A non-profit organization dedicated to understanding and informing communities about the economic, demographic, social, and environmental forces driving the changes that transform them.
Activities
Based in Jackson Hole, Wyoming – what it would call a PEAS Community (Place of Ecological and Aesthetic Significance) – the Charture Institute seeks to understand and monitor important trends driving growth and land use changes in these communities. The Institute believes that indicators based upon measurable data (demographics, economic trends, social change, environmental and physical characteristics) can be used to “chart the future” of a PEAS community. Once communities have such data and understand the trajectories they are on, they are in a better position to take control of their futures and grow sustainably.
As a research organization, the Charture Institute is testing these theories and models for planning in PEAS communities. While the organization emphasizes the importance of developing accurate, data-driven portraits of communities, it also continues to work with communities through later planning and implementation phases.
Relevant Project(s)
Charture’s primary project to date is Sustaining Jackson Hole – a comprehensive, collaborative planning project run in conjunction with the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce and the Northern Rockies Conservation Cooperative (see Case Studies). The Sustaining Jackson Hole project itself contains many smaller pieces and innovative initiatives, initiated by the Charture Institute. They include:
- 1% for the Tetons. A partner of the growing 1% for the Planet effort, 1% for the Tetons uses one percent of member businesses’ revenues to fund long-term sustainability efforts, including those flowing from the Sustaining Jackson Hole project.
- Jackson Hole Almanac. The first phases of research on Jackson Hole resulted in the Jackson Hole Almanac – a comprehensive book that presents a tremendous amount of information about the community. With measures ranging from high school dropout rates to environmental quality, the Almanac serves as a quantitative snapshot in time of Jackson Hole, useful for understanding current conditions and as a benchmark for future comparisons.
- State of the Community Conference
Relevant Methodologies
The Charture Institute generally undertakes in-depth and long-term projects in communities, seeking to test and refine theories by practice; this process is so far best exemplified by the Sustaining Jackson Hole project. Based loosely upon the Toyota Production System, the project’s methodology revolves around the collection and use of large quantities of meaningful data, with the goal of creating long-term community indicators and reaching measurable Ideals. The project continues to engage a diverse group of citizens in developing local indicators for community issues such as environment, recreation, transportation, and social services. With indicators in hand, the community and project leaders evaluate the current state of Jackson Hole; identify “Statements of Ideal” for the future; and prioritize needs and steps for reaching the ideal. The project is repeated each year in order to keep monitoring the indicators and the community’s progress with implementation. The Charture Institute is now working to bring this model to other communities and further refine a data-driven methodology for planning and community development. See Case Studies for full project description.
Region
National; based in Wyoming
More Information
P.O. Box 4672
485 Arapahoe Lane
Jackson, WY 83001
307-733-8687 (phone)
307-733-8687 (fax)