Coalitions 101

1. Coalitions 101

2. Political Change Requires Lots of $$ Money $$ or Lots of People

3. We've got people!

4. Steps in Coalition Building • Map the Power in your Community • Define Recruitment Messages • Recruit • Develop Structure for Cooperation • Map Your Coalition’s Assets • Plan & Launch Action • Evaluate and, have fun!

5. Natural Allies Seniors Students Business commuters People with disabilities Welfare-to-work Who else? Beyond the Choir Chamber of Commerce Major employers Organized labor Developers Schools & universities Local Electeds Environmental groups Religious organizations Neighborhood associations Interest groups that represent your customers Who else? # 1. Find out who holds power in your community

6. #2. Define Recruitment Messages • Speaking the languages of those “beyond the choir” • Creating common vision • Showing change is feasible

7. Transportation is a Nexus Issue

8. Target power brokers Tell them what’s in it for them Provide vision Tailor messages Use appropriate messengers #3. Recruit • Choice: real, quality transportation options • No more frustrating commutes! • Transportation information at your fingertips • Transit becomes your state’s second car • Transportation system saves lives • Efficient land-use supports walking, biking, transit • People enjoy traveling

9. Transportation & Public Health Advocates • Safety • Fitness • Air Quality

10. Transportation & Organized Labor • Job Creation • Commute Conditions • Sprawl • Job Access

11. Transportation & Faith-based Groups • Social Equity • Neighborhood Safety • Community Vitality

12. Transportation & Business Sector • Congestion • Job Creation • Labor Pool • Worker Productivity

13. involve Community Mobilization inform thank ask #4. Develop Structure for Cooperation • Establish clear, quantifiable, and attainable goals • Allow partners to lead • Empower people to become effective and active • Have diverse partners • Avoid too-controversial alliances • Make involvement easy • Provide timely information • Decide on coalition structure Courtesy: Sierra Club

14. #5. Map Your Coalition’s Assets • Number of people/members • Public profiles of key power brokers • Media relationships • Community connections • Talents (writing, public speaking) • Financial support • In-kind support: • Meeting space, refreshments • Copying, printing, design, postage • Website

15. Campaign Goals & Issue Focus Story Message & Theme Strengths & Weaknesses Primary Public Audiences Allies/Opponents Targets Tactics & Timeline Put it in Writing! #6. Plan & Launch Action

16. Possible Actions • Mobilization of letters, faxes, emails • Lobbying visits • Rally • Media work • Accountability session

17. #7. Evaluate & Have Fun • Catalog lessons learned • Publicize victory internally & externally • Hold a victory party

18. Locally Better land-use decisions Better cooperation between transit agency & community Transit Funding Local sales tax initiatives RTPA & MPO funding allocations State Budget & policy TEA-21 Reauthorization The Potential Coalition Victories…