In a compelling effort to address the alarming rates of drowning among Black children, Trish Miller, CEO of SwemKids, has made it her mission to equip the youth of Atlanta with essential swimming skills.
Statistics reveal a stark disparity in drowning rates, with Black children aged 10-14 drowning at nearly four times the rate of their white peers, escalating to 7.6 times the rate in swimming pools.
To combat this issue, Miller founded SwemKids, Atlanta’s largest Black-owned swim school, inspired by her own journey in overcoming a near-drowning experience during her college years.
In 1996, while on a college trip, friends discovered that Miller couldn’t swim. During a lesson, she impulsively jumped into the deep end of the pool, panicking and requiring rescue.
This life-changing experience drove Miller to delve into the statistics surrounding drowning in her community, leading her to act.
“I wrote a small grant and self-funded some students to be transported during the school day for swimming lessons. While they were taking swimming lessons, I took swimming lessons with them,” she explained.
Miller’s grassroots initiative blossomed, and in just eight years, SwemKids has grown to reach nearly 1,000 students weekly across nine locations.
The programs at SwemKids are diverse, in addition to swimming lessons, they offer water aerobics, lifeguard certifications, water safety workshops, CPR, and First Aid certifications.
Miller emphasizes the importance of celebrating milestones like a student’s first lap in the water, making them feel accomplished and welcomed.
“With our ‘Adult Swem’ program, we also cater to adults, ensuring there are spaces where they feel celebrated in the water,” Miller added, reflecting on the critical need for water safety skills to prevent drowning incidents among adults.
The name ‘SwemKids’ carries historical significance, as it pays homage to the African legacy and acknowledges the tragic history surrounding historical voyages.
Miller noted, “Much of it stems from the voyage from the main continent over to the Americas, so swim is Afrikaans for swim, and it’s to pay respect and honor to those that came before us.”
As SwemKids celebrates its eighth anniversary, Miller expresses immense pride in the growth of her organization.
Though she initially did not envision herself leading a swim school, her commitment to driving impact in her community has been fulfilled far beyond her initial expectations.
“I didn’t start out seeing myself doing this type of work… I wanted something that was more mission-driven,” she shared emotionally.
Miller finds spirituality in the water, expressing how helping individuals overcome their fears and discover their connection to swimming provides her immense satisfaction.
Looking forward, she envisions “world domination” for SwemKids, aiming to expand beyond Georgia and reach communities across the nation.
“The opening of our nine locations shows the real need for our services,” Miller asserted, emphasizing the necessity of continuing to expand their reach.
SwemKids operates year-round, promoting continuous learning even during the offseason.
Miller believes that learning to swim should happen regardless of the season and encourages potential swimmers to consider fall and winter lessons.
“I encourage everyone to learn how to swim by ‘doing it scared.’ This approach helped me navigate launching SwemKids as a single parent during challenging times, including COVID-19,” she reflected.
Navigating her business through the pandemic was arduous, particularly as a swim school reliant on face-to-face interactions, yet she emerged stronger.
“COVID hit right after I left my stable government job. I had to face adult bills, making me realize how resilient one can be when circumstances demand it,” she recounted.
Miller believes that pushing through fear and uncertainty can lead to success, stating that many businesses fail early due to doubt in one’s capabilities.
“I would like for people to take the time to learn. Find a loved one and go with them. If you have children who do not know how to swim, now’s the time to get them in the water,” she urged.
With a commitment to reducing drowning rates and increasing water safety awareness, SwemKids continues to be a beacon of hope in the community, offering essential skills and celebrating each swimmer’s successes.
As individuals recognize the critical importance of learning to navigate water safely, the work of SwemKids is more vital than ever in creating a safer, more inclusive environment for swimmers of all ages.
image source from：theatlantavoice
