Coalition as conclusion: Building a functioning coalition

The purpose of this chapter is to describe the key factors that contributed to the creation, success, and sustainability of the South Tucson Prevention Coalition (STPC) over a period of 8 years. STPC was a diverse coalition whose goal was to prevent underage drinking in one city. Coalition members reflect on their success and describe four factors that contributed to their development. First, they describe how once they understood “We can’t do it alone”; their critical consciousness that adolescent alcohol use was influenced by societal context influenced their motivation to work with other agencies. Second, they describe the importance of having a central mission that brings agencies together with a common goal and common passion to help young people. Third, they describe operating guidelines of meetings that contributed to their empowerment. Lastly, they discuss how personalismo, the cultural value of prioritizing positive and trusting relationships, helped them connect with coalition members to sustain their involvement.