per cent of units in all new developments are affordable.

Read More.

 

OTTAWA, DOUALA, BRISTOL, LA CEIBA…

 

Partout dans le monde, on s’organise.  Les camerounais ont gagné l’accès à l’eau à Douala, des mobilisations massives ont permis d’empêcher des expulsions au Canada ou en Angleterre et la lutte menée par les habitants de Glasgow a stoppé l’expulsion de 300 demandeurs d’asile. A Sheffield, les membres d’Acorn ont gagné contre la multinationale Véolia tandis que les locataires combattent les propriétaires voyous à Aubervilliers (Paris, France) ou à Hamilton (Canada)… Ces derniers mois des membres d’Acorn se sont encore battus pour changer le monde et faire reculer les injustices. ACORN est une fédération internationale d’organisations dont le but est d’organiser les participations citoyennes.

 

Everywhere in the world, people are organizing.  Cameroonians gained access to water in Douala, massive mobilizations prevented evictions in Canada or England, and the struggle led by Glasgow residents stopped the eviction of 300 asylum seekers. In Sheffield, Acorn members won against the multinational Véolia while tenants fight rogue landlords in Aubervilliers (Paris, France) or Hamilton (Canada)… In recent months Acorn members have once again fought to change the world and reverse injustice. ACORN is an international federation of community based organizations working to organize the unorganized.

 

ACORN UK

Le plein de victoires !

A lot of victories!

 

Sheffield a mené avec succès une action contre la multinationale Veolia dans le cadre d’une campagne d’organisation de quartier et a lancé un nouveau groupe local. Le groupe de logement public de Newcastle a forcé le Conseil à installer des mesures de sécurité incendie dans leur tour. Brighton a gagné une campagne contre une grande société d’agents de location, en gagnant des compensations et en recrutant des membres dans une ville voisine pour commencer à construire une nouvelle succursale. Manchester a mené à bien un certain nombre d’actions de défense des membres, en obtenant des réparations et la sécurité incendie. Birmingham a forcé le nettoyage des eaux usées des maisons des membres et Bristol a organisé une campagne d’organisation de quartier, en lançant un nouveau groupe local et des campagnes pour s’attaquer aux propriétaires de bidonvilles et soutenir les survivants de la violence domestique.

Sheffield have conducted a successful action against multinational company Veolia as part of a neighbourhood organising drive and launched a new local group. Newcastle’s public housing group forced the Council to install fire safety measures in their tower block. Brighton have won a campaign against a large letting agent company, winning compensation and recruiting members in a nearby town to begin building a new branch. Manchester has completed a number of successful member defence actions, winning back deposits, repairs and fire safety. Birmingham have forced clean up of sewage from members houses and Bristol has run a neighbourhood organising drive; launching a new local group and campaigns to tackle slum landlords and support of survivors of domestic violence.

 

DOUALA (OnEstEnsemble)

Les habitants gagnent leur combat pour l’accès à l’eau

The inhabitants win their fight for access to water

 

Après avoir vécu quatre années dans des conditions de vies difficiles, les habitants de Bepanda Bonewonda ont repris espoir au vue des travaux de réhabilitation en cours du réseau de distribution d’eau. Aujourd’hui,  plus d’une dizaine de ménages sont à nouveau branchés au réseau et les travaux se poursuivent avec la construction d’un conduit d’eau de 1,2 kilomètre  en cours d’exécution pour réhabiliter les autres ménages qui avaient connu la destruction de leur réseau par les travaux de la route en chantier du génie militaire à Bonewonda.

 OnEstEnsemble avait dénoncé la situation auprès de la direction régionale de l’entreprise en charge de la distribution (Camwater) et se félicite de ces mesures pour le bien-être des populations.    

After four years in difficult living conditions, the inhabitants of Bepanda Bonewonda have regained hope in the light of the work in progress to rehabilitate the water distribution network. Today, more than a dozen households are again connected to the network and work is continuing with the construction of a 1.2 kilometre water conduit under construction to rehabilitate the other households that had experienced the destruction of their network by work on the road under construction by the military engineers at Bonewonda.

 

 OnEstEnsemble had denounced the situation to the regional management of the company in charge of distribution (Camwater) and welcomes these measures for the well-being of the populations.

