“Frustrated by going it alone or working at cross-purposes, people in many regions and in different kinds of communities are learning how to sit down with their friends, opponents, and strangers alike to work out the complex problems that are common to us all.

People are realizing that they can’t wait for the ‘experts’ to come up with the solutions. Community people are developing their own organizations and expertise. They are often taking the lead with government institutions, businesses, and non-profit organizations to do what will benefit the whole community, not just one powerful interest group.

One of the tools that community people are using to solve these ‘big’ problems is multisector collaboration, which is the focus of this section” of The Community Tool Box, a free, online resource for those working to build healthier communities and bring about social change.

Developing Multisector Collaborations includes discussion of:

• What is multisector collaboration?
• Is your community ready for multisector collaboration?
• What are the first steps you should take in building a multisector collaborative?
• How do you continue to build and operate a multisector collaborative?