Our team

We are a purpose-driven, women-led, strategic consultancy that is internationally recognized for our work applying systems theory and complexity principles to the design and execution of adaptive strategies in social change.

Our beliefs

We believe that systems are the strongest and most vibrant when they learn and build from the intrinsic beauty and potential of people. This means directly and deliberately attending to issues of equity, deep democracy, and resilience. We look for partners who are serious about change, because we are too.

We believe that building more just and whole systems require us to enact systemic change at all levels – the personal, interpersonal, organizational and societal (social justice lens).

We believe that identifying, connecting, and storying patterns is a community capability needed for grappling with complexity (systems analysis).

We believe that solutions are fully present in the community and are awaiting their rightful opportunity to be heard and elevated for transformational change (appreciative and asset-based inquiry).

We believe that bringing diverse and divergent voices together in a deep listening approach that honors multiple ways of knowing is key to collective problem solving (inclusivity and fullness of participation).

We believe that these skills can be learned, adapted, and sustained by communities themselves, and applied with power and purpose to their future challenges (emancipatory agenda).

CORE DESIGN TEAM

KAREN GRATTAN

Organizational Strategy & Practice

Durham, North Carolina

jackie cahi

Peacebuilding & The Social Fabric

Harare, Zimbabwe

bailey goldman

community health systems

Durham, North Carolina

LAUREN CASTILLO

Operations

Durham, North Carolina

DANIELA FERRAZ

Integrative Education & Social Presencing

São Paulo, Brazil

Claire Goebel

Strategic Growth & Development

Rocky Mount, North Carolina

PARTNER PRACTITIONERS

KATY MAMEN

Ecological Systems

Occidental, California

Martin Kalungu-Banda

Group Process & Theory U

Oxford, UK

Thi Kinh Kieu, Ph.D.

Urban Development & Health

Da Nang, Vietnam

ISABELLE SWAN-MAE DARLING

Resilience & Trauma Healing

Oakland, California

Are you ready to bring light to complexity?