About Us
What is Jammin' Against Gentrification?
Jammin’ Against Gentrification is a charity concert to raise money and awareness for Toronto ACORN, the city-specific branch of ACORN Canada (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now). The project is driven by the negative impact that gentrification has had and continues to have on many communities throughout Toronto.
Right now, we are looking for testimonies and art to be displayed both virtually and physically at our event. Stay tuned for concert location, details, and tickets.
About ACORN
ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) Canada is a multi-issue, membership-based community union of low- and moderate-income people. We believe that social and economic justice can best be achieved by building community power for change. Each member has a vote, and only members speak for the organization and have the authority to set the policy and determine the tactics of each group.
Toronto ACORN was founded in 2004, with the first organized group in Canada being formed in Weston / Mt Dennis after tenants took their slum-lord to task and won $250,000 in rent abatements. In the next ten years, Toronto ACORN will spread to every part of the city leading the fight and winning significant victories including raising the minimum wage; strengthening the enforcement of apartment building standards; regulating the payday loan industry in Canada; and countless improvements in our neighbourhoods. In the next year we plan to fight for a new Residential Tenancy Act; to turn up the heat on predatory lenders that sell consolidation loans; to continue our fight to get the city of Toronto to license all landlords in the city; and to keep the pressure on to close the digital divide.
Why ACORN?
We selected ACORN to fundraise for because we respect and align ourselves with their mission to have a more financially-accessible and secure world for tenants, homeowners, and financially-disadvantaged groups. While ACORN’s priority as an organization is about housing and tenancy issues (hence our project’s mission to fight gentrification), they are also involved in actions to fight for fair banking, fair wages and minimum wage increases, accessible childcare, and accessible internet for all.
Get to Know Us
Jammin' Against Gentrification is a Capstone Project through Humber College's Arts Administration & Cultural Management post-graduate program. We are five students who are passionate about arts and culture, and fighting against the negative impacts gentrification has on our sector and in our communities.