Welcome to the ACORN 8

During the fall of 2008, following the discovery of an eight year cover-up of a multi-million dollar ACORN scandal and embezzlement by Dale Rathke the brother of Wade Rathke the co-founder and Chief Organizer of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) and the Service Employee’s International Union (SEIU), eight courageous national board members banded together to reform the venerable association of community organizations before it was to late.

The efforts to quash intra-corporate disputes failed when ACORN faced unprecedented upheaval from outside forces. Courageous whistleblowers Karen Inman and Marcel Reid continue the fight they began for transparency and accountability within ACORN. Other national board members joined their efforts and together these courageous ACORN whistleblowers became known as the ACORN 8. But the reactions by ACORN are cautionary tales about inter-corporate relationships, and management and control of non-profit corporations. And the breach of fiduciary duties and trust following a $1 million embezzlement dating back to 1999. 

Today the ACORN 8, LLC is a non-profit membership organization with representatives in 15 states and the District of Columbia that engages in legislative advocacy, including federal and corporate whistleblower rights and judicial reform, participates in grassroots coalitions and continues to advocate on behalf of low and moderate income families and communities.