The African American Museum of Southern Arizona, in collaboration with the University of Arizona’s aquatics department, is offering free swim lessons to Tucson residents. This initiative, named ‘From Fear to Freedom: Dive into Opportunity,’ aims to break down barriers to swimming for African American communities and others in the area.

Breaking Barriers

Elgie Batteau, the first African American woman to earn a master’s degree from the University of Arizona in the early 1930s, faced significant barriers, including having to pass a swim test when many pools were off-limits to her due to racial segregation. Today, the museum’s director, Nikieia Johnson, highlights the ongoing challenges African Americans face in accessing swimming lessons. To address this, the museum and UA Campus Recreation have expanded their program to include teens and adults, ensuring that cost is not a barrier.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a significant percentage of Black and Hispanic adults have never taken swimming lessons, often due to cost, access, and cultural norms. The program provides not only lessons but also swimwear, goggles, towels, and other necessities to remove all barriers to participation.

Community Impact

The program has received strong community interest, with individuals in their 60s and 70s expressing a desire to learn to swim alongside their grandchildren. The expansion to include adults was made possible by donations, notably from donor Betsy Bruce. Johnson, who plans to take lessons herself, emphasizes the importance of water safety and the desire to provide survival skills to the community.

Arizona’s high summer temperatures make water activities a popular respite, but the state’s drowning rate for young children is concerningly high. This program aims to equip more residents with the skills needed to safely enjoy water activities.

Original reporting: Arizona Luminaria — read the source article.