Senator Kevin Parker joined the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Eta Nu Sigma Chapter and Seven Roses Legacy Foundation to host their Swim 1922 event at the YMCA BedStuy on June 24.
"Swimming is not only a fun activity, but a valuable life skill, and we need to ensure that every child has access to safe and properly maintained swimming facilities," said Senator Parker. "Swim 1922 will help impart important safety guidelines while also promoting the joy of swimming."
The outreach program Swim 1922 aims to promote water safety and increase swimming skills among young people of color. The event included swimming lessons, water safety demonstrations, and a series of fun activities for children aged six and above. YMCA BedStuy provided free-swimming lessons to the first 50 children who registered for the event. The entire event was open to the public and free of charge.
The initiative is inspired by the tragic events of 1922, when more than 100 African Americans drowned while swimming in segregated public pools across the country. Swim 1922 seeks to address the continuing racial disparity in swimming, which has resulted in significantly higher rates of drowning among Black and Latino children compared to white children.
