JACKSON, Wyo. — Across the valley, there’s no shortage of things to take part in. The harder part can be finding the right fit.
Citizenry brings together more than 220 organizations, along with local events, volunteer opportunities, programs and resources, creating a personalized civic experience built around each person’s interests and goals.
The idea borrows from technology already familiar in other parts of life. Spotify recommends music based on preferences. Citizenry applies a similar approach to community involvement.
In Jackson, another analogy may be even more familiar: the bulletin board.
In conversations with local nonprofits, Citizenry founder Dominic Ramos-Ruiz repeatedly heard that physical bulletin boards remain one of the most effective ways to reach people outside their usual circles.
“Jackson already has an extraordinary civic culture,” said Ramos-Ruiz, who has lived between New York and Jackson for the past decade. “There is so much happening here, but no one person can see all of it. I started thinking about Citizenry as a bulletin board that could reorganize itself around what you care about.”
That might mean a conservation project looking for volunteers, an arts event, an affordable housing resource, an upcoming Town Council meeting or an opening on a board or commission.
For nonprofits and civic groups, Citizenry offers another way to reach people beyond their existing audiences, particularly for smaller organizations with limited resources for outreach.
Jackson already has a powerful model for shared nonprofit infrastructure. Old Bill’s Fun Run transformed how people give across the valley. Citizenry is exploring whether shared technology can do something similar for how people stay meaningfully engaged.
The New York-based nonprofit launched its Jackson pilot this summer, which attracted nearly 2,000 visitors in its first few days.
