CA ACORN now the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE)

(this is an announcement we received from CA ACORN indicating they are changing to the Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE))

We wanted to make sure that you knew immediately about a momentous and very exciting announcement: The leadership and staff that were working with ACORN in California have made the decision to break off from ACORN and launch a new organization here in California called Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE).

The thousands of Californians that have worked for decades with ACORN to level the playing field have much to be proud of. They've passed laws that increase affordable housing and raise the minimum wage, so they can provide for their families. They've also spent their personal time, which is in chronically short supply, pushing for better teachers and textbooks so the kids in their neighborhoods can have better opportunities. On these and other issues the odds have been
against them, but these Californians leveraged their significant numbers with coordinated grassroots organizing to achieve victory.

Until now, they carried out this work as a chapter of the national organization ACORN. However, ACORN's accomplishments have been undermined by a campaign of lies, media distortions and incessant attacks, and the organization has made some real internal mistakes which have been eagerly magnified by their political opponents over the last several months.

Ultimately, the now former leadership and staff in California made the difficult decision to break off from ACORN and launch a new, independent, California-controlled organization. The organization will work to advance the mission of organizing and empowering low-income communities, and launch a statewide, multi-year campaign to win key policy changes that will break the cycle of continuous fiscal crisis in the state of California and cuts that hurt ordinary people
and their communities.

As of January 12, ACCE is up and running as an independent state-wide organization with no legal, financial or structural ties to ACORN. ACCE's board and management have full control and accountability over our work and organization in California. Outside experts in organizational management, legal compliance, financial management, and human resources are working with us to ensure that our new organization has strong and healthy governance, staff and financial management systems, and that it complies with all applicable filing and reporting requirements.

It is clear to us that the need for an organization focused on empowering low-income Californians is more important now than ever. The Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment will be dedicated to raising the voices of everyday Californians, neighborhood by neighborhood, so that our children have stronger communities and expanded opportunities. We look forward to working with our partners in the community in these endeavors.

The full statement on this announcement is available on our website at www.calorganize.org

Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions.

In Solidarity,

Edgar Hilbert
Member of Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment Interim
Board of Directors
Former Member of California ACORN

Amy Schur
Executive Director of Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment
Former Executive Director of California ACORN