 

ACORN CANADA (Herongate)

Lutter contre les expulsions massives à Herongate

Fighting mass evictions in Herongate

 

40 membres d’ACORN et ses alliés se sont rendus au bureau de Timbercreek pour exiger des réparations et la fin des expulsions massives. Les locataires de Timbercreek affirment que Timbercreek a délibérément laissé leurs unités se détériorer pour pouvoir chasser les pauvres et reconstruire des locations de luxe – ceci est une expulsion par négligence!

40 ACORN members and allies marched to the Timbercreek Office to demand repairs and an end to the mass evictions. Tenants of Timbercreek argue that Timbercreek has purposely let their units deteriorate so they can push out poor people and rebuild luxury rentals – this is eviction by neglect!

 

GRENOBLE (Alliance Citoyenne)

510 locataires passent à l’action face à la mauvaise gestion locative de leur bailleur

510 tenants take action against their landlord’s poor rental management

 

Fuites, infiltrations d’eau, froid, pour Nadia, les problèmes se multiplient, contrairement aux réponses du bailleur social. Cette jeune maman reproche à son bailleur social, Grenoble Habitat de ne pas être respectueux envers ses locataires. Accompagnée d’autres locataires, mécontents de leurs conditions de logement, ils se sont rendus devant Grenoble Habitat pour apporter leurs réclamations.

Leaks, water infiltrations, cold, for Nadia, the problems multiply, contrary to the answers of the social landlord. This young mother reproaches her social landlord, Grenoble Habitat, for not being respectful towards her tenants. Accompanied by other tenants, dissatisfied with their housing conditions, they went to Grenoble Habitat to bring their claims.

 

ACORN CANADA (TORONTO)

RÉEL logement abordable dans Toronto

REAL Affordable Housing in Toronto

 

Ce mois-ci, les membres d’ACORN Toronto se sont mobilisés pour obtenir des logements réellement abordables. Les membres ont publié deux rapports montrant le manque de logements abordables dans la ville et ont réclamé la redéfinition de «logement abordable». À la suite de pressions récentes, le maire a reconnu que l’abordabilité devait être redéfinie et s’est engagé à revoir la définition.

This month, Toronto ACORN members rallied for real affordable housing. Members released two reports showing the lack of affordable housing in the City and calling for “affordable housing” to be redefined. As a result of recent pressure, the mayor acknowledged that affordability may need to be redefined and committed to reviewing the definition.

 

LIVING RENT SCOTLAND

360 locataires organisés contre l’insalubrité

360 tenants organized against insalubrity

 

A Edimbourg, 360 locataires de logements de collectivités locales se sont organisés pour lutter contre l’humidité chronique, la moisissure, l’amiante et la dégradation générale de leurs immeubles. Les comités de locataires de Local Living Rent ont organisé divers événements et actions, et ont inviter les politiciens et fonctionnaires locaux à venir rencontrer les résidents dans les blocs, ce qui, espérons-le, mènera à la réalisation des travaux appropriés.

In Edinburgh, 360 tenants in Local authority housing have been organising against chronic damp, mould, asbestos and general disrepair in their blocks. Local Living Rent tenant committee’s have been organising various events and actions including the invitation to local politicians and civil servants to come down and meet residents in the blocks, which will then hopefully lead to the appropriate work being carried out.

 

AUBERVILLIERS (Alliance Citoyenne)

Les habitants d’Aubervilliers agissent contre les marchands de sommeil.

The inhabitants of Aubervilliers act against slum lords.

 

Les habitants d’un immeuble dégradé se mobilisent face à la mairie

The inhabitants of a degraded building mobilized in front of the town hall

Deux incendies ont frappé des immeubles d’Aubervilliers au cours des deux derniers mois, faisant plusieurs victimes. Un drame qui met en lumière le scandale du logement indigne sur Aubervilliers et celui des marchands de sommeil.

Depuis des mois, des locataires, membres de l’Alliance Citoyenne et victimes de marchands de sommeil ou de propriétaires voyous luttent pour des conditions de vie dignes. C’est aussi suite à l’incendie de leurs parties communes que les locataires de l’Avenue Jean Jaurès se sont organisés pour obtenir des travaux salutaires, toujours refusés par la propriétaire.

