Our Story
Participation today feels hard in the wrong ways.
Canopy Commons exists because democracy has started to feel like something you appeal to, not something you practice.
Participation today feels hard in the wrong ways.
People are told to engage, to care, to speak up — but the actual process of doing that is confusing, exhausting, and often disappointing. Democracy has started to feel like something you appeal to, not something you practice.
You sign. You share. You wait. Nothing moves. Or it does, briefly, and then disappears.
Most citizens don’t know where they stand in the system, who decides what, or how power really moves. The distance between those who serve and those who are being served keeps growing.
Trust is wearing thin.
Digital-first campaigns feel hollow to many now. There’s fatigue. There’s hesitation. People want engagement that feels human again — grounded in place, rooted in relationships, and capable of creating change.
Is there another way to do this?
We think there is.
Civic action should feel
We lead with empathy, courage, and creativity.
Civic action shouldn’t feel intimidating or overwhelming. It should feel researched, planned, and shared — capable of holding power accountable without shutting down conversation.
We care about engagement that is inclusive, respectful, and interactive. Not passive. Not extractive.
People should be able to see themselves in the system, understand how to work within it, challenge it, and improve it.
Civic life doesn’t have to be boring. It can be eye-opening. Local. Sometimes even fun.