Overcoming historical and institutional distrust: key elements in developing and sustaining the community mobilization against HIV in the Boston Haitian community.

The Metro Boston REACH 2010 HIV Coalition needs to develop innovative processes aimed at overcoming a history of distrust that has led to limited cooperation from the Haitian community. Among the key elements being implemented are the development of a community vision through a community mobilization process; the development of an innovative working group process, in which coalition members worked together to develop and implement culturally and linguistically appropriate HIV prevention curricula; participatory leadership and joint accountability processes, manifested in decision-making approaches, such as the fund allocation system, and in the provision of technical assistance workshops on team building, designed to engender cohesion, skills, and resources sharing among coalition members. The success of this venture is measured through the growing expectation that this coalition could serve as a community planning body for all HIV-related services aimed at reducing HIV infection in the Greater Boston Haitian population.