Using Social Networking As a Tool to Strengthen a Peer Network Working to Improve Food and Physical Activity Environments in California: Opportunities and Challenges

California Convergence is an effort to bring together community leaders across the state working to prevent obesity and chronic disease by improving food and physical activity environments. The goal of converging these leaders is to promote synergy of efforts across communities, accelerating the change they are influencing at the local level. Learning from peer leaders in other communities is one of the most powerful ways to proliferate change, and these leaders have not had the time or the mechanisms to do this effectively. California Convergence created a virtual peer learning network using the social networking site Ning to help leaders stay connected, learn from each other, share stories, successes, and challenges, and to reduce information and resource overload. Peer learning happens most effectively in-person, however this is not always possible for community leaders. Technology can be a powerful tool to strengthen and support an existing network. At the same time, this technology is new and uncomfortable for many users. The experience within California Convergence reveals some of the challenges but also the opportunities in turning these tools to the task of supporting public health advocacy and community change. Six months into the effort, we look at progress to date, hurdles, and future potential of this tool.