Why Louisville Needs Better Community Tools

Why Another Platform?

It’s a fair question - do we really need another platform? The truth is, local communities are already using digital tools to organize, whether it’s group texts, email lists, or social media. But these tools either give away our community’s data to big tech companies or they’re too basic to help us grow beyond a small circle of people we already know.

Here in Louisville, we’ve seen community organizers cobble together different tools to make things work - one app for events, another for member discussions, and maybe a spreadsheet to keep track of everyone. Meanwhile, potential members struggle to discover communities they’d love to be part of, even when they’re right in their neighborhood.

Building Something Different

We started OpenMeet to bring these pieces together in a way that puts our local communities first. Nothing fancy - just practical features that make it easier to organize events, manage groups, and help people find their place. We’re focusing on Louisville first because this is our home, and we want to understand the specific needs our local organizers have.

What Makes OpenMeet Different

We keep things simple. Your community’s information stays private and in your control. No fighting with algorithms to make sure your event announcements reach everyone. No complicated settings just to manage a neighborhood group. We make it easier to move from feeling outside the local community to feeling a part of the community.

For organizers, this means straightforward tools for planning events and coordinating with others. For members, it’s an easier way to find local events and stay connected with their communities. Everything is designed to get out of your way and let you focus on what matters - building real connections with people in your area.

Working with Louisville Communities

We’re talking with local organizers to understand what they actually need. Not to build the next big social platform, but to create practical tools that make community organizing easier. Whether it’s helping neighborhood groups manage their members or making it simpler to coordinate local events, we’re focused on solving real problems.

Try It Out

While we’re still missing lots of features, we’re working on them. We’re adding a communications feature soon that will allow you to send messages among your community.

If you’re organizing events or managing a community in Louisville, we’d love to hear from you. Visit platform.openmeet.net to try OpenMeet and let us know what works and what doesn’t.

While we are developing, everything is free, but we’ll always offer a free tier for small community groups and basic usage. For larger organizations needing more features, paid plans will be available to help sustain the platform while keeping it accessible for everyone.