Champions Coaching, Inc. hosted a Juneteenth water safety program at Pullen Park’s indoor pool to address racial disparities in swimming. The initiative aims to reduce the high drowning rates among Black children, who are 7.6 times more likely to drown in public pools than their white peers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Deidra Hall, who runs the nonprofit with her daughter, emphasized the importance of teaching swimming as a life skill. “There are way too many children that are dying unnecessarily in the summertime in the pool when all they had to learn was how to bob or float,” Hall said.
The program seeks to break racial barriers in swimming by providing access and training to children who might not otherwise have the opportunity. Hall highlighted the role of generational trauma and lack of access in contributing to the disparity. The nonprofit’s efforts are part of a broader mission to raise awareness that swimming is not just a sport but a crucial life-saving skill.
The Juneteenth event brought together children of diverse ethnic backgrounds to learn essential water skills, fostering both safety and unity. Champions Coaching, Inc. hopes to continue hosting similar programs to ensure every child gains confidence in the water and understands its power.
