In our ever-changing world, I often reflect on the importance of healthy human connection. Jackson Latka, Fellowship Class of 2002, shared how his passion for design and his dedication to bringing people together has inspired his career.
Originally from Pueblo, Colorado, Jackson grew up surrounded by and influenced by art. His father was an art professor and a bronze and ceramics artist, and his aunt and uncle were potters and installation artists. Despite this, Jackson’s early career ambitions leaned towards business. As an undergraduate at Colorado College, he completed his bachelor’s degree in business economics and became an El Pomar Fellow upon graduating.
Throughout his Fellowship, the extensive exposure to the philanthropy landscape provided him with a realization:
“There is so much you can do to help people, and it does not necessarily need to happen through the foundation or non-profit angle.”
Noticing that Fellows pursued leadership roles within non-profit, for profit, private, and public sectors, Latka realized he could make an impact beyond philanthropy, prompting him to pursue the intersection of design, business, and technology in his career. When I asked how he gained clarity around pursuing these interests, he candidly stated:
“I didn’t. It was more about knowing I had an inkling of an interest, and I knew there were threads I could pull from there and see what happens.”
This open and curiosity-driven mindset led him to explore the question,
“How can I make a difference with this?”
After moving to Vermont with his wife (whom he met during the Fellowship), Jackson embarked on a career as a freelance digital product designer. This role introduced him to a community of inspiring entrepreneurs and projects, fueling his desire to create a product of his own.
“Facebook was the only platform to share information, and feeds were raging with all sorts of information. We are having all these major experiences in life, why don’t we create a platform that highlights these and puts more emphasis on them and with the people that you care about?”
Acting on this insight, Jackson co-founded Notabli in 2010, a private platform designed to foster and sustain connections by sharing moments with family and friends without ads or algorithmic feeds.
While working from home as a freelancer in Burlington, Vermont and building Notabli, Jackson’s solitary work environment inspired him to establish Study Hall, a loft co-working space in downtown Burlington. Despite their current popularity, at the time, co-working spaces were a new concept. Expanding his vision of connecting people through Notabli, Study Hall became the physical avenue of connection, where it aimed to provide a space and unite individuals from diverse creative and professional backgrounds to exchange ideas. Study Hall grew to over one hundred members, hosted community events, concerts, talks, and became a hub for digital nomads seeking a place to work and connect. Unfortunately, the pandemic brought an end to this vibrant space.
Extending his revelation from the Fellowship that making an impact in communities can take many forms, Latka’s project pursuits reveal his commitment to nurturing community and connection. These virtues lie at the core of his influence, whether in technology or other domains.
As a co-founder of both digital and physical platforms fostering connections, I asked Jackson what advice he would give to current Fellows on finding direction for uniquely creating impact:
“Leverage the network you have access to and create throughout the Fellowship and always remain curious about the world. You also need to understand and utilize your online presence to put forth authenticity into the increasingly curated society; you can make an impact through this channel.”
Jackson’s curiosity, open mindset, and action-driven approach to life has led him to many different careers, but in each of these, he has prioritized creating spaces where people can connect and his communities can thrive.
