Activating a Coalition

The adaptive framework shared in this toolkit is based on Mpact:LAB’s work in collaborative problem solving, cross-sector coalition building, and fostering community-driven change in the realms of transportation and the built environment. 

In 2023, Mpact partnered with the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy to support MOVE (Mobility, Opportunity, Voice, and Equity) Roundtable programs in four legacy cities: Buffalo, New York; Cleveland, Ohio; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Youngstown, Ohio. MOVE Roundtables, an offering of Mpact:LAB, provide six weeks of structured meetings with a group of stakeholders, examining a local priority issue through the MOVE lenses. 

Through a series of interviews that followed each MOVE Roundtable, a common theme emerged: while coalition work is essential—and often highly valued—it is difficult to initiate and manage. Two toolkits offering step-by-step guidance for coalition-building were developed as a direct response to the primary need identified by cities participating in the MOVE Roundtables: support for coalition development. The two toolkits—Building a Coalition and Activating a Coalition—are designed to stand alone but also complement each other. 

Activating a Coalition provides examples of how your coalition can take its first steps and build momentum by creating early success and visibility. The intent is to help coalitions and those leading them to see ways to activate the coalition and move forward agreed-upon goals. These examples especially focus on coalitions just getting started in activation and coalitions without dedicated staff or funding for the coalition purpose. 

A companion toolkit Building a Coalition: The First Steps Toward Changing the Built Environment or Transportation in Your Community is also available.