National Community Based Organization Network (NCBON): A National Model for Social Justice in Communities to mobilize Community Based Organization (CBOs) for Research

Community-based organizations (CBOs) play a critical role in Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) as research moves toward a national movement of community-institutional partnerships/collaborations and social justice. CBOs offer their expertise, credibility, intellectual property, and ability to mobilize community members to action. Although the CBOs play such an important role in CBPR often times they are consumed with their individual organizational agendas, are not treated as equal partners/institutions, and suffer from the inequities of fiscal allocations, historical practices, and institutional policies all of which hinder true collaborations/partnerships and authentic CBPR. The National Community Based Organization Network provides a model for CBOs to organize, unite, and to become one voice at a national level. NCBON is dedicated to the survival and flourishing of grassroots organizations and improved community health by uniting CBOs nation-wide creating an institution of the community, for the community. NCBON brings community organizations and their members into a national network to enhance capacities to 1) partner with universities/agencies within their neighborhoods and broader communities to promote health; 2) to act collectively to influence decision making and policy at a national level; and 3) to share best practice approaches, concepts, and theories from a grass roots community perspective. This presentation will illustrate the critical importance of establishing a national organization designed to equip, empower, and position CBO collaboratives as they become viable institutions in their communities by: 1) sharing the history of NCBON, 2) identifying the goals of NCBON, 3) highlighting past and current accomplishments, and 4) outlining current priorities.