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APR -12 -2004 11:50 AM
<br />Who is ACORN?
<br />Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now
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<br />ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, is the nation's largest community
<br />organization of low and moderate - Income families, with over 120,000 member families organized into 600
<br />neighborhood chapters In 45 cities across the country. Since 1970 ACORN has taken action and won victories on
<br />issues of concern to our members. Our priorities include: better housing for first time homebuyers and tenants,
<br />living wages for low -wage workers, more investment in our communities from banks and governments, and better
<br />public schools. We achieve these goals by building community organizations that have the power to win changes --
<br />through direct action, negotiation, legislation, and voter participation.
<br />What has ACORN Accomplished? This h a sampling of ACORN's accomplishments thus far.
<br />e Community Reinvestment
<br />Negotiated landmark agreements with banks in St. Louis, Baton Rouge, Boston, Bridgeport, New York City, Jersey
<br />City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Denver, Little Rock, New Orleans, Chicago, Minneapolis -St. Paul, Brooklyn, Des
<br />Moines, Dallas and Washington, D.C., making over a billion dollars available for loans in low- income neighborhoods.
<br />Blocked the gutting of the federal Community Reinvestment Act. Forced Fannie Mae to establish a precedent - sorting
<br />program to buy community reinvestment mortgages.
<br />Housing
<br />Created or upgraded homesteading programs that turn over vacant houses to low - income residents in
<br />Philadelphia, Detroit, Brooklyn, Bridgeport, Chicago, Phoenix, St. Louis, and Little Rock. Won passage of a
<br />national homesteading bill to protect buyers from unnecessary eviction. Forced HUD to reform policies and
<br />procedures to make It easier for low and moderate- income people to purchase HUD -owned properties.
<br />Schools
<br />Won establishment of alternative public schools in ACORN neighborhoods in Brooklyn, Queens, Jersey
<br />City, and St. Paul. Improved school facilities and governance in Chicago, New York, San Jose, Little Rock
<br />and Bridgeport. Stopped school closings in Des Moines, won free transportation to schools in Little Rock,
<br />upgraded school safety in New Orleans and Detroit.
<br />Living Wages
<br />Taken a leadership role In more than a dozen jobs and living wage campaigns, Including victories in
<br />Chicago, Cook County, Boston, Oakland, Detroit, Minneapolis, and St. Paul. To help build the growing living
<br />wage movement, ACORN has established the Living Wage Resource Center to provide assistance to living
<br />wage campaigns wherever they arise.
<br />e Jobs
<br />Secured "First Source" ordinances or agreements requiring developers to hire low- Income unemployed
<br />residents In Miami, Washington, D.C., Bridgeport, Pittsburgh, Dallas, St. Louis, Little Rock and Des Moines.
<br />8 Voter Participation
<br />Registered over 500,000 new voters since 1980. Struck down barriers to voter registration in Bridgeport,
<br />Pine Bluff, Little Rock, Atlanta, Grand Rapids and Pittsburgh. Replaced at -large City Council elections with
<br />a district election system in Pine Bluff and Pittsburgh. Recruited and trained ACORN members to run for
<br />public office In Little Rock, Pine Bluff, Philadelphia, Bridgeport, New York, San Jose, Chicago, Tulsa, St.
<br />Louts and Des Moines.
<br />e Health and Environmental Justice
<br />Forced companies to clean up, move, or cancel plans for toxic chemical plants, dumps, discharges, or
<br />waste incinerators In Memphis, Ft. Worth, Philadelphia, Des Moines, New Orleans, Dallas, Minneapolis,
<br />Jacksonville, St. Paul, Chicago, and St. Louis. Improved hospital care in Little Rock, Dallas and New York.
<br />Expanded childhood immunization in New Orleans. Organized parents of lead poisoning victims to pressure
<br />local governments for improved screening and treatment In New York, Detroit, Chicago, and Washington,
<br />D.C.
<br />O Neighborhood Safety
<br />Forced police and city officials to respond more effectively to rapes in low- Income neighborhoods and to
<br />establish rape - prevention programs in St. Louts, Boston, Chicago, New Orleans and Des Moines. Won
<br />programs to fight drugs, ranging from more police foot patrols to better recreation facilities in New Orleans,
<br />Philadelphia, St. Louis, Minneapolis, St, Paul, Boston, and Detroit.
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<br />For more Information on ACORN visit us o.. web site at www.acorn.orq or call (651) 642 -9639
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