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Alliances for Obesity Prevention Finding Common Ground: Workshop Summary (2012) / Chapter Skim
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6 Building Alliances
Pages 43-48

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From page 43...
... CHC sees itself "as a leader in the movement to ensure access to food as a basic human right," said its executive director, Edward Cooney. In this role, it has had success in creating effective cross-sector alliances to protect against attempts to cut federal food and nutrition assistance programs or weaken or terminate federal nutrition standards.
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From page 44...
... For example, when cuts in school lunch funding were proposed, the alliance arranged to have the prospective lunches served in the Senate cafeteria. A picture was taken that is now on display at the National Archives, said Cooney, showing Senator Byrd, Senator Leahy, and others eating this meal, "which sounds small and is small." A similar example occurred in 1995 when Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich proposed combining nutrition programs into a block grant that would have eliminated all federal nutrition standards.
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From page 45...
... Finally, partnering with groups that have a financial interest in child nutrition programs is not morally corrupt -- "it's effective," said Cooney, although he admitted that not everyone agrees with that statement. Cooney said that CHC's guideline is "no permanent friends, no permanent enemies." The organization forms alliances with corporate partners when there is a common interest and a clear legislative or regulatory goal and agreement on a specific initiative CHC has authored.
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From page 46...
... Desirable Attributes of Unexpected Allies Rollin cited four attributes that can make for powerful unexpected allies. The first is the ability to get inside the door of policy makers.
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From page 47...
... And that's what is going to help them become passionate about the issue and be an effective messenger." The third condition is making it easy for an ally to become engaged. Examples include arranging the logistics of a trip to Washington to testify, preparing draft materials for op-eds and for meetings with policy makers, and fully briefing representatives of the ally in advance.
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From page 48...
... Rollin ended by saying that enlisting non-traditional allies can be challenging and often requires unconventional procedures. However, it also adds great value in bringing the work of researchers to policy makers and the media in ways that can make a difference for children.
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Key Terms

  • unexpected allies
  • nutrition programs
  • nutrition standards
  • school lunch
  • law enforcement

  • head start
  • nutrition forum
  • federal nutrition
  • food service
  • service personnel

  • agricultural producers
  • lunch funding
  • sibling organizations
  • reagan administration
  • preparing draft

  • powerful unexpected
  • include arranging
  • crime reduction
  • social movements
  • strong america

  • parent organization
  • donor opposes
  • combining nutrition
  • workers spending
  • differing goals

  • local partners
  • juvenile justice
  • grassroots organizations
  • faith leaders
  • school food


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