Building a Functioning Multi-sector Coalition: A Case Study from the Jerome Avenue Public Health Taskforce

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Community Planning
• Urban Development

Background:

• The Jerome Avenue Corridor re-zoning in Bronx, New York, prompted the establishment of a multi-sector public health task force.
• Convened in December 2018, the task force involved local elected officials and facilitated by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
• It comprised 15 organizations from civic, government, healthcare, and social service sectors, alongside residents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a high-functioning coalition addressing common challenges among diverse partners.
• To implement intentional strategies for transparent communication and managing power dynamics within the task force.
• To document best practices and lessons learned for future multi-sector collective action in health and community planning.

Main Methods:

• Formation of a multi-sector task force with representation from various community stakeholders.
• Facilitation by a government health agency to guide collaborative efforts.
• Implementation of specific strategies focused on communication and power dynamics.

Main Results:

• Successful implementation of intentional strategies for transparent communication.
• Effective management of power dynamics among diverse coalition partners.
• Development of a functional coalition addressing shared community health concerns.

Conclusions:

• The Jerome Avenue Public Health Task-force serves as a successful model for multi-sector collaboration.
• Lessons learned emphasize the importance of strategic communication and power-sharing in collective action.
• This coalition approach can inform future community planning and public health initiatives in urban settings.