Two fires have hit buildings in Aubervilliers in the past two months, killing several people. A drama that highlights the scandal of unhealthy housing in Aubervilliers and that of sleep vendors.

For months, tenants, members of the Citizens’ Alliance and victims of sleep vendors or rogue landlords fought for dignified living conditions. It is also following the fire of their common parts that the tenants of the avenue Jean Jaurès organized themselves to obtain salutary works, always refused by the owner

ACORN CANADA (Montreal)

ACORN Montréal rejoint la campagne nationale pour l’égalité numérique

ACORN Montreal joins national campaign for digital equality

 

Le comité du Sud-Ouest de ACORN Montréal a été officiellement inauguré en avril dernier, la culmination de six mois de campagne visant à mettre la pression sur l’Office municipal d’habitation de Montréal (OMHM) pour une amélioration des conditions de logement. Les membres du Sud-Ouest ont également doublé leurs efforts dans notre campagne visant à adresser la fracture numérique dont sont victimes des familles à faible et moyen revenus à travers le pays. Le projet cherche ainsi à dresser le portrait des obstacles empêchant un si grand nombre de personnes à obtenir une connexion internet à leur domicile.

Montreal ACORN’s Sud-Ouest Chapter was officially launched in April of this year; the culmination of a series of actions seeking to pressure the city’s public housing authority (OMHM) for improved housing conditions. Sud-Ouest members have also doubled down on ACORN’s long-standing campaign to address the digital divide. With access to the internet more indispensable than ever, the project aims to provide an overview of the obstacles to home internet access faced by low and moderate income families across Canada.

 

ACORN CANADA (Hamilton)

Lutte contre les propriétaires de taudis dans Hamilton

Fighting Slumlords in Hamilton

 

35 membres d’ACORN et alliés de Hamilton se sont rassemblés pour protester contre l’intensification du harcèlement et de l’intimidation dans une maison de chambres du centre-ville. ACORN Hamilton continuera à se battre afin de s’assurer que tous les logements locatifs sont sécuritaires et salubres.

35 ACORN members and allies from across Hamilton rallied to protest escalating harassment and intimidation at a downtown rooming house. Hamilton ACORN will continue fighting for a RentSafe Landlord Registration Program to ensure all rental housing is safe and healthy.

UNITED LABOR UNION – TEXAS

Du porte-à-porte à la victoire

From door to door to victory

 

Voici Sarah Rodriguez, l’un de nos membres de la section locale 100 de Houston, Texas. Nous sommes en train de frapper à la porte de nos membres au sein du HISD (Houston Independent School District). Afin de rester en contact avec nos membres, nous utilisons de nombreuses tactiques comme vous le voyez ici.   Notre organisation aide principalement le personnel des services de restauration, des services de garde, les secrétaires, commis, etc. Nous luttons pour l’augmentation du salaire minimum, l’élimination des licenciements injustifiés et l’égalité de traitement.  Actuellement, nous sommes déterminés à augmenter les salaires jusqu’à 14 dollars par heure.

This is Sarah Rodriguez one of our members here in (Local 100) hundred Houston Texas. We are out on our exercise door knocking of our members within HISD (Houston Independent school District). In order to stay connected with our members we use many tactics as you see here to give a personal touch.   We mainly focus on supporting staff. These are your food service attendance, custodial services, secretaries, clerks and etc. We like to keep our members informed about the working conditions of HISD. We fight for increasing minimum-wage, eliminating wrongful termination, and fair in equal treatment.  We are our member’s advocates. Currently we are determine to increase wages to $14HR.

 

LIVING RENT – SCOTLAND (Glasgow)

Face à l’expulsion illégale de 300 demandeurs d’asile, les membres de living rent s’organisent

Members of Living rent organized against the illegal expulsion of 300 asylum seekers.

 

A Glasgow, les membres de “Living Rent” se sont organisés contre l’expulsion illégale de plus de 300 demandeurs d’asile. Serco, la compagnie multinationale qui gère les logements des demandeurs d’asile, a pris la décision de changer illégalement les serrures sur plus de 300 propriétés qu’ils louent à des propriétaires sociaux et privés de la ville. Des groupes de réfugiés et de demandeurs d’asile sont venus à Living Rent pour demander de l’aide pour s’opposer aux changements de serrures. En moins d’une semaine, les efforts combinés des agences de soutien en matière d’asile, de Living Rent, des avocats et des politiciens ont forcé Serco à reporter toute tentative de changer les serrures dans ces propriétés. Les membres sont maintenant en train de mettre en place des groupes anti-éviction de quartier à travers la ville en se concentrant sur les 10 zones les plus défavorisées.

