We know that partnerships between public health and community are vital, especially now. In 2025, APHA engaged with more than 70 organizations to learn from and share best practices for establishing, building and strengthening partnerships between governmental public health agencies and community-based organizations. From the listening sessions in 2025, partners shared that trust takes time and care to build, and that real progress happens when power is built together through shared visioning. They also emphasized the need for ongoing support and connection, which informed the planning and development of the Learning Community.

Launched in January 2026, the Building Bridges Learning Community is supporting partnership teams, each made up of state, tribal, local and territorial health departments and community organizations, to strengthen their relationships. Together, these teams are advancing co-governance and community leadership while strengthening community voice in decision making. They are formalizing partnership structures, developing frameworks for collaboration, and creating tools such as partnership charters and advisory councils. Across this work, teams are addressing power dynamics, deepening community engagement, and planning for long-term sustainability to support more effective ways of working together.