Community Coalitions as Strategy For Engaging Communities & Facilitating Change Center for Community Support & Research Wichita State University

Purposes of the Session  Greater understanding of community based coalitions and collaboration  Learn about how some Kansas community coalitions are enhancing nutrition and physical activity  Understand some special considerations for nutrition and physical activity coalitions  Discover how your community can enhance collaborative efforts around nutrition and physical activity coalitions

Coalitions There are 3 kinds of Coalitions Those which make things happen Those which wait for things to happen Those which wonder what happened

What is Collaboration? Mutually beneficial Well-defined relationship Multiple entities Results more likely to achieve together We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. ~~Martin Luther King

Why Collaborate? Win – Win WIN – win WIN-Win-win- win-win- win WIN – nothing to gain?? The Collaborative Premise: If you bring the appropriate people together in constructive ways with good information, they will create authentic visions and strategies for addressing the shared concerns of the community. ~~David Crisplip

The Few (Small) Process Toward Culture Change I Connectors I Mavens I Salespeople Few More (Growing) Even More (Bigger) Community Movement WOW!   Time   Sustained Culture Change I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I II I II I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Focus on Individual Behavior Change leads to Collective Action?

A Good Community Must Work for All of its Citizens. ~~John Gardner We Are Experienced

Gather over meal time Strong connections between members and community Diverse organizations – a lot of people involved Open mindedness – open to new ideas Partnering with media Members use their talents to help the cause Won’t take “no” for an answer Time for networking at meetings Shared leadership Having some funding for the coalition helps A lot of collaboration among funders Holistic view/community wide Strong coordinated school health group Leadership to keep the focus of the coalition Recognize/celebrate successes Ground rules for operation Mutuality/give and take/different issues on the table Combine coalitions meetings since overlap in membership/more efficient Youth involvement is a resource Many subgroups that are passionate Get publish school wellness policies Joint government/chamber meetings – get on their agenda KACCRRA a good resource & partner Get Community feedback through surveys Strengths of Coalition/Collaborative Work in our Community

Specific Things our Coalition or Community Can Do WhatWhoWho ElseBy When

Aiming High