Let Freedom Ring! The journey towards independence of a community and academic partnership in Harlem, New York

The Harlem Community & Academic Partnership (HCAP) is in the process of becoming an independent community-based research and policy organization. HCAP was initiated nearly 14 years ago as a Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention funded Urban Research Center (URC) to examine social determinants of substance use through a community-based participatory research approach (CBPR). HCAP survived its first reinvention period when the CDC ceased core funding due to a change in budget priorities (2003). HCAP started its second reinvention in late 2010 when its primary academic partner left the host academic institution. Thereafter, HCAP underwent a series of processes to examine the partnership's ability to move towards complete autonomy, including separating from its host academic institution. To date, HCAP operates as an independent organization without a robust core financial basis as it transitions towards becoming a 501c3 nonprofit organization. HCAP's individual and organizational members have “chipped in” to manage the administrative aspect of the partnership by offering meeting space, serving as a fiscal conduit, and providing specific talent and expertise to advance the mission of the organization. Critical factors such as longevity of the partnership, trust, straightforward communication, and shared leadership have contributed to the resiliency of the partnership.