Leaders
ACORN is owned by its members
ACORN Leaders. They direct and guide a group by being out in front. But equally important is creating space for new leaders to emerge! Shared leadership is functional leadership. While good leaders may be totally committed to building rank-and-file participation and ownership, their primary role is to help the group grow, resolve conflict, lead by example and achieve its goals. ACORN wins campaigns by having power which means having as many members and leaders as possible!
ACORN Organizers. Support members to take the lead, continuously locating new blood to invigorate and democratize the organization.
A Leader can be an Organizer, but an Organizer cannot be a Leader
Power to the People. ACORN is governed by a national board of its members. The national board is made up of two member elected representatives from each province that has at least three chapters. Each chapter needs to have 10 full dues-paying members to elect a local board.
Get to know some of the leaders of local ACORN chapters.
Get to Know our Leaders
Jacquie Wells
Co-Chair, Waterloo Region Chapter
As a healthcare professional for 15 years, Jacquie has a passion for social issues impacting physical and mental well-being. As a renter all of her adult life, she developed a passion for housing rights. She envisions a better future whereby all people can be liberated from harm and neglect and that the norm of society is that everyone’s needs are a priority.
Ryan Murdock
Secretary, Waterloo Region Chapter
Ryan started as an ACORN member in Toronto in 2020 and helped to build the local ACORN group in KW in 2023. Ryan has a passion for fighting to protect the rights of marginalized groups and improve equality for all peoples.