1. Coalition Building
Ted Lewis

2. Today’s Agenda
Context - Who is Ted Lewis?

3. Today’s Agenda Context - Who is Ted Lewis?
Grounding Our Work in Intersectionality

4. Today’s Agenda Context - Who is Ted Lewis?
Grounding Our Work in Intersectionality
What is Coalition Building?

5. Today’s Agenda Context - Who is Ted Lewis?
Grounding Our Work in Intersectionality
What is Coalition Building?
Example of Successful Coalition Building – LGBTQ+ Rights Movement & Immigration Reform Movement

6. Today’s Agenda Context - Who is Ted Lewis?
Grounding Our Work in Intersectionality
What is Coalition Building?
Example of Successful Coalition Building – LGBTQ+ Rights Movement & Immigration Reform Movement
Applying The Model to Your Needs

7. Today’s Agenda Context - Who is Ted Lewis?
Grounding Our Work in Intersectionality
What is Coalition Building?
Example of Successful Coalition Building – LGBTQ+ Rights Movement & Immigration Reform Movement
Applying The Model to Your Needs
Questions & Discussion

8. Context - Who is Ted?
10 years experience in Higher Education focused on LGBTQ+ student services particularly in the South
LeaderShape Co-Lead since 2012
Community organizing experience with several groups including SONG, SURJ, and Campus Pride
Currently serve as Executive Director of Side by Side, a LGBTQ+ youth center in Richmond, VA
White with multiracial parents, genderqueer, queer, middle- class, able-bodied, fat, fabulous, Virginian in snazzy glasses and a bowtie!

9. Thank you to SONG (Southerners On New Ground)
A Queer Liberation organization made up of people of color, immigrants, undocumented people, people with disabilities, working class and rural and small town, LGBTQ people in the South. We believe that we are bound together by a shared desire for ourselves, each other, and our communities to survive and thrive. We believe that Community Organizing is the best way for us to build collective power and transform the South. Out of this belief we are committed to building freedom movements rooted in southern traditions like community organizing, political education, storytelling, music, breaking bread, resistance, humor, performance, critical thinking, and celebration. (

10. What is Intersectionality?
“Black women are sometimes excluded from feminist theory and antiracist policy discourse because both are predicated on discrete set of experiences that does not accurately reflect the interaction of race and gender … Because the intersectional experience is greater than the sum of racism and sexism, any analysis that does not take intersectionality into account cannot sufficiently address the particular manner in which Black women are subordinated.” -Kimberle Crenshaw, “Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex: A Black Feminist Critique of Antidiscrimination Doctrine, Feminist Theory and Antiracist Politics (1989)

11. Intersectionality vs. Intersecting Identities
Model of Multiple Dimensions of Development (Abes, Jones, & McEwen, 2007)

12. Intersectionality vs. Intersecting Identities
Ability
Model of Multiple Dimensions of Development (Abes, Jones, & McEwen, 2007)

13. Intersectionality vs. Intersecting Identities
Race
Ability
Model of Multiple Dimensions of Development (Abes, Jones, & McEwen, 2007)

14. Intersectionality vs. Intersecting Identities
Race
Socio-Economic Status
Ability
Model of Multiple Dimensions of Development (Abes, Jones, & McEwen, 2007)

15. Intersectionality vs. Intersecting Identities
Race
Socio-Economic Status
Ability
Ethnicity
Model of Multiple Dimensions of Development (Abes, Jones, & McEwen, 2007)

16. Intersectionality vs. Intersecting Identities
Race
Sexual Orientation
Socio-Economic Status
Ability
Ethnicity
Model of Multiple Dimensions of Development (Abes, Jones, & McEwen, 2007)

17. Intersectionality vs. Intersecting Identities
Race
Sexual Orientation
Socio-Economic Status
Ability
Ethnicity
Religion & Faith
Model of Multiple Dimensions of Development (Abes, Jones, & McEwen, 2007)

18. Intersectionality vs. Intersecting Identities
Race
Sexual Orientation
Gender Identity
Socio-Economic Status
Ability
Ethnicity
Religion & Faith
Model of Multiple Dimensions of Development (Abes, Jones, & McEwen, 2007)

