Developing Strategic Coalitions Lessons from Milwaukee's School Choice Coalition by Susan Mitchell Defining a strategic coalition is simple. Building and maintaining a strategic coalition is far more difficult. Years of experience working with the Milwaukee school choice coalition demonstrate some fundamental principles. These principles are critical if one is serious about moving from a discussion of philosophical merit to successful political action. The political scene differs vastly from the marketplace of ideas.
Political success requires unity.
Achieving unity is perhaps the most difficult task of all in generating a vital and successful strategic coalition. It takes substantial effort, particularly in the early life of a coalition, to create that unity and to develop an effective style of operation. The Milwaukee coalition has worked together since the early 1990s. It helped to expand parent choice in 1995 and to strengthen charter school laws for Milwaukee in 1997. In 1999, it helped elect a slate of five reform candidates to the Milwaukee School Board.