YMCA of South Florida Hosts “Swim for Jenny Party on the Pool Deck” in Fort Lauderdale

Free event is part of the Ashley Bryan Art Series Youth Art Festival and is co-hosted by the African American Research Library & Cultural Center

Photo byCourtesy of YMCA of South Florida

In partnership with the African American Research Library & Cultural Center (AARLCC), the YMCA of South Florida will host a free Swim for Jenny Party on the Pool Deck, to promote water safety education and drowning prevention, at the L.A. Lee YMCA/Mizell Community Center, 1409 NW Sistrunk Blvd., on Saturday, September 21 from 1 to 4 p.m.

The event is part of the Ashley Bryan Art Series Youth Art Festival, which kicks off at

the AARLCC. Swim for Jenny Party on the Pool Deck will include open swim opportunities for youth, water safety education, swim testing and a book signing with Johnnie Christmas, author of this year’s featured book “Swim Team.”

“Our partnership with the AARLCC is important as it gives the Y an opportunity to spotlight the critical need for water safety and drowning prevention in South Florida,” said Sheryl A. Woods, President & CEO of the YMCA of South Florida. “Mr. Christmas’ book does a wonderful job of addressing the history, lack of access and some of the fears among many minorities when it comes to water and swimming, and how to overcome them. We appreciate the support of the African American Research Library & Cultural Center in helping us make our community safer.”

Florida leads the country in child drownings of all ages, with Broward and Miami-Dade counties reporting the most drowning deaths in the state. At least 40% of children have little or no swimming ability, a figure which rises to 64% among some minority groups. In addition, for every child who loses their life to drowning, another five receive emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries. The Y’s swimming programs are paramount because formal swimming lessons reduce the likelihood of childhood drowning by 88%. Annually, more than 25,000 children and adults are taught drowning prevention and water safety techniques at the YMCA of South Florida. Many of these lessons are funded through the Y’s Aquatic Financial Assistance Program, making them accessible to all. The Y has an eight-lesson drowning prevention program, where children learn to be safe in and around the water. The Y’s Mobile Aquatics program also travels to low-income neighborhoods to teach water safety to children and their caregivers.

For more information and to reserve a spot, visit https://tinyurl.com/mryca92t.