19. Intersectionality vs. Intersecting Identities
Race
Sexual Orientation
Gender Identity
Socio-Economic Status
Age
Ability
Ethnicity
Religion & Faith
Model of Multiple Dimensions of Development (Abes, Jones, & McEwen, 2007)

20. What is Coalition Building? (isn’t it just partnering? – NO!)
an "organization of organizations" united around a common issue and clear goal(s); however, sometimes the term “coalition” is used to refer to groups of diverse individuals or organizations of individuals who are involved in other groups as well. (GSA Network)

21. What is Coalition Building? (isn’t it just partnering? – NO!)
an "organization of organizations" united around a common issue and clear goal(s); however, sometimes the term “coalition” is used to refer to groups of diverse individuals or organizations of individuals who are involved in other groups as well. (GSA Network)
Deeper than a one-time partnership, because it’s about goal sharing and community building

22. What is Coalition Building? (isn’t it just partnering? – NO!)
an "organization of organizations" united around a common issue and clear goal(s); however, sometimes the term “coalition” is used to refer to groups of diverse individuals or organizations of individuals who are involved in other groups as well. (GSA Network)
Deeper than a one-time partnership, because it’s about goal sharing and community building
Takes time, strategy, and work!

23. All organizations are coalitions
With the many identities, personalities, goals, needs, etc. that people bring to an organization or group, we should acknowledge that on some level all organizations are coalitions of diverse people coming together sometimes because of a shared identity, shared purpose, shared interest, or shared goal. What work are you doing to uplift everyone’s wholeness within your organization?

24. A Model for Coalition Building
Focus on meaningful community connections around shared emotions, experiences, and language

25. A Model for Coalition Building
Focus on meaningful community connections around shared emotions, experiences, and language
Issues and goals are always a secondary focus

26. A Model for Coalition Building
Focus on meaningful community connections around shared emotions, experiences, and language
Issues and goals are always a secondary focus
Building relationships prior to building the work

27. A Model for Coalition Building
Focus on meaningful community connections around shared emotions, experiences, and language
Issues and goals are always a secondary focus
Building relationships prior to building the work
“If you don’t party together, it’s not a coalition.” – Paulina Helm-Hernandez, co-director of SONG

28. A Model for Coalition Building
Focus on meaningful community connections around shared emotions, experiences, and language
Issues and goals are always a secondary focus
Building relationships prior to building the work
“If you don’t party together, it’s not a coalition.” – Paulina Helm-Hernandez, co-director of SONG
Centering those who live at the intersection of the coalition and/or those most marginalized

29. Your Organization, Department, Etc.
Areas of Focus
Concerns
Major Issues
Goals
What are you working on?
Your Organization, Department, Etc.

30. Your Organization, Department, Etc.
Areas of Focus
Concerns
Major Issues
Goals
What are you working on?
Your Organization, Department, Etc.
Emotions
Phrases
Points of Connection
What do people feel when they are working with your group?

31. Your Organization, Department, Etc.
Potential Partner
Areas of Focus
Concerns
Major Issues
Goals
What are you working on?
Emotions
Phrases
Points of Connection
What do people feel when they are working with your group?
Areas of Focus
Concerns
Major Issues
Goals
What are you working on?
Your Organization, Department, Etc.
Emotions
Phrases
Points of Connection
What do people feel when they are working with your group?

32. Individuals Who Live at this Intersection
Potential Partner
Areas of Focus
Concerns
Major Issues
Goals
What are you working on?
Emotions
Phrases
Points of Connection
What do people feel when they are working with your group?
Areas of Focus
Concerns
Major Issues
Goals
What are you working on?
Individuals Who Live at this Intersection
Identify specific issues, concerns, or areas to work together
Prioritize feelings, emotions, and points of connection
Your Organization, Department, Etc.
Emotions
Phrases
Points of Connection
What do people feel when they are working with your group?

