madeline talbott

Executive Director, ACORN

Madeline Talbott is executive director of Illinois ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now), a grassroots organization made up of low and moderate income families working to improve their lives and communities. At ACORN, Talbott has led the organizing in developing a 12,000 family membership base, creating a housing corporation and a union for low wage workers that is now becoming one of the largest unions in the state.

Talbott graduated with honors from Harvard University. Prior to her organizing career at ACORN, Talbott worked for the Ministry of Community Development in Harar , Ethiopia and Mothers for Day Care in Chelsea, MA.

Talbott believes that community development can only be realized if the members of the community are integrally involved in identifying the issues or concerns, developing strategies to address them, speaking for themselves and their community and running their own organization. It is that commitment to people having control over their lives and communities that drives both her organizing work and her teaching at MACD.

Courses
CD 5400 Community Analysis