Ellyson Carter
Ellyson Carter was a lead organizer for the Chicago Chapter of ACORN from 1999-2008, and remains with Action Now, its predecessor, to this day. Ellyson is a former marine, whom former ACORN member Susan Ritacca describes as having a tough exterior with a sweet soft soul. Carter trained Susan as an organizer, and like many of his disciples, credits him with instilling in her a lifelong commitment to civil service. Ellyson was raised in the Lawndale/Austin area of Chicago. He remembers being arrested as a 10-year-old during the protests that ensued after MLK’s assassination. Ellyson joined the marines coming out of high school and returned with a substance abuse addiction. He was very unhappy while serving, saying the people involved were “mean,” although he does site them for instilling in him a strong and disciplined work ethic. He came across ACORN when, after approaching his mother several times for money to support his drug addiction, she recommended that he go to the organization who was paying people to go door-to-door registering voters. He took to the work quickly, and has been described as a force of nature, his success registering voters eclipsed that of his peers. Ellyson’s work ethic and stern but compassionate demeanor made him an ideal trainer for new recruits. When going door-to-door, he sites part of his success from meeting respondents where they were at, listening to their needs, gauging their moods and personalities and approaching them with similar energy. He was heavily involved in voter drives and organizing the big box living wage campaign. Ellyson is deeply dedicated to the cause of civil rights, saying his drive comes from a desire to leave the world a better place for his grandchildren, from his faith in God. Ellyson struggled with addiction throughout his early years in ACORN. When he finally committed himself to sobriety, he went to head organizer Madeline Talbot and told her he would have to quit the organization to go to an out of state rehab facility. She told him to take whatever time he needed to get healthy, and that his job would be waiting for him when he got back and then payed for his flight to the center. When he returned, his desk remained untouched. He sites ACORN and Jesus for delivering him from the powers of alcohol. The decline of ACORN was difficult for Ellyson, who holds a deep love for the organization to this day. But he realizes it’s eventual transition to Action Now had to happen, and he believes ACORN’s spirit is very much alive there. Ellyson is very proud of Action Now’s organizing efforts to elect Brandon Johnson as mayor. He sees Johnson, a former teacher’s union organizer, as one of his people, and has his telephone number in his cell. When he talks about him taking office he gets emotional. Ellyson cherishes his time with ACORN, and holds his memories of its conferences as some of the happiest of his life. He believes ACORN will be remembered as “the biggest, baddest organization around.”