The Spokane NAACP Health and Wellness Committee has launched a new program aimed at providing swimming lessons to historically marginalized communities. The initiative, in partnership with several organizations, seeks to address the disparities in access to swimming lessons among students of color.

Addressing Disparities in Access to Swimming Lessons

* The NAACP has partnered with Rogers High School, Slingshot, Spokane Parks Foundation, and the Inland Northwest Central Branch YMCA to develop the program. * The program provides swimming lessons to students ahead of official lifeguard training, with the goal of improving water safety skills among historically marginalized communities. * According to the CDC, Black children ages 10 to 14 drown at a rate 7.6 times higher than white children.

Overcoming Barriers to Swimming

* Many students in historically marginalized communities face barriers to accessing swimming lessons, including limited financial resources. * The NAACP launched the program last year, but soon realized that many students were unable to pass the lifeguard test due to limited swimming skills. * The program aims to provide students with the necessary skills and resources to overcome these barriers.

Success Stories

* David Moore, a sophomore at Rogers High School, is one of the students in the program. * Moore and fellow student, Daniel Rodriguez, are both taking the swim lessons ahead of official lifeguard training. * Moore recently completed the “brick test,” swimming 20 yards on his back while holding a 10-pound brick on his chest—an exercise he could not accomplish just months ago.

Providing Support and Resources

* The program provides students with everything they need, from their YMCA membership to their gear. * Swim instructor Elin Zander said, “We didn’t want the students to have any barriers, so there’s no charge for the students.”

Long-term Goals

* The Spokane NAACP hopes to expand the program to other schools next year, aiming to provide at least 10 students of color with access to swim training and help close the gap in water safety skills. * Both students begin their five-week lifeguard training on Friday and hope to be certified by the end of May.

Overcoming the Odds

* Rodriguez said the program provided him with an opportunity he might not have otherwise had access to. * “My parents couldn’t really afford for me to go to these places a lot, so the only time that I would swim was like during the summertime.”

Breaking Down Barriers

* The program aims to break down barriers to access and provide students with the necessary skills and resources to overcome these barriers. * Moore said, “They’re supplying kids with what they need to be better at something they want to be better at. And in this case, I get to be a lifeguard, which I’m really happy about.”

Conclusion

The Spokane NAACP Health and Wellness Committee has launched a new program aimed at providing swimming lessons to historically marginalized communities. The initiative, in partnership with several organizations, seeks to address the disparities in access to swimming lessons among students of color. With its focus on providing support and resources, the program is helping to break down barriers to access and provide students with the necessary skills and resources to overcome these barriers. The program’s long-term goals aim to provide at least 10 students of color with access to swim training and help close the gap in water safety skills.