Coalition Building 101

Mondays, 4/24-5/22 via Zoom

Class Description: Coalitions can be identified in many ways. They can be called community groups, organizations, or initiatives. Coalitions create an opportunity to educate and effect change by bringing together groups/individuals who support a common goal or issue. At the conclusion of this course, participants will be able to determine if a coalition is the right action to affect change in their community and learn how to build an effective one. Participants will have the opportunity to develop a framework for a future coalition or a portfolio representing an existing one. For individuals interested in joining a coalition, this course will increase your understanding of how they work and how you can contribute to its success.

Instructor: Elissa C. Cadillic has been the President of AFSCME 1526, Boston Public Library Employees Union, Union, Boston, MA, since 2005. Her role involves working with a variety of coalitions to improve working conditions and support community change. In 2010, she was in a leadership role in the Save the Library Coalition, made up of union members, staff, community members, and other social advocacy groups and successfully prevented the closing of branch libraries. Since then she has taught classes about coalitions and been involved in campaigns to pass legislation to protect working people. She is currently the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Coalition of Safety and Health and is a board member on the Massachusetts Governor’s Employee Safety and Health Advisory Committee.