2026 Coalition Compass Learning Series - Session 1
May 13, 2026 – Playing Nice in the Sandbox: The Power of Collaboration
Presenter: Percy Turner, WSU Community Engagement Institute
Description: Collaboration is at the heart of coalition work, and it isn’t always easy. When resources are limited and pressures are high, even strong partnerships can begin to feel strained, uneven, or ineffective. This session explores the often-overlooked dynamics that can either strengthen or undermine collaborative efforts.
Participants will be introduced to key factors that influence collaboration success, including leadership, power, trust, communication, and shared purpose. Through guided reflection and practical examples, this session will help coalitions better understand their own partnership experiences and identify opportunities for growth.
Whether your coalition is just getting started or navigating long-standing challenges, this session will offer actionable strategies to strengthen relationships, improve alignment, and create more effective, sustainable collaboration.
2026 Coalition Compass Learning Series - Session 2
May 27, 2026 at 1:00p.m. – From Participation to Ownership: Designing Engagement That Lasts
Presenter: Jessica Smith, WSU Community Engagement Institute
Description: Many coalitions rely on a small group of dedicated “doers” to keep the work moving, but over time, this approach can lead to burnout and limit broader community ownership. This session explores how to design engagement in ways that are both inclusive and sustainable. Participants will examine different levels of participation and consider how roles, expectations, and opportunities for involvement shape the health of a coalition. Through reflection and practical tools, this session will help coalition leaders recognize patterns of over-reliance and identify strategies to more effectively share responsibility. Whether your coalition is looking to grow, re-engage members, or prevent burnout, this session will provide actionable ideas to strengthen participation and build lasting ownership across your work.
2026 Coalition Compass Learning Series - Session 3
June 10, 2026 at 1:00p.m. – Using Data as a Conversation Starter, Not a Conclusion
Presenter: Avanthi Chatrathi, Kansas Health Institute
Description: Data is a powerful tool, but how it’s used can either open doors or shut conversations down. Too often, data is presented as the final word, rather than an invitation to explore what it means for a community. This session focuses on shifting how coalitions use data to spark dialogue, deepen understanding, and build shared ownership. Participants will learn practical strategies for framing data in ways that encourage discussion and using data as a starting point to understand the story of a community. This session will explore how to find and present local data, engage diverse perspectives, and create space for community interpretation. Whether you’re presenting to partners, stakeholders, or community members, this session will help you use data more effectively to foster meaningful engagement and stronger alignment around next steps.
2025 Coalition Compass Learning Series - Session 1
May 21, 2025 – The Data Deep Dive: Finding What Matters
- Presenter: Wyatt Beckman & Samiyah Para-Cremer Moore, Kansas Health Institute
- This session will explore the different types of data, when to use them, and where to find reliable community information.
2025 Coalition Compass Learning Series - Session 2
June 25, 2025 – The Mic-Drop Moment: Storytelling for Impact
- Presenter: Taylor Carter, WSU Community Engagement Institute
- This session will help you move beyond listing activities to telling powerful stories of real change, using simple tools to highlight outcomes and inspire action.
2025 Coalition Compass Learning Series - Session 3
July 30, 2025 – Beyond The Surface: Asking the Right Questions & Moving to Action
- Presenter: Jessica Smith & Vanessa Lohf, WSU Community Engagement Institute
- This session will share how to pause, ask better questions, and shift from problem analysis to real solutions.
2025 Coalition Compass Learning Series - Session 4
August 20, 2025 – Power in Partnership: Engaging Community Decision Makers the Right Way
- Presenter: Lisse Regehr, Thrive Kansas
- This session will explore building meaningful relationships with elected officials and involve them as allies in coalition work.
Power and Societal Rules: Incorporating Structural Determinants in Health Promotion Efforts
December 17, 2025 – Pop Up Webinar from the Kansas Health Institute
- Presenter: Wyatt Beckman, M.P.H., Avanthi Chatrathi, M.P.H., Viktoria Sterkhova, M.P.H.
- This webinar introduces the newly released University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute Model of Health, featured in the 2025 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. It highlights how power and societal rules, such as values, policies, and institutional practices, shape community conditions and health outcomes. Participants explore the concept of structural determinants of health and build capacity to incorporate these factors into health promotion efforts through discussion, stakeholder mapping, and practical tools.