JACKSON, Wyo. — Jonathan Schechter, Executive Director of The Charture Institute, presented results from the 2023 Greater Tetons Area Resident Survey, and the information shares how residents feel about the future of the region.
Schechter’s presentation took place at Teton County Library on Oct. 24 and it was part of Central Wyoming College’s Teton Talks: Community Conversations about Complex Issues.
According to Schechter, all mountain towns have similar issues and his organization, the Charture Institute, is dedicated to figuring out the root cause of economic, environmental and community challenges. Schechter is also currently serving a second term on the Jackson Town Council.
His idea for a formal public survey came to him after many residents expressed their anxiety over how they view the future of living in Jackson Hole. The goal of the survey was to better understand how residents feel about their community and to create a baseline of understanding to measure progress and change over time.
More than 1,200 residents answered a series of open-ended questions either by phone or an online questionnaire. Schechter acknowledged that while the goal was to reach a broad demographic, a lower percentage of Latino residents and those aged 18 to 34 years participated in the survey.
According to Schechter, results concluded that 77 percent of respondents prioritize the preservation and protection of the area’s ecosystem.
Affordable housing was the most critical issue and those who express the greatest likelihood of leaving are middle income residents, 30 to 45 years of age, who are building careers and starting families. Survey results defined that traffic, growth and the cost of living are among the most important issues to residents.
The survey’s graphs and statistics also measured feelings of hope for the town’s future, which rated higher among older residents and lower among 18 to 34 year olds.
Psychology Today defines hope as “the belief an individual can make things better.” Schechter hopes that an annual survey will illustrate the story of Jackson and this will give residents insight to make needed changes.
“My belief and hope is that the better we understand how residents feel, the better the chances of democracy really working,” Schechter said.
