Exploring Readiness to Convene an Equity-Driven Collaborative that HelpsHighly Mobile Tennesseans Thrive

<p dir="ltr">Researchers often act as conveners, helping bring together diverse partners to address public health issues. For one research team, their work has centered on understanding and addressing the relationships between personal/residential mobility and HIV care. However, without explicit attention to power imbalances, academic-led collaboratives risk reproducing hierarchical structures that marginalize historically excluded communities. Strengthening the collaborative leadership capacity is therefore essential, particularly in states where HIV disparities are compounded by high mobility and long-standing social inequities.</p><p dir="ltr">The aim of this dissertation was to identify readiness factors that would enable the research team to effectively convene community partners in a collaborative effort to address to address the push and pull factors of personal/residential mobility among people living with HIV in Tennessee. The study sought to further determine system-level levers that support HIV practice communities in serving highly mobile people living with HIV while also informing broader National Strategy goals. The research addressed three questions: (1) What is the current state of collaboration among the academic-led study team and the communities of HIV practice in Memphis and Nashville? (2) What did the current state reveal as necessary to support collaboration? and (3) What recommendations can strengthen collaboration?</p><p dir="ltr">Guided by a critical participatory action research methodology, this study employed a single, exploratory case study design. Data collection utilized sequential mixed methods, including surveys, in-depth interviews, document analysis, and facilitated discussions with an Action Research Committee. The dissertation drew upon four areas of the literature: (1) collaboration in HIV research, (2) readiness within implementation science, (3) collective impact as a process framework, and (4) collaboration for equity and justice as the guiding principles.</p><p dir="ltr">Findings revealed that collaborative readiness is an iterative process shaped by trust, inter-organizational culture, and structural context. Community partners emphasized shared leadership, equitable power-sharing, and alignment of vision as essential to effective collaboration. The study highlights readiness self-assessment as a valuable mechanism for balancing power, promoting equity, and strengthening academic–community partnerships.</p>

Author dc:creator

• Leslie Pierce (23811277)

• Collaborative Leadership
• academic community partnership
• Readiness
• Action researchers

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright
• Open Access after 2028-05-07

DOI dc:identifier

https://doi.org/10.25417/uic.32204694.v1

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:figshare.com:article/32204694