Robin Acree

Videos

This person has no videos.

Links

This person has no links.

Work History

This person has not filled out their work history yet.

Organizer Profile

The threat of welfare reform (deform). I went through as a leader in an organization and became a board member, part time organizer, lead organizer, then found out there was a glass ceiling so founded GRO, Grassroots Organizing.

1. To build power you have to have a strong base. Folks that you can move to act and have electoral influence.

2. Community voting can play a really good part in community organizing, and should be a part of everything you do and every campaign you run.

3. Issues don't move people. People move people.

Caroline Murray at ADP
Mark Tony
George Goehl at NTIC

Welfare reform- People had told me the day would never come where you have to work for your welfare check and then it did. I formed GRO in response to make sure disabled women could still get benefits and survive.

9/11- I was in DC on 9/11 and we were doing GROWL, a community meeting at the Russell building and we were evacuated. It was another time when I realized and used my white girl privilege to make sure other moms got back to their homelands.

And I think we're in another defining moment- in the fact that it was the most diverse mobilization of voters I've ever seen and because of the leader who has been elected. Is the movement going to be there to support him?

Leadership for a Changing World Award
Starting GRO
Ran an entire Healthcare Iniative Campaign on nearly a volunteer basis.
Database of 153,000 healthcare voters.
Prevented Blunt from running for re-election for Governor.
A most kickass Leadership Academy since 2002.

Developing a new crop of community organizers. We overcome that by making sure people like me take the time to mentor and give opportunities to young organizers and by promoting organizing through our educational and social systems.

We'll also be challenged to come up with creative wasy to push policy reform and stay connected to the grassroots. It's a new challenge under the current environment. We're changin to where things are less and less physical (e.g. email, web, TV. Re: Issues don't move people, people move people.

The economic depression that we're in. When people get sick and tired of being sick and tired they get angry, but they also die and get sick and are hardest to get involved in social movements becuase they feel too beaten.

What will 2012 look like? How will we continue to engage and mobilize new voters? We can't let ourselves be so swept up in the current moments that we lose sight of 2012.

Genealogy

Visualize Robin Acree's organizational relations

Robin Acree's Trainers

Who developed and/or trained you as an organizer?

Robin Acree's Coaches

Who has mentored, coached, or consulted with you in your organizing career?
PersonOrganization
Bade, ShannonNTIC- National Training and Information Center
Bhargava, DeepakCenter for Community Change
Borgos, SethCenter for Community Change
Sinclair, CharleneCenter for Community Change
Tony, MarkCenter for Third World Organizing

Robin Acree's Peers

Which of your peers influenced your development as an organizer?

Robin Acree's Trainees

Whom have you developed or trained as an organizer? (Please list people who have stayed in the field or a related field for at least three years.)
PersonOrganization
Espinosa, DanielNTIC- National Training and Information Center
Herron, ChandaArthur Center
Walle, KristenPlanned Parenthood
___, AnnetteSEIU CA

Robin Acree's Coachees

Who did you mentor, coach, or consult with you in your organizing career? (Please list people who have stayed in the field or a related field for at least 3 years.)
PersonOrganization
Blovin, AmyMissouri Budget Project
Burnett, AaronMissouri Jobs with Justice
Canning, RachellJust Harvest and SEIU
Ford, KelleyNTIC- National Training and Information Center
Musick, JohnMOP
Pehrson, GregFuerza Laboral
Pitts, WillWashington CAN
Selmon, JJSunflower Community Action