Colleges and universities are uniquely positioned to initiate cross-sector coalitions among anchor institutions. Juniata College leveraged the social determinants of health framework, the liberal arts tradition of interdisciplinarity, and AmeriCorps VISTA to create partnerships that advance health and wellness while providing experiential learning for students across multiple disciplines. This session will outline theories, models, and resources used in coalition building and share insights from four VISTA projects over the past four years, involving community partners from three different sectors. Examples will contextualize coalition building in rural settings, describe the VISTA’s role, and highlight outcomes for students and communities. Best practices for developing and sustaining cross-sector coalitions will be shared, inspiring participants to consider potential replication.