In 2022, health access expanded across all our programming, including swimming. Those from Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) communities or low-income backgrounds may not have access to affordable swimming lessons. However, generous partners and donors are working with the Y to break down these barriers and provide opportunities for all to learn how to swim and enjoy the water.

“I never took swimming lessons as a kid due to financial barriers,” said Juweriya, who participated in one of the 38,000 swim lessons taught last year, “I no longer wanted to sit on the side while those around me enjoyed the water.” And so, she didn’t. After 27 years of not knowing how to swim, she decided to enroll. “This past September, I signed up for my first-ever swim lessons at the Matt Griffin Y. I like that they don’t force you to do anything you’re not comfortable with yet, but they still push you to where you can grow and learn. The staff have also done an amazing job at catering to my needs of requiring a female instructor because, as a Muslim woman, I feel more comfortable with one. My experience has been very transformative. Not only have I learned how to swim, but I now have a profound love for swimming.”