Supporting Annie O’Connor and Welcoming Jeff Clapp as Interim Executive Director

Annie O’Connor and Jeff Clapp, Bolinas Community Land Trust

As many of you know, BCLT’s Executive Director, Annie O’Connor, has faced a series of profound personal losses over the past two years. These began with the unexpected passing of her husband, Brendan O’Connor, and continued last week with the sudden losses of her father-in-law, Pete Smith, and the father of her young godchildren.

After careful reflection, Annie has made the difficult decision to take an extended leave of absence to focus on her health and healing and support her chosen family. 

The entire BCLT team recognizes Annie’s unwavering dedication to our mission, especially during such challenging times. Over the past year, she has worked tirelessly to ensure progress on our projects and to advocate for the most vulnerable in our community. We are deeply grateful for her leadership and remain fully supportive of her decision.

In Annie’s absence, BCLT’s critical work will continue under the leadership of Jeff Clapp, who has been named Interim Executive Director. On December 10th, the BCLT Board of Directors voted to approve Annie’s leave of absence and to appoint Jeff as Interim Executive Director, effective immediately.

Jeff has been an integral part of BCLT since 2017, offering extensive organizational knowledge and an unwavering commitment to our mission. We are confident his leadership will ensure a seamless transition for both our team and the community we serve.

To take on this role, Jeff tendered his resignation from his position as president of the board this week. April Ginsberg will replace him as Board President, Sarah Hake will replace April as Secretary, and Jamie Robertson will fill the role of Treasurer.

This is a pivotal time for our organization and for Bolinas. Now, more than ever, your involvement matters. Whether by becoming a member, attending board meetings, volunteering with ongoing projects, or spreading the word about our work, you can make a tangible difference in the future of affordable housing in our community.

Let us stand united in support of the BCLT mission, as stewarded by Annie and now Jeff, as we navigate this transition together. Thank you for your steadfast support.

For questions about this update, please email info@bolinaslandtrust.org.