Applied Systems Thinking: Use the Power of Structure to Create Lasting Change

The multiple organizations and people required to solve a chronic, complex problem often do not appreciate the many ways in which their work is connected. To address this issue the Open Society Institute (www.soros.org) convened The After Prison Initiative, a gathering of 100 progressive leaders dedicated to criminal justice reform, in November 2006. The goals of the meeting were to:

1. Strengthen their personal relationships
2. Deepen awareness of the interdependencies among their diverse efforts
. Gain insight into potential new areas of leverage for enabling formerly incarcerated people to successfully integrate into society