Building a Brighter Future: Bolivar Peninsula Vision Launches with Community-Led Initiative

A new chapter is unfolding for the Bolivar Peninsula with the official launch of Bolivar Peninsula Vision, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit created to lead community-driven growth, environmental stewardship, and strategic planning for the future of the peninsula.

Shauna Williams, business owner and community advocate, unveiled its mission at a well-attended town hall event on July 30. Backed by a diverse board of local leaders and residents, Bolivar Peninsula Vision aims to fill a critical gap in long-term planning, especially in the absence of a formal municipal government structure.

PRESS RELEASE: Bolivar Peninsula Vision Launches as Nonprofit to Lead Coastal Resilience, Growth, and Community Planning

The core idea behind Bolivar Peninsula Vision is simple but powerful: build a resilient, vibrant, and inclusive coastal community that serves full-time residents, part-time homeowners, and future generations alike. The vision is rooted in five foundational pillars, each shaped by community feedback, local priorities, and the realities of life on an unincorporated stretch of coastal Texas:

1. Affordable & Diverse Housing
   Ensuring that those who work here can also afford to live here. The organization advocates for responsible development that preserves the peninsula’s charm while expanding year-round housing options.
2. Economic Growth & Jobs
   Focused on supporting local businesses and attracting sustainable industries. Partnerships for workforce development and infrastructure improvements are key to this pillar.
3. Tourism & Small Business Support
   Recognizing the importance of tourism while promoting a stronger off-season economy through creative events and business support.
4. Education & Health Access
   Promoting access to mobile healthcare, lifelong learning opportunities, and services that support families and aging residents alike.
5. Environmental & Coastal Stewardship
   Protecting dunes, wetlands, and open space through smart land use, restoration projects, and coordination with local, state, and federal agencies.

The urgency of organizing stemmed from an eye-opening experience: Bolivar Peninsula leaders attended the Leadership Galveston program, where they witnessed neighboring communities securing multimillion-dollar grants for projects ranging from parks to coastal protection. The difference? Those communities had organized structures advocating for them. Bolivar, being unincorporated, didn’t.

Mark DeSantis, a founding member of the nonprofit, highlighted this reality: “There was no organization speaking for Bolivar. Without one, grants go elsewhere.” The solution? Form a nonprofit that can act as a bridge between the peninsula and the governmental bodies holding the funding keys.

The newly formed nonprofit has already secured its 501(c)(3) status and will pursue grants, develop strategic partnerships, and build volunteer-led committees. A strategic plan—shaped by ongoing Brown Bag Luncheons, community surveys, and outreach—is expected in Fall 2025.

Residents are encouraged to get involved. Community input will shape committee efforts and determine which projects—whether affordable housing, beach nourishment, or healthcare access—receive early focus. While the nonprofit may pivot based on funding opportunities, transparency and collaboration will remain core values.

The effort is supported by a committed leadership team including:

• Founding Board Members: Jim Denys, Mark DeSantis, Mike Hoover, Christina O’Dell, Tom Osten, Beth Boles Terminella
• Board Advisors: Brad Ballard, Lance Bradley, Brad Vratis, Dee Winston, Keith Zahar
• Consultants: Lisa Shaw and Kelly de Schaun of Lone Star Coastal Alliance, offering expertise in grants and funding streams.

Their combined experience spans everything from regional planning and nonprofit leadership to coastal surveying and event organizing.

“This isn’t just about vision,” Shauna Williams emphasized. “It’s about action. It’s about creating opportunity and protecting what makes Bolivar special—together.”

Residents, property owners, and local businesses are encouraged to join committees, participate in surveys, attend luncheons, and register to vote to help shape the future of Bolivar. Even small actions—like casting a single vote—can change the outcome of critical decisions.

As the peninsula grows and evolves, Bolivar Peninsula Vision invites the community to build the future—intentionally, collaboratively, and proudly.

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