Welcome to the Diversity in Aquatics social network. The network and website, MinoritySwimming.com, are the brain-child of Shaun Anderson and Jayson Jackson. The goal of our Diversity in Aquatics Program (DAP) is to help create and promote more local DAP programs, as well as to create a forum for interaction, communication, news, and competitive swimming. We hope you enjoy the network and MinoritySwimming.com. Please send us suggestions, comments, posts, and ideas at ideas@minorityswimming.com.
From USA Swimming:
Olympic gold medalist Cullen Jones, in association with aloft Philadelphia Airport hotel, will host a fundraising event on October 17 to raise money and bring awareness to the Salvation Army’s Ray & Joan Kroc Center Aquatic Program. Read more >>
Recently, John Cruzat headed to Harlem Week to promote the “Make A Splash” (MAS), our national water safety initiative. Here are some of his thoughts and notes from his historic work in Harlem. Here are a few photos from the event.
Harlem Week
I wanted to give you a quick update on the MAS appearance in Harlem. Before I arrived I talked to Winston the Harlem week director about the importance of pushing the appearance to the media. The local NBC affiliate (Channel 4) interviewed me regarding the MAS program and the Olympics. The interview was live at 6:30 a.m. Today we went through most of the giveaways. After talking to a number of parents throughout the day the following topics came up in many of the conversations I had.
Thanks for the update John. We will look forward to hearing more from you in your upcoming travels.
There was a great article online at MercuryNews.com in which gold medalist Cullen Jones discussed swimming and diveristy. Jones is the second African-American swimmer to win Olympic gold.
Below is a great article on Lee Pitts I missed from earlier this summer (my most humble apologies Lee).
Juneteenth to feature famed black swim instructor
By JOHN BOZZO
Staff WriterDAYTONA BEACH — Famed swimming instructor Lee Pitts will highlight the Juneteenth festival 9 a.m. Saturday at Cypress Street Park.The city began celebrating Juneteenth in 2001, but no festival was held last year due to construction of a new pool in the park. Pitts participated in ceremonies when the pool opened in May.
“Lee Pitts is a renowned swim instructor and black swimmer,” said Percy Williamson, the city’s Leisure Services director.
Some children from the city’s Leisure Services programs, who don’t know how to swim, will participate in a lesson to be taught by Pitts, who established a swimming school in Fort Myers in 1990. He has published articles and appeared on radio and television shows as a water-safety expert.
A demonstration by black scuba divers is also expected.
“Encouraging swimming is important for African-American youth,” Williamson said.
Juneteenth commemorates June 19,1865, when Union Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, with word about the freeing of slaves after the Civil War and two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
The festival is free and open to the public. Vendors and corporate sponsors provided more than $40,000 to pay for the celebration, which includes a dinner tonight at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University honoring unsung heroes in the community.
“It’s great for the city to have this event and celebrate what it (Juneteenth) represents,” said City Commissioner Pam Woods, who represents the area where the pool is located. Woods donated $2,980.28 to help provide swimming lessons. The amount is her share of the Bike Week Sponsorship Fund, a pool of money used by commissioners for worthy causes.
“It’s a positive thing the city has going on that day,” she said. “It’s great that we’ll be at the new (swimming) facility.”
In addition to swimming, the festival in the park next to the pool will include activities such as a kid carnival, voter registration, health fair, vendors and a pound cake contest.
“In years past we’ve had some difficulty with some young people who come out,” Williamson said. “That’s why we’re encouraging parents to bring their children out. We will have security there to prevent unruly acts.”
Minorities, especially black children, drown at a greater rate than white people, according to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.
The new pool replaces a pool built in 1942, which was closed in 2000 after a recommendation from the Health Department that it would be cheaper to build a new pool than correct problems at the old pool.
Great interview on Floswimming with Cullen Jones. He talks about “Finding that ‘Mind Set’.”
SwimNetwork.com released that Maritza Correia has announced her retirement. The pain in her shoulders over the last two years has made simple tasks difficult.
The Emory Wheel, Emory University’s student newspaper asks an important question, “Where Are the Black Swimmers?“
French swimmer Malia Metella reacts after winning the 50 meter freestyle final at the French Swimming Championships in Dunkirk, northern France, Sunday, April 27, 2008. (AP Photo/Bob Edme)
French swimmer Malia Metella reacts after winning the 100 meter freestyle final at the French Swimming Championships in Dunkirk, northern France, Friday, April 25, 2008. (AP Photo/Bob Edme)
French swimmer Malia Metella reacts after winning the 100 meter freestyle final at the French Swimming Championships in Dunkirk, northern France, Friday, April 25, 2008. (AP Photo/Bob Edme)
The International Swimming Hall of Fame is located in Fort Lauderdale, FL. According to their website their mission is to promote the benefits and importance of swimming as a key to fitness, good health, quality of life, and the water safety of children. We will accomplish this through operation of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, a dynamic shrine dedicated to the history, memory, and recognition of the famous swimmers, divers, water polo players, synchronized swimmers, and persons involved in life saving activities and education, throughout the world, whose lives and accomplishments will serve to inspire, educate, and be role models for all those who participate in the Hall of Fame’s experience and programs.
Take some time to visit their website. Here are few links that caught my eye:
BLACK SPLASH: The Amazing History of swimming in black and white
ISHOF Celebrates African-America History in Swimming
Black Splash: The History of African-American Swimmers (pdf)
Jim Ellis To Receive ISHOF’s Presidential Award
Cullen Jones Visits Carver Ranches Boys & Girls Club
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