Kiwana Denson: Turning Loss into Water-Safety Leadership

Meet Kiwana Denson

Founder of the Je’Sani Smith Foundation and Mother of Je’Sani Smith

For Kiwana Denson, grief became a mission. After her son Je’Sani died in a rip current off Whitecap Beach in 2019, she channeled profound loss into purposeful work. Today, she leads the Je’Sani Smith Foundation, a nonprofit focused on water safety education and coastal hazard awareness throughout Texas, with particular attention to Corpus Christi—the place Je’Sani loved. Kiwana lives in Houston, but her influence remains strong in the Gulf Coast Capital. Through community outreach and legislative achievements, she has helped drive a statewide effort to eliminate rip current-related deaths.

The page includes personal reflections from Kiwana Denson about continuing this work through Je’Sani’s story, the safeguards created through the foundation, and the emotional balance between remembering her son and helping protect other families. The recurring themes are purpose, prevention, resilience, and the ability of one family’s experience to save lives.

From Grief to the Je’Sani Smith Foundation

The foundation’s first effort was a scholarship for one of Je’Sani’s classmates at King High School, established just a month after his passing. That initial act of generosity grew into a broader movement. Kiwana’s advocacy helped bring about the Je’Sani Smith Beach Safety Alert, additional city signage, a stronger lifeguard presence, and, in 2021, the passage of two state laws: the Je’Sani Smith Act and the statewide designation of April as Beach Safety and Rip Current Awareness Month.

Although resources remain limited, the foundation has produced measurable results. Ongoing awareness work and community partnerships helped Nueces County record zero rip current-related fatalities in both 2022 and 2023. For the foundation, the most meaningful measure is not simply the absence of fatalities, but the safety systems established and the improved decisions people make at the beach.

Working with local governments, the Je’Sani Smith Foundation reaches the public through social media campaigns, billboards, school presentations, and community gatherings, including Juneteenth and Lucy’s Snack Bar’s Community Day. The organization has become a visible and trusted presence for residents and visitors. Its message centers on knowing the flags, respecting the water, and being prepared.

Extending Water-Safety Awareness Along the Coast

The work is demanding. Kiwana manages her nonprofit responsibilities alongside a full-time safety position at ExxonMobil. She travels regularly, organizes outreach, and oversees operations. Her goal is to eventually secure enough funding to employ full-time staff and expand the reach of the Je’Sani Smith Foundation.

Kiwana’s leadership does more than preserve her son’s memory. Through consistent advocacy and strong community relationships, she has brought water safety into the public conversation in Corpus Christi and throughout the Texas coast.

The foundation distributes bilingual educational resources, places signage at beach access points, participates in community events, and presents to students in schools. Every effort reflects a commitment to accessibility, awareness, and action. At the center of its mission is the understanding that recognizing rip currents and knowing how to respond can determine whether someone lives or dies.

About Je’Sani

Je’Sani Smith was a talented athlete, a natural leader, and a compassionate person. He was tall, charming, humorous, and full of energy, with a fondness for Fanta soda and a quiet wisdom beyond his years. Friends remember his generosity, encouraging spirit, and signature phrase.

He was also an artist, dancer, poet, and protector. Je’Sani loved music, the beach, and serving others—sometimes in ways his family learned about only after his death. During his 18 years, he created a lasting ripple of kindness and strength that continues through the foundation carrying his name.

Je’Sani’s legacy remains present in every flag raised, every billboard installed, and every conversation focused on coastal safety.