Abstract
This discussion paper draws on learnings from Lead Local: Community-Driven Change and the Power of Collective Action, a collaborative effort funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. It shows how the power-building ecosystem works in practice, showcasing examples of state and local power-building organisations and campaigns nationwide and reflecting on how actors who exist beyond the organising ecosystem (e.g., researchers) can play a critical role in advancing movement aims. The closing commentary reinforces the essential principles and values for effective and authentic partnering with the field, emphasising the intersections between health, structural racism, and power.