Advocacy and Public Policy
Grassroots Coalition Building
Across the State of Michigan, the issue of transportation frequently surfaces as a barrier to independence. We know the problem is there but we do not know what to do about it. In Michigan, the car is king and it seems that good public transportation service always takes a back seat. However, just because it is difficult does not mean we should ignore it. If we do nothing about improving our transportation service, nothing will be done.
Transportation is just one of many barriers, such as access to personal care attendants and access to housing, that need to be addressed by grassroots coalitions. By bringing people of like mind together, our voices can be magnified, effectively causing real change. Where one person will quickly become frustrated, many people working together can see a cause through.
When forming a coalition, the first thing to consider is what it is you are after. For transportation, it could be increased local funding of your transit system. One or two primary goals that are achievable must be established. Without a very clear purpose in mind, it is easy for your coalition to try to do too much and quickly get bogged down without accomplishing anything. The goal can be established by you initially, or built by the consensus of the whole coalition.
The second thing to consider is gathering as many allies together as possible. Everyone who may benefit or has an interest in your issue should be invited to the table. You can start with a small group of committed individuals, but in the end, the greater the number of people with different backgrounds at the table, the greater the chances of success. It is important to remember that even if not all members of the coalition were part of formulating the original goals you are seeking to achieve, all members must buy into the goals and feel they have ownership of the coalition. Taking transportation as an example again, coalition members could include riders, seniors, transit agency personal, people interested in protecting the environment, businesses, religious organizations and disability rights advocates.
The third thing to consider is how to achieve your desired goals. A clear plan of how to get from where you are now to where you want to be will ensure that all of your actions lead to the desired result and are not simply your coalition spinning its wheels. This plan of action could include things like conducting surveys, getting media attention, testifying before elected officials and holding meetings. While this plan can be changed as time goes on, it is essential to have a clear idea of how your goals can be achieved.
The fourth thing to consider is that in coalition work, persistence is essential. What you want to achieve will probably not happen overnight. Systems change takes time. Therefore, it is important not to get discouraged when success seems hard to come by. If you keep at an issue, you will see results. To keep things going, celebrate the victories you win on the way to your goal, even though they are not final victories.
In short, the keys to successful coalition building are establishing clear and realistic goals, getting as many people involved as possible, having a plan of action, and sticking with it.
To learn more about transportation coalitions, contact Glenn Ashley at UCP Michigan at (517) 203-1200 or by email at ashley@ucpmichigan.org.
Updated March 2007
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