Dear Lucas,
I write to you today with news of a tremendous loss for New York Communities for Change and the larger progressive movement in New York and the across the country. Our Executive Director, Jon Kest, passed away at his home on Wednesday night at the age of 57. Jon is survived by his wife, Fran, and his son, Jake. He also had a daughter, Jessie, who many of you know tragically lost her life during Hurricane Sandy.
Jon was one of the greatest organizers of his generation. He began his career with ACORN in the mid 1970s and founded NY ACORN with his wife Fran in 1982. Working with members in East New York, he built a squatters’ movement that led to sweeping housing reform in New York City and to the creation of MHANY. He led the fight to prevent the widespread privatization of NYC public education by Edison Schools in the early 90s and the campaign that led to 28,000 home child care providers joining a union -- the largest labor organizing movement in New York in the last 50 years. It was also Jon's vision and leadership that led to the creation of the Working Families Party and numerous coalitions like the Alliance for Quality Education, the Coalition for Educational Justice and Housing Here and Now.
The number of victories Jon helped to spearhead while at ACORN are too many to count, but perhaps his greatest legacy was the mentoring he provided for organizers throughout the country: from Florida to Texas to Ohio to California, so many organizers looked first to Jon for advice and guidance on how to build successful campaigns and game-changing organizations.
When the right-wing banded together to destroy ACORN, Jon masterfully guided former members and staff as we built our new organization, New York Communities for Change, and continued the fight for social and economic justice. Under Jon’s leadership the past three years, we have led landmark campaigns preventing the corporatization of our schools, fighting for bank accountability, and organizing low-wage workers. Just last week, a historic strike of fast food workers in New York City was both the culmination of Jon's vision as the architect of the campaign and a first-step toward fundamentally changing the $200 billion industry.
Because of Jon's bold vision, conviction and commitment, we are at the beginning of a journey to re-build a more-inclusive middle class in New York. And with these principles that he has instilled in us, we will continue to organize and build power for low- and middle-income communities throughout the state.
As Working Families Party founder Bob Master has now famously said, Jon was above all the organizer’s organizer, never seeking to be in the front of the room or to give the quote in the paper. Jon will continue to play this role in the lives of the thousands he touched, as the advice, wisdom and determination he instilled guides us toward achieving his goal of building power in our communities.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday December 9th at 10:30am at the United Federation of Teachers, 52 Broadway New York, NY. The family has request that in lieu of flowers donations be made to New York Communities for Change.
With Great Sadness,
Olivia Leirer
Communications Director
New York Communities for Change