afterschoolnetwork

Overview: In order to remain strong, coalitions need to continue building support with expected and unexpected allies. This session focused on how to generate partnerships and keep them growing.

Basic Coalition Principles:

1. Choose unifying issues.
2. Develop a realistic coalition budget.
3. Understand and respect institutional self-interest.
4. Agree to Disagree.
5. Play to the Center for tactics. Members must be comfortable with the tactics selected.
6. Recognize that contributions vary.
7. Structure decision-making carefully.
8. Help organizations achieve their self-interest.
9. Achieve significant victories.
10. Urge stable, senior board representation.
11. Clarify decision-making procedures.
12. Distribute credit fairly.

What Organizations are asking themselves when they are asked to join:

1. Who is behind the coalition?
2. What's in our organization's self-interest to join the coalition?
3. How can our members participate?
4. How will participating in the coalition build our organization?
5. Is it real or is it a letterhead coalition?
6. Are we interesting (beyond providers)?

-- also think about who can de-rail your agenda if they are not at the table.

Massachusetts Afterschool Partnership Example:

Issue: Governing Committee needed more, diverse participants.

Solution:
1. Developed and implemented regional networks across the state: gathered input to inform the Afterschool Commission, private funding requests, and MAP's strategic plan
2. Engaged more partners from different sectors; encouraged their leadership
3. Expanded Governing Committee to include regional network leaders
4. Began governance revision process to bring more non-traditional partners to the table

Lessons Learned:
- Get to the balcony (focus energy on real issues, take personality & leadership issues outside)
- Pursue diverse partnerships: providers, public agencies, private partners, and more
- Develop written governance and operating procedures (must be transparent)
- True collaborations are very powerful
- Talk to ATAC early and often

IDEAS:
- catalog of afterschool programs across the state
- bylaws, guiding principles in writing
- dues
- orientation, new member packet
- collective action (MAP $22M ask in state budget)
- culture of dialogue (decisions made around the table, not before or after meetings; do it in real time with all partners engaged)
- be informed by a fully inclusive process (geo, program type)
- rotate locations of meetings
- be clear about mission, vision
- recruit existing coalitions (NECC, etc.)
- promote OAN at conferences, meetings
- create listserv, improve website
- hold regional summits