This article is a historical case study of an attempt to build a citywide coalition in Rochester, NY. The coalition wanted to improve urban education by implementing community based wrap-around supports in a similar form as the well-respected Harlem Children's Zone. Our study found that groups had difficulty creating buy-in for this reform effort because of fragmented coalitions, changeover in leadership, and ambitious, yet evolving goals. Political theories relating to coalition building and civic capacity suggest fragmented coalitions can hamper initiatives when bridging between communities of color and power elites fails to take place, but our study suggests additional limitations when varying communities of color are not aligned in their efforts. Our historical case study suggests that strategic development of trust and coalition building is necessary to build civic capacity relating to urban education improvement--particularly between communities of color and power elites, as well as across communities of color.