ACORN and Community‐Labor Partnerships

Steven Kest is executive director of the largest network of low‐income neighborhood groups in the country—the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now. Across the country ACORN has built partnerships with unions to pass living‐wage laws, raise the minimum wage, fight for affordable housing, open job access for local residents, and other initiatives. His article highlights the wide variety of ways in which unions and community groups can partner. Kest also explains, from a community perspective, the potential hazards to labor‐community coalitions.