Why It Is So Difficult to Form Effective Community Coalitions

Abstract

Reviews of large-scale community coalition evaluations suggest that most have not been successful either in involving a broad array of institutions or in meeting their outcome goals. Informed by the literature and by insights from fieldwork, a socialstructural theoretical explanation is offered for this lack of success. To summarize: coalition structures and the concept of community are loosely defined; local structures attempt to cope with problems that have regional, state, national, and international roots; ethnic, class, and racial divisions lead to cooptation; the narrative of past failed interventions creates current problems; organizations with different sizes and institutional affiliations have problems in working together; and the presence of many organizations leads to confused decision-making processes. In addition, drug and alcohol prevention program funding is dwarfed by the funds of the alcohol and illegal drug industries. Recognizing these issues in advance and focusing interventions can help to alleviate the effects of these structural problems.There has been an outpouring of literature recently on community coalitions that advocates their use and reviews their achievements (Wandersman and Florin, 2003). Community coalitions are widely touted as the solution to a variety of social ills-most prominently, health problems such as adolescent pregnancy, substance abuse, and tobacco use (FosterFishman et al., 2001). Literature advocating community coalitions has not, however, been matched by research evidence documenting the success of coalitions. In fact, in the broadest and most systematic review of community coalitions, Berkowitz (2001) concludes that the evidence is, at best, weak and "inconclusive." As policymakers increasingly look to

Building an Airplane While Flying It: One Community's Experience with Community Food Transformation

“…While food policy councils are an effective way to make change, they can also be rife with conflict. When people who are marginalized with fewer opportunities define change-making as redistribution of opportunities or power, broader coalition consensus often erupts along the line of racial, cultural, ideological, and political opposition (Arnstein, 1969;Kadushin et al, 2005). This sort of division mirrors the very same systems the food policy council was designed to dismantle (Coplen & Cuneo, 2015;Kadushin et al, 2005).…”

“…In order to avoid replicating power structures that disempower groups already struggling with diminished opportunities, those involved in coalition building must intentionally and carefully consider how to address leadership and racial and economic equity within their coalitions (Ammons, 2014;Giancatarino, & Noor, 2014;Kadushin et al, 2005). It is only with clearly articulated and continuously embedded understanding of structural racism and the resulting lack of opportunities for specific racialized groups that collaborative organizing can be successful.…”

“…It is only with clearly articulated and continuously embedded understanding of structural racism and the resulting lack of opportunities for specific racialized groups that collaborative organizing can be successful. When community members are truly a part of all aspects of decision-and change-making within the food system, coalitions and food policy councils can work together across race and class to make positive changes (Ammons, 2014;Arnstein, 1969;Giancatarino & Noor, 2014;Kadushin et al, 2005;Kang, 2015;Lee & Navarro, 2016).…”

“…When people who are marginalized with fewer opportunities define change-making as redistribution of opportunities or power, broader coalition consensus often erupts along the line of racial, cultural, ideological, and political opposition (Arnstein, 1969;Kadushin et al, 2005). This sort of division mirrors the very same systems the food policy council was designed to dismantle (Coplen & Cuneo, 2015;Kadushin et al, 2005). There is a clear difference between going through the motions of community collaborative organizing and developing the power to actually shift the structures and systems that frame lack of opportunity (Arnstein, 1969;Reece et al, 2009).…”

“…Community coalitions often form as a response to community problems. Community coalitions are designed with bottom-up organizing and decision-making, bringing together multiple organizations and stakeholders to align their actions through networking, cooperation, and collaboration (Foster-Fishman, Berkowitz, Lounsbury, Jacobson, & Allen, 2001;Himmelman, 2001;Kadushin, Lindholm, Ryan, Brodsky, & Saxe, 2005). Food policy councils are coalitions usually consisting of representatives and stakeholders from many parts of the food system, often including antihunger and food justice advocates, educators, farmers, food markets, nonprofit organizations, and citizens to address policy change with projects and advocacy (Burgan & Winne, 2012;Harper, Shattuck, Holt-Giménez, Alkon, & Lambrick, 2009;Scherb, Palmer, Frattaroli, & Pollack, 2012).…”