Coalition Building Training

Use these questions to brainstorm the best way to reach out to students, teachers, administrators and other stakeholders on campus to help you build a strong coalition of allies when drafting and implementing your Student Bill of Responsibilities and Rights.

What is a coalition?

• A group of individuals or organizations with a common interest to who agree to work together toward a common goal. 

What is the purpose of a coalition?

• Present a show of support for influencing or developing public policy around a specific issue.
• Try to change people’s behavior.

What do we already know about coalition building? 

• Look to see who has done it, what worked and what didn’t.

Challenges groups face when starting a coalition

• Finding a common message
• Domination by one individual or group
• Lack of organization or a failure to create leadership within the coalition
• Ability to fulfill role within the coalition

Who should be part of a coalition?

• In general, the broader the membership of any coalition, the better
• Ensure that you have representation by:
  • • People most affected by the issue
    • Those who are responsible for fixing/perpetuating the issue
    • Community opinion leaders
    • Policy/Decision makers
• In a school context, who should this include?
  • • Students, teachers, administrators, parents, district officials, etc.
    • Make a list of who should be invited and who will make the invitation. Consider using the STF Personal advocacy planner to track your efforts.

How do you recruit people to join your coalition?

• Develop a pitch to explain your goals and why you want/need their participation in the coalition. Consider including:
  • • Some of the challenges you anticipate facing and how they can help you overcome them
    • Who else you plan to bring into the coalition and why
    • What you expect their role to be in the coalition (leadership, support, organizing, events, etc.)
• Consider how to deliver your request:
  • • Individual outreach
    • Group meeting of club presidents
    • STFers going to other club meetings to speak and ask for support
    • Posters/flyers on campus
    • Calls for volunteers from organizers
    • Presenting at a teacher or department meeting
    • Talking to the head of the PTA (if appropriate)
    • Speaking at a school district meeting (if appropriate)

Important reminders for building a strong coalition:

• Communication is key! If the coalition members don’t hear from you regularly (or have tasks assigned to them with accountability in place) then they won’t stay part of the group.
• Be as inclusive as possible. Make sure no group on campus is left out/not represented. Ask coalition members to think about who is missing from the coalition.
• Have concrete goals with benchmark progress deadlines/check ins. Make sure everyone has an agreed upon understanding of the issue you’re addressing and a vision for the plan of action.