 In Glasgow Living Rent members have been organizing against the illegal eviction of over 300 Asylum Seekers. Serco the multinational company who has the contract for housing Asylum Seekers took the decision to try and illegally change the locks on over 300 properties they rent from both Social and Private Landlords in the city. Asylum and Refugee groups came to Living Rent requesting help in opposing the lock changes. In under a week the combined effort of Asylum support agencies, Living Rent, Human rights lawyers and politicians had forced Serco to postpone any and all attempts to change the locks in these properties. Members are now in the process of setting up neighborhood anti-eviction groups across the city focusing on the 10 area’s on highest deprivation and migration.

 

ACORN Honduras

Rencontre avec une commuanuté Garfunda Carasol

Meeting with a Garfunda Carasol community

 

Les organisateurs bénévoles ont organisé plusieurs groupes à La Cieba, la troisième plus grande ville du Honduras sur la côte Atlantique et du golfe du Mexique.  Récemment, nous avons rencontré des dirigeants d’une communauté Garfunda Carasol à l’extérieur de La Ceiba pour parler des problèmes dans leur région.

Volunteer organizers have been organizing several groups in La Cieba, the 3rd largest city in Honduras on  the Atlantic/Gulf Coast.  Recently, we met with leaders in a Garfunda community Carasol outside of La Ceiba around issues in their areas.

 

Greece, New-Zeland, New Orleans, Belgium… Other ACORN News

Grèce, Nouvelle-Zélande, Nouvelle Orléans, Belgique… D’autres nouvelles d’ACORN

Des amis et alliés en Belgique et en Grèce organisent la projection du film THE ORGANIZER à Bruxelles et à Thessalonique en octobre. La communauté ACORN y organisera des ateliers. Des stagiaires de l’Albanie et de la Bulgarie vont venir à la Nouvelle-Orléans pour une formation au Community Organizing en octobre.  Anny Crumble de Bristol ACORN s’est rendu en Irlande pour parler aux groupes de locataires. Adrien Roux a parlé aux syndicats du Kazakhstan des méthodes d’organisation.

 

THE ORGANIZER sera également projeté début octobre aux États-Unis à Seattle, Corvallis et Portland et à Denver.

Friends and allies in Belgium and Greece have managed to get THE ORGANIZER set for screening in Brussels and Thessaloniki in October coupled with ACORN community organizing workshops. Interns are coming to New Orleans for community organizing training in October from Albania and Bulgaria.  Anny Crumble from Bristol ACORN visited Ireland to talk to tenants groups there. Adrien Roux talked to unions in Kazakhstan about organizing.

 

THE ORGANIZER is also screening in early October in the United States in Seattle, Corvallis and Portland (OR), and Denver.

 

 

Some of our friends in Thessaloniki who are encouraging ACORN to organize in Greece

 Nos amis à Thessalonique encouragent ACORN à s’organiser en Grèce

 

 

Recently ACORN Honduras leaders from San Pedro Sula met with 50 members of a community of largely banana workers who are fighting to win control of their land.

Récemment, les leaders d’ACORN Honduras de San Pedro Sula ont rencontré 50 membres d’une communauté de travailleurs du secteur de la banane qui luttent pour obtenir le contrôle de leurs terres.

 

 

ACORN friend, Mat Danaher with the largest private sector union there, E tu, hosted 40 folks, largely from labor, in a screen of THE ORGANIZER.  Books flew out the door, and there is the outline of a plan for ACORN to organize tenants — potentially — in New Zealand

Un ami d’ACORN, Mat Danaher avec le plus grand syndicat du secteur privé, E tu, a accueilli 40 personnes, en grande partie des travailleurs, à la projection de THE ORGANIZER.  Un premier pas vers l’organisation des locataires par ACORN en Nouvelle-Zélande.

