MIDWOOD — More than 100 people from central Brooklyn who learned lifesaving swimming skills for free in five weeks gathered at the Brooklyn College pool for their final celebratory session on Friday, Aug. 14.
They were joined by representatives from Inclusive Community Wellness, Brooklyn College and Councilmember Farah Louis’ office, along with friends and family. ICW is a Brooklyn-based aquatics and wellness nonprofit that has provided learn-to-swim programs for children and adults at Brooklyn College since October 2023.
It was all hands on deck as ICW staff watched over the children in the Brooklyn College pool. Photo: Loretta Chin/Brooklyn Eagle
In the past, Central Brooklyn lacked affordable community access to pools or swimming instruction. Today, community partnerships and investments in results-oriented swim instruction aim to reduce drowning risks.
Children and adults who made waves of progress throughout the summer dove into the pool for a final day of practice, taking a break for an awards ceremony before receiving their certificates.
Executive Director of ICW Michael Randazzo expressed his appreciation to all the participants, including Louis, the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development, Council Speaker Julie Menin for providing the funding, and Dr. Marcus Richardson, executive director of strategic initiatives at Brooklyn College, for allowing the use of the pool.
Michael Randazzo, executive director of the Inclusive Community Wellness nonprofit, stands next to Daniel Heredia and Keturah Jones of Councilmember Farah Louis’ office, along with Dr. Marcus Richardson, executive director of strategic initiatives at Brooklyn College, as they prepare to give remarks. Photo: Loretta Chin/Brooklyn Eagle
“We looked at so many pools, tried to get in them. It’s a challenge, but thank you so much for allowing us to use your pool to run these programs that benefit the community,” Randazzo said to Richardson. “Ultimately, what we see is a buildup of New York City’s aquatic culture.”
From left, Daniel Heredia, legislative and communications liaison; Keturah Jones, director of scheduling and budget liaison in the office of Councilmember Farah Louis; and Dr. Marcus Richardson, executive director of strategic initiatives at Brooklyn College. Photo: Loretta Chin/Brooklyn Eagle
The initial $10,000 for the program was provided by Louis through DYCD. Under former mayor Eric Adams, the City Council Speaker’s Office added an additional $600,000.
The additional funding became available last May, when $5.5 million was dedicated citywide for a series of free “Swim for Life” youth swim classes in honor of Elyjha Chandler and Christian Perkins, two high school students who drowned off the coast of Jacob Riis Beach in the Rockaways in 2024. Their deaths were among seven drownings at city beaches that summer. Both teenagers were from the East Flatbush area.
ICW program participants and family members listen intently to invited speakers and partners who helped make the program possible. Photo: Loretta Chin/Brooklyn Eagle
Randazzo said he was thankful that those present had acquired the lifesaving skill of swimming, but he felt the program could be expanded further. He mentioned a recent drowning in the Rockaways as an example.
Daniel Heredia, a community liaison representing Louis, whose district encompasses Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood, Canarsie, Flatlands, Kensington and Marine Park, spoke about the need to address swim-instruction disparities. Heredia said that lack of swim-instruction access often leads to teenagers drowning in underserved Black and brown communities.
A group photo by the pool of the speakers with ICW board and staff members. ICW board member Francis Pope stands next to Daniel Heredia, representing Councilmember Farah Louis, left. Photo: Loretta Chin/Brooklyn Eagle
Heredia also mentioned his office’s involvement in a $141 million investment to open the Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center earlier this year. The center, operated by the Parks Department, offers water safety instruction in its competition-sized pool. It came about as part of a broader effort to build and renovate public pools borough-wide through the Let’s Swim NYC initiative, launched in June 2024 with more than $1 billion in capital investments.
ICW Executive Director Michael Randazzo speaking with program participants after the event. Photo: Loretta Chin/Brooklyn Eagle
“We’re in a landlocked community,” Heredia said. “It’s far from the beach, but when our families eventually do go out to the beach and go to other places in the city, we need to make sure that our kids know how to swim because we need to reverse the trend.”
Richardson, who is also vice chair of the Brooklyn College Auxiliary Enterprises Corporation, said he was proud to help facilitate the partnership and reflected on participating in a similar program during his own youth.
“That program taught me how to be safe, confident and comfortable around water. It gave me skills that have stayed with me throughout my life,” Richardson said. “When I think about learning to swim, I think not only about recreation, I think about safety, confidence, discipline, competition, employment and opportunity.”
Parents Kalifa Addison and Doncarroll Green with their two sons, Khari, 5, and Kiano, 4, participated in the program that is for adults and children. Photo: Loretta Chin/Brooklyn Eagle
Richardson also said it was important for local families to access the college campus, especially for those who may be inspired to attend college later. “That is what community partnership can do,” he said. “It can begin with something as fundamental as learning to swim and open the door to confidence, safety, opportunity and a lifelong connection to a place like Brooklyn College.”
Otis Alves, an ICW swim instructor with over 30 years of experience, spoke with the Eagle about the training modules in the eight-lane pool. Red Cross-certified instructors teach students in a four-to-one ratio.
From left: Shekinah Griffith, 18, Deon Hanks, ICW Executive Director Michael Randazzo, Melody Hanks, 6, and Liam Hanks, 7. Photo: Loretta Chin/Brooklyn Eagle
To begin, students learn to get comfortable in the water, blowing bubbles and practicing breathing. Then they learn how to do the doggy paddle, front crawl, float on their backs and tread water.
At an intermediate level, they learn the elementary backstroke and breaststroke. Finally, they learn the butterfly stroke and how to dive into the water.
“A lot of people tell me that they never thought they would be doing this or they thought they would never be in the deep water and at the end of the session, they’re deep-water swimming and diving,” Alves said.
Big sister Shekinah Griffith demonstrates swim strokes for Liam Hanks, 7, and Melody Hanks, 6, as their mother, Deon Hanks, watches them. Photo: Loretta Chin/Brooklyn Eagle
Deon Hanks came to the program with her young children, Liam, 7, and Melody, 6, along with their older sister Shekinah Griffith, 18.
Like many parents, Hanks learned about the program through a social media post. She felt that the program provided discipline, a love of water, community and an opportunity to overcome fears for her children.
“If you’re afraid of the deep end, you could become afraid of the deep end of all other aspects of your life. Overcoming that fear and getting encouragement from the coaches and other teachers to try that is of great benefit,” she said.
“The discipline that comes out of swimming can really enable young people to have that discipline later on in their future,” she added.
Adult single learners included Joseph Azor, who had nothing but high praise for the program. From a viewing platform above the pool. Photo: Loretta Chin/Brooklyn Eagle
Similarly, Kalifa Addison and Doncarroll Green, parents of Khari, 5, and Kiano, 4, learned of the program through social media. The whole family participated in the Friday programs for adults and children.
Although Addison knew how to swim a little, she said that understanding how to breathe, stay calm and under control was important to her.
“The biggest thing for me was to find a program like this, of this caliber, this quality and patient instructors,” Green said. “I don’t think you can get any better.”