33. LGBTQ+ Rights “the only one” “the closet” Pride! exploring identity
employment discrimination
HIV/AIDS
health care
police brutality
harassment and violence
bullying
teen suicide
legal recognition of identity
LGBTQ+ Rights
coming out
“the closet”
Pride!
exploring identity
losing family
“the only one”
feeling isolated

34. Immigration changing language “the shadows” community
voting rights
legal status
forced deportations
police brutality
harassment and violence
employment discrimination
suicide
education
health care
Immigration
disclosing status
“the shadows”
community
disconnected from family
fear
changing language
feeling isolated

35. LGBTQ+ Rights LGBTQ+ Immigrants Immigration
“coming out”
sense of belonging
feeling isolated
need for recognition
LGBTQ+ Rights
LGBTQ+ Immigrants
Immigration
employment
health care
marriage
HIV/AIDS
census

36. Centering Those Living at the intersection
Leadership from people living the intersection of the coalition

37. Centering Those Living at the intersection
Leadership from people living the intersection of the coalition
Prioritizing of voices, concerns, and critiques from people living at the intersection

38. Centering Those Living at the intersection
Leadership from people living the intersection of the coalition
Prioritizing of voices, concerns, and critiques from people living at the intersection
Recognizing our own identities and privileges and checking ourselves

39. Common pitfalls of coalition building
Lack of honest and open communication

40. Common pitfalls of coalition building
Lack of honest and open communication
Lack of transparency in decision making, or decision making that is uneven or unfair

41. Common pitfalls of coalition building
Lack of honest and open communication
Lack of transparency in decision making, or decision making that is uneven or unfair
Goals that are not clear, attainable, and measurable

42. Common pitfalls of coalition building
Lack of honest and open communication
Lack of transparency in decision making, or decision making that is uneven or unfair
Goals that are not clear, attainable, and measurable
No real relationship building work, solely focus on goal setting instead of community building

43. How do I even get started? (start with you!)
Recognize that your organization, department, or group is already a coalition! (What work are you doing to uplift everyone’s wholeness within your organization?)

44. How do I even get started? (start with you!)
Recognize that your organization, department, or group is already a coalition! (What work are you doing to uplift everyone’s wholeness within your organization?)
Provide space for group members to share their other activities, connections, identities, interests, etc.

45. How do I even get started? (start with you!)
Recognize that your organization, department, or group is already a coalition! (What work are you doing to uplift everyone’s wholeness within your organization?)
Provide space for group members to share their other activities, connections, identities, interests, etc.
Practice collective vision work and goal setting within your group

46. How do I even get started? (Finding a collaborator)
Identify logical partners (who is already your comrade in this work?)

47. How do I even get started? (Finding a collaborator)
Identify logical partners (who is already your comrade in this work?)
Find common membership (who in your group is already living at this particular intersection?)

48. How do I even get started? (Finding a collaborator)
Identify logical partners (who is already your comrade in this work?)
Find common membership (who in your group is already living at this particular intersection?)
Engage in meaningful dialogue and relationship building

49. How do I even get started? (Finding a collaborator)
Identify logical partners (who is already your comrade in this work?)
Find common membership (who in your group is already living at this particular intersection?)
Engage in meaningful dialogue and relationship building
SHOW UP! Publicly support the programs, events, and efforts of your collaborators.

50. How do I even get started? (Goal Setting)
BIG! Yet also attainable.

51. How do I even get started? (Goal Setting)
BIG! Yet also attainable.
Meaningful to all collaborators.

52. How do I even get started? (Goal Setting)
BIG! Yet also attainable.
Meaningful to all collaborators.
Measurable (must envision the win!)

53. Individuals Who Live at this Intersection
Potential Partner
Areas of Focus
Concerns
Major Issues
Goals
What are you working on?
Emotions
Phrases
Points of Connection
What do people feel when they are working with your group?
Areas of Focus
Concerns
Major Issues
Goals
What are you working on?
Individuals Who Live at this Intersection
Identify specific issues, concerns, or areas to work together
Prioritize feelings, emotions, and points of connection
Your Organization, Department, Etc.
Emotions
Phrases
Points of Connection
What do people feel when they are working with your group?

54. Questions & Discussion