About ACORN

ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) Canada is a multi-issue, membership-based community union of low- and moderate-income people. We believe that social and economic justice can best be achieved by building community power for change. Each member has a vote, and only members speak for the organization and have the authority to set the policy and determine the tactics of each group.

Our local and national boards are elected directly from our membership.

We have a long and deep history of organizing in low- and moderate-income neighbourhoods, fighting and winning change through a variety of means - including doorknocking; petitioning; local, regional, and national meetings (both internal and public forums); and last but not least, peaceful direct actions - all building power in the process.

We have over 140,000 members organized into twenty-four neighbourhood chapters in nine cities across Canada. We have three levels of membership. Full members pay $15/month; associate members chip in what they can; provisional members join the vision of the organization. General community members wanting to participate are always invited to our community events!

Since 2004 we have won several important victories including payday lending legislation, raises in the minimum wage, housing rights by-laws across the country, affordable internet program, disability rights and more.

Job Opportunity

We are hiring Community Organizers in Toronto. The job of an ACORN organizer is to build formal groups of low-to-moderate income people so they can disrupt and change the systems that negatively impact their community.

The on the job training provided allows someone to learn all the fundamentals of how to be a community organizer. This includes effective outreach, strategic research, campaign planning, communications, organizing events and actions, getting press to cover our actions and campaigns, and internal fundraising.

The current priorities laid out by ACORN’s leadership are:

• Housing:
  • Anti-Displacement campaign fighting back against renovictions/demovictions
• Inclusionary Zoning
• Landlord Licensing for healthy homes
• Internet for All:
  • $10/month internet for ALL low income people across Canada
  • Municipal broadband program

Responsibilities and Duties

Building/expanding neighbourhood groups by being directly in the communities we’re organizing

• Work with existing ACORN members and cultivating new leaders to expand both our neighbourhood and municipal campaigns.
• Work with our Head Organizer on a day to day basis to learn the basics of ACORN’s organizing methods and techniques.
• 37.5 hours per week - working in afternoons and evenings between 12-9pm
• Fundraising and asking for money is a fundamental part of an organizer’s job. We are structured like a union: ACORN members pay membership dues. While this is not the entire job, it’s fundamental that organizers sign up members and can ask for dues and donations.
• Willing and able to travel to training, and staff meetings (some outside of Canada). Usually 3 times a year. **COVID has drastically changed our travel***
• Dealing with multiple tasks in the same day - flexibility and resilience are keys to success.
• Representing the organization in the neighbourhoods, as well as with our leadership at external meetings or events (allies or targets).

Qualifications and Skills

• No paid experience required; professional organizer training provided
• Have strong social and people skills.
• Another language is not required but considered an asset.
• Be self driven and the ability to work both independently but also follow direction.
• Ability to listen in order to identify issues that are affecting our people.

Base compensation is $36,829 annually + transportation allowance (approx $90 per mo) + phone allowance ($20 per mo)
Health benefits, five paid sick days, and RRSP retirement program included after 6 months.