Leaders
ACORN is owned by its members
ACORN Leaders. They direct and guide a group by being out in front. But equally important is creating space for new leaders to emerge! Shared leadership is functional leadership. While good leaders may be totally committed to building rank-and-file participation and ownership, their primary role is to help the group grow, resolve conflict, lead by example and achieve its goals. ACORN wins campaigns by having power which means having as many members and leaders as possible!
ACORN Organizers. Support members to take the lead, continuously locating new blood to invigorate and democratize the organization.
A Leader can be an Organizer, but an Organizer cannot be a Leader
Power to the People. ACORN is governed by a national board of its members. The national board is made up of two member elected representatives from each province that has at least three chapters. Each chapter needs to have 10 full dues-paying members to elect a local board.
Get to know some of the leaders of local ACORN chapters.
Get to Know our Leaders
Jacquie Wells
Chair, Waterloo Region Chapter
Jacquie has called Waterloo Region home since 2007. She has worked in the healthcare sector and has a passion for supporting people’s needs, recognizing that having basic needs met in community is the foundation for wellness. She is passionate about the human right to housing and ensuring that governments meet their obligation to ensure everyone has a home where they are safe and secure. Jacquie has found that working with ACORN is an effective way to advocate and fight for these rights, with meaningful and tangible change as proof that people power works!
Ken Vogelpohl
Co-Chair, Waterloo Region Chapter
Ken has been involved with ACORN since 2023 and has been an elected leader since 2025. He helped rebuild his building tenant association after the COVID outbreak. He is also involved in his local union, and has a passion for the labour movement and the intersection of workplace and community organizing.
Elliot Wand
Secretary, Waterloo Region Chapter
Elliot joined ACORN in April 2025 after learning that the people renovicting tenants in his building were doing the same thing to people elsewhere in the city. He hopes to fight back against bad-faith landlords and indifferent politicians, and push for better protections for renters. Elliot is excited to continue to grow as a leader, and learn more about how to support the KW chapter, and the members of his community.