 

 

The ACORN Farm operation is based in the historic lower 9th ward of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA where A Community Voice (ACV) members manage the major ongoing requirements of the gardens and grounds.

L’exploitation agricole d’ACORN Farm est basée dans le 9ème arrondissement historique de la Nouvelle-Orléans, Louisiane, USA, où les membres de A Community Voice (ACV) s’occupent des jardins et des terres.

 

 

1978 Louisiana ACORN street Blocking to win a street light on a state highway in New Orleans.

1978 en Louisiane, les membres de ACORN bloque la rue pour obtenir un feu tricolore sur une route nationale.

 

Philadelphia ACORN member and first member to convert to a mortgage through the Vision – Home Savers Campaign pilot program.

Premier membre d’ACORN à Philadelphie à prendre part au programme pilote Vision – Campagne d’épargne-logement.

 

ACORN UK Report

ACORN Canada Report

ACORN est une fédération internationale d’organisations dont le but est d’organiser les participations citoyennes. De Paris à Detroit, en passant par Detroit ou encore Londres, découvrez les différentes campagnes de notre fédération !

 

 

ACORN is an international federation of community based organizations working to organize the unorganized. From Paris to Detroit, not forgetting Montreal or London, let us discover the different campaigns of the members of our federation!

 

Alliance citoyenne Grenoble (France)

A Saint-Martin d’Hères, les locataires s’organisent contre le froid et l’humidité dans leurs logements

Mercredi 2 mai, les habitants de Renaudie se sont réunis autour d’un atelier banderoles.  Leur objectif : dénoncer le froid et l’humidité dans leurs logements.

Après avoir accroché leurs banderoles dans les endroits les plus visibles du quartier, les habitants attendent une réaction de leur bailleur social. A cette occasion, le député Colas Roy est venu à leur rencontre pour discuter des problèmes existants dans le quartier.

In Saint-Martin d’Hères, the tenants organize against the cold and the humidity in their housing

On Wednesday, May 2nd, the inhabitants of Renaudie met around a banners workshop. Their goal: denounce the cold and the humidity in their housing.

Having hung on their banners in the most visible places of the district, the inhabitants wait for a reaction of their social landlord. On this occasion, deputy Colas Roy went to meet them and to discuss existing problems in the district.

Alliance citoyenne d’Aubervilliers (France)

A Aubervilliers, colère des locataires : réparez l’ascenseur social !

Jeudi 26 avril, les locataires de l’immeuble République – Lénine se sont rassemblés dans le hall de leur immeuble pour dénoncer les pannes et défaillances régulières des ascenseurs qui leur rendent la vie impossible. Ils ont pu discuter avec tous les voisins et faire signer massivement la pétition. Tant que leur bailleur social, l’OPHLM, ne prend pas ses responsabilités, les habitants n’ont pas fini de monter dans les tours !

 In Aubervilliers, anger of the tenants: repair the social ladder!

On Thursday, April 26th, the tenants of the building “Republic – Lenin” gathered in the hall of their building to denounce the breakdowns and the regular failures of the elevators which complicate  everybody’s life. They talked with all the neighbors and collected names on petitions. As long as their social landlord, the OPHLM, does not face up to its responsibilities, the inhabitants will express their dissatisfaction.

Alliance citoyenne de Douala : OnEstEnsemble

Les habitants du quartier de Makepe Missoke obtiennent le changement des poteaux électriques dangereux !             

Face aux poteaux électriques en mauvais état sur le point de tomber, et aux câbles trainant sur le sol,

les membres de OnEstEnsemble de l’antenne de Missoke se sont mobilisés. Adoptant à la lettre les consignes de l’entreprise indiquant de s’éloigner des câbles qui tombent au sol, ils ont quitté leur quartier pour aller se réfugier à l’agence Enéo. Près de 20 habitants ont ainsi occupé les bureaux de l’entreprise, avec leurs couvertures et oreillers, demandant de sécuriser ces infrastructures électriques. La direction a réagit tout de suite, les recevant pour négocier. Ils ont obtenu le changement de 60 poteaux dans le quartier, et les câbles ont été réinstallés !

 

The inhabitants of the neighbourhood Makepe Missoke obtain the change of the dangerous electric poles!

