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Coming Together
: Public / Private Alliances
Public/private alliances are formed to bring together organizations of different natures
(public/government groups and private/corporate groups) to work for a common goal. The very difference
that exists among the various organizations is why they come together. Where one might be able to provide funding and resources, another might be able to provide the knowledge and expertise about an aspect of the problem or goal. Together, with each organization or individual contributing from it's strength the alliance can work towards accomplishing the goal from multiple perspectives.
An example of a public/private alliance, the Partnership for a Walkable America was formed with these objectives in mind: to improve pedestrian safety, increase pedestrian access, and promote the health benefits of walking. Members include representatives from the health and physical activity, design and engineering, and safety communities.
Represented by a substantial number of both small and large private
and public organizations and individuals, the Partnership has adopted
four strategies to meet their goals—the identification of changes
needed to make America a more walkable country, the promotion of
walking as an important mode of transportation, the identification
of good and bad examples of walkability, and the education of both
the American public and policy makers on the benefits of a walkable
community and how it can be achieved.
The Partnership offers the Walkability Checklist, a valuable resource which instructs both community members and public officials to take a walk through their respective communities and to evaluate how walkable their communities are. Once the community has been evaluated and graded, the checklist offers suggestions for improving walkability with both immediate solutions and long-term answers.
Link to the Partnership for a Walkable America website
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