The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) is an independent grassroots network of neighborhood organizations whose members engage in direct action to win political, social, and economic benefits for low- and moderate-income people in communities throughout the United States. While many advocacy groups appeal to a single constituency or focus on a single issue, ACORN is committed to organizing communities around a variety of issues. Whether fighting for better schools, affordable housing, new libraries, or more favorable banking practices, they identify winnable goals that have broad appeal across racial, gender, geographic, economic, political, or employment status boundaries. Using an approach that combines electioneering, legislative lobbying, legal action, peaceful protest, and in-your-face confrontation, their coalitions fight for, and often win, tangible benefits for their ...