Because of electric poles about to fall, and of cables being lying on the ground, the members of OnEstEnsemble of Missoke have been mobilizing. Adopting literally the instructions of the company Enéo, indicating going away from cables which fall on the ground, they left their district to take refuge inside the office Enéo. About 20 inhabitants occupied the office of the company, with their blankets and pillows, asking to secure these electric infrastructures. The manager has reacts at once, receiving them to negotiate. They obtained the change of 60 posts in the district, and cables were reinstalled!

 

ACORN USA – NEW ORLEANS

A la nouvelle Orléans, les victoires s’enchaînent                  

Les membres d’ACORN continue de mener leurs trois campagnes pincipales, relatives aux discriminations, qui concernent plusieurs quartiers et en particulier le 9ème Ward :

– L’arrêt de l’expansion du Canal Industriel

– la lutte contre l’autoroute en Floride

– l’arrêt des explosions le long du Canal Industriel et du fleuve Mississippi. 

In New Orleans, the members of ACORN continue to win                                   

Continue to win on 3 major Environmental Racism Campaigns affecting multiple neighborhoods,esp the 9th Ward

1. Stop the Expansion of the Industrial Canal
2. Fight the Florida Ave Freeway
3. Stop the Explosions along the Industrial Canal and Mississippi River

ACORN Royaume-Uni
ACORN United-Kingdom

Au Royaume-Uni, lancement d’alliances dans de nouveaux quartiers                    

Notre équipe basée à Bristol, Newcastle et Sheffield a commencé à organiser de nouveaux quartiers pour augmenter la densité et la diversité dans nos villes  et développer les infrastructures nécessaires. Nous avons des actions prévues pour l’été, notamment des actions directes pour mettre en évidence les politiques bancaires discriminatoires, (à l’occasion de l’anniversaire des 10 ans de la crise financière mondiale), en plus de l’organisation d’une conférence nationale.

 In UK, new neighbourhood organising drives

Our staff in Bristol, Newcastle and Sheffield have all begun new neighbourhood organising drives to increase density and diversity in our key cities and to develop the infrastructure needed to take us to the next level. We’ve got big plans for the summer including direct action to highlight discriminatory bank policies and mark the 10-year anniversary of the global financial crisis, plus our national conference.

ACORN Toronto (Canada)

Toronto : les habitants s’unissent contre la gentrification de leur quartier            

Le 24 mars, plusieurs dizaines de membres d’ACORN Toronto se sont réunis dans Weston pour s’opposer à la gentrification du quartier. Suite aux récents aménagements du quartier, les prix des loyers sont devenus trop chers pour les résidents. Selon la présidente d’ACORN Weston, Carla Scott, “Nous voulons que ce lieu soit développé. Nous aussi, voulons vivre dans un quartier agréable. Nous ne voulons pas juste être déplacés.”

Toronto: the inhabitants mobilized against the gentrification of their neighbourhood

On March 24, dozens of Toronto ACORN members rallied in Weston to oppose gentrification in the neighbourhood. New developments proposed for the area are priced too high for local residents. Weston ACORN chair Carla Scott said, “We want the place to become developed. We want to live in a nice area as well. We just don’t want to be displaced.”

 

ACORN Ottawa (Canada)

VICTOIRE: Les membres d’Ottawa font avancer le Conseil dans la bonne direction contre les prêts sur salaire         

Depuis 2015, les membres d’ACORN Ottawa ont fait pression en faveur de l’attribution d’une licence pour les “prêteurs sur salaire” afin de réduire la concentration de prêteurs dans les quartiers.  Aujourd’hui, en présence de 17 membres d’ACORN, le Conseil municipal a voté pour que le personnel établisse un rapport sur la nécessité de ces règlements. Une première étape pour mettre fin aux prêts prédateurs dans les quartiers !

 

VICTORY: Ottawa Members Move Council in the Right Direction Against Payday Loans                                                      

Ottawa ACORN members have been pushing for minimum distancing and licensing of payday lenders since 2015 in order to reduce the concentration of payday lenders in our neighbourhoods. Today City Council voted in favour of having staff report back on the need for these regulations with 17 ACORN members in attendance to show our support. Great first steps to ending predatory lending in our neighbourhoods!

