After months of listening to residents, Vision Galveston unveiled its community-generated plan. Four events were held over the course of the day to share recommendations and priorities.

"We’ve come up with this vision plan, now we want people to hear how the plans of city leaders converge with ours," Jacoby said.  

 "We’re gathered today not to hear a plan but to hear the crack of a starting gun in a race to the future," added Grant Mitchell, representing the Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation.

Vision Galveston hosted its final public meeting to gather input on recommendations, marking the beginning of Phase Two. Attendees reviewed five main vision statements and approximately 70 action steps to bring them to life. Additional workshop sessions focused on central concerns such as affordable housing, business, coastal innovation, and sustainable tourism. The steering committee and staff actively met with community members to validate and refine the emerging plan.

"When we present the plan, it will identify who is responsible for implementing each part of the plan and who we’re assigning things to," Jacoby said. "What’s different about this plan is there is a clear strategy to tackle each area of opportunity—and a clear idea of who’s accountable for doing it."

Community workshops gathered residents’ opinions on potential projects for the city, helping shape the future of the island. Participants were given eight coins to allocate among a wide range of community needs, from storm-surge protection to improved playgrounds. This "Big Choices" workshop informed priorities related to resiliency, development, open space, and city character. The top community priorities included: improving K-12 education (first), street drainage (second), rail or bus transportation to Houston (third), and storm-surge protection (fourth and fifth).

Vision Galveston emerged in September 2018 as a project to empower residents to define a vision for the island’s future. Beginning in November 2018, over 8,500 people—representing 15 percent of Galveston’s diverse population—responded to a survey, attended interactive workshops, and met in small groups across homes, schools, and nonprofit offices. Nationally recognized consultants synthesized their comments into five broad vision statements and 78 actionable recommendations.

"Vision Galveston empowered folks to facilitate in an organic and natural way, enlisting community members and eliciting honest, powerful conversations and feedback," said Keath Jacoby, former Director of Vision Galveston.