Building 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. 

Building a Coalition is designed to assist community members and public officials, regardless of their expertise, in understanding how to form a team to address local issues and achieve results. As its goal is to enable anyone to build a coalition, it is presented as a clear and direct user guide. You know your community best, so feel free to adapt the information as needed for your specific context. 

This toolkit focuses on the formation of your coalition. For guidance on what comes next, please refer to the companion toolkit, Activating a Coalition. There, you will find ideas and inspiration for how to continue to fuel your coalition’s work.