ACORN Nouvelle Ecosse/Nova Scotia (Canada)

Les locataires de la Nouvelle Ecosse demande des logements salubres            

Les membres d’ACORN Nouvelle-Écosse et les locataires du 15 Kennedy Drive se sont rassemblés devant leur immeuble pour dénoncer leurs conditions de vie que leur propriétaire, MetCap living, leur impose. Entre les ascenseurs en pannes, les toits qui fuient et les cafards, les locataires en ont marre et demandent que des inspections et des réparations soient menées efficacement.

 

Dartmouth Members Demand Healthy Homes

Nova Scotia ACORN members and tenants of 15 Kennedy Drive rallied together in front of their building to fight against the scary living conditions that their landlord, MetCap Living, has forced them to live with. From broken elevators to leaky roofs and cockroaches, tenants are fed up and are demanding that proper inspections and repairs be done efficiently.

 

ACORN Montreal (Canada)

Les membres Sud-Ouest ACORN se réunissent pour marquer le démarrage de leur comité de quartier           

 23 leaders d’ACORN Montréal se sont réunis pour élire le président de leur comité de quartier. Michel Jobin, membre ACORN depuis Octobre 2017, a été élu au poste.

Les membres réclament une solution immédiate aux problèmes de punaises de lit, de coquerelles, et de souris, et demandent à ce que les familles et les individus ayant du jeter des meubles soient remboursées par le gouvernement.

Sud-Ouest ACORN Officially Launches as Latest Chapter

23 Montreal ACORN leaders came together last night to elect a Chairperson for the recently-established Sud-Ouest Chapter. Michel Jobin, a member since October of 2017, was elected to the position.

Members are demanding immediate action to rid the neighbourhood of bed bugs, cockroaches, and rodents, and reimbursements for all families and individual that have had to dispose of furniture as a result of pests.

ACORN Ontario (Canada)

Toronto : Monsieur le Ministre du Logement, nous voulons vivre dans une ville plus juste !           

Les membres d’ACORN se félicitent de l’avancée du Ministre de l’Urbanisme et du Logement de l’Ontario, Peter Milczyn, sur les nouvelles régulations. Celles-ci sont la preuve que l’organisation des communautés fonctionne. Après un long combat pour le logement abordable mené par les membres ACORN, la municipalité les a écouté et met en place des outils pour favoriser un logement abordable.

 

Victory for Grassroots Organizing! ACORN Welcomes Ontario Housing Regulations

ACORN members are pleased to see the new regulations put forward by Ontario Minister of Housing, Peter Milczyn. These regulations are proof that grassroots organizing works. After a long and hard fight for affordable housing by ACORN and other allies, the Province has listened and are handing over the tools to create affordable housing to the municipalities.

ACORN Delhi (Inde)

Notre campagne actuelle : la mise en place de lois pour protéger les les vendeurs de rues  

La campagne principale d’ACORN Delhi a abouti à la création d’une loi créée en 2018 par le gouvernement pour protéger les conditions de vie et de travail des vendeurs de rue. Actuellement, nous travaillons avec le gouvernement de Delhi pour constituer un commité rassemblant les vendeurs de rues de la ville. Dans les différents marchés, 12 groupes de marchands de rues ont été formés en 2017-18, et  1113 marchands rues sont maintenant adhérents. Ils sont informés de leurs droits et participent activement aux réunions.

 

Our constant advocacy: Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street vending                       

Our constant advocacy with Govt of Delhi resulted in notification of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street vending) Rule 2018 of GNCT of Delhi. Presently, we are advocating with Govt. of NCT of Delhi for constituting Town Vending Committees (TVC).

In different markets 12 groups of street vendors have been formed in 2017-18  with a total membership of 1113 street vendors. They are made aware of their rights and are actively participating in the meeting of market level.

ACORN Arkansas (USA)

The Poor Peoples Campaign, une nouvelle campagne de sensibilisation  

Les membres d’ACORN ont participé à une campagne nomée the Poor Peoples Campaign, qui a été lancée par Martin Luther King Jr il y a cinquante ans. Nous avons travaillé sur une campagne de sensibilisation au niveau local et national sur l’existence d’iinégalités dau sein de la population et de la nécessité de changer les décisions politiques qui affectent tant de personnes dans ce pays.

 

The Poor Peoples Campaign, a new campaign to raise awareness                     

The union has been involved with the Poor Peoples Campaign, which was first initiated by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr fifty years ago. We have been working to help raise awareness not only locally, but also nationally of the inequality of all people and why there has to be a change in many policies that affect so many people in this country.

ACORN India (Mumbai)

Mumbai : un nouveau projet de recyclage            

A Mumbai, les membres d’ACORN mènent un projet commun avec l’Université Bath Spa en Angleterre, qui forme nos collecteurs de déchêts sur la façon d’utiliser le recyclage de plastique pour faire des réalisations sur une machine 3D.

Mumbai : a project around plastic recycling

In Mumbai, members are doing a joint project with the Bath Spa University in England who are training our wastepickers with the Dharvi Prohject in how to use their plastic recycling to make things on a 3-D machine.

ACORN Peru

Pérou: non à privatisation de l’eau !

ACORN Pérou a rejoint notre partenaire, FENTAP, le syndicat des travailleurs de l’eau avec lequel nous nous sommes battu côte à côte pendant 15 ans dans le cadre de la lutte contre la privatisation de l’eau.

Peru: an anti-privitization protest

ACORN Peru joins our partner, FENTAP, the water weorkers union that we have fought with side by side for 15 years in an anti-privatization protest and the fundamental right to water.

ACORN Radio

La radio ACORN est en ligne            

La radio ACORN est désormais disponible en ligne. Découvrez les émissions et reportages des membres affiliés d’ACORN partout dans le monde, depuis chez vous.

http://acornradio.org/

ACORN Radio is on-the-air

ACORN Radio is finally on the air. Discover programmes and reports of the affiliates of ACORN all around the world, from home.

http://acornradio.org/

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out this Video from Nick Taylor and ACORN International from the Organizers Forum to Cameroon this September.

Link to Video

Seguir la lucha” aconseja líder comunitario mundial

Charlotte, NC.- Wade Rathke, reconocido líder comunitario mundial, visitó la Ciudad Reina el 23 de abril para compartir sus experiencias e incentivar a los activistas a continuar luchando con la optimización de los recursos a su alcance.

Hace algunos años esta comunidad hispana de Charlotte no era tan fuerte como lo es ahora, que aglomera a personas de toda Latinoamérica y que desde sus países vienen acostumbrados a luchar por sus derechos, por lo que no veo razón para que aquí, en Estados Unidos, bajen los brazos”, dijo Rathke, director ejecutivo de la organización internacional ACORN.

Tiempo perdido

De acuerdo a Rathke, la lucha migratoria perdió un gran avance cuando dejó a un lado la presión a la actual Administración durante el primer mandato. De haberse mantenido constante en la lucha por la reforma posiblemente se habría logrado, dijo el líder, tal como sucedió cuando los ‘Dreamers’ presionaron al presidente y consiguieron la concesión de la Acción Ejecutiva para los llegados en la Infancia (DACA).

“Perdimos un tiempo valioso dándole a Obama el espacio para que resolviera sus prioridades y hay una gran polarización en nuestro país ahora que no debería existir, nuestros inmigrantes están pasando crisis tanto aquí como en sus países y luchas como adquirir permisos de conducir se vuelven interminables si no se mantiene una presión permanente”, recalcó el activista, por lo recordó a los hispanos que no hay que bajar la guardia.

Click here for the video.

Several of our affiliates have produced unique t-shirts to support their organizing. Below you can see the soccer shirts used by the ACORN teams in the Dharavi slum of Mumbai, the unique t-shirts developed by our members in Prague debuted in recent pro-democracy marches, and the women’s t-shirt that is setting the fashion among our members in Buenos Aires. This is all tricky, but we think we can take the orders via email at chieforganizer@acorninternational.org or fill out the order form below and have our local offices fulfill them directly from these three cities.

Soccer shirts used by the ACORN teams in the Dharavi slum of Mumbai  $20

 

Prague T-Shirt from the marches in the streets  $25

ACORN fashion in Buenos Aires   $20

Please email chieforganizer@acorninternational.org the size of your t-shirt along with your order or fill out this order form below.

Happy holidays from ACORN International!

City

Mumbai $20.00 USDPrague $25.00 USDBuenos Aires $20.00 USD

Size

Small Medium Large X-Large XX-Large