Minneapolis Hosts Free Swim Safety Event for Black and Brown Youth

Nonprofit group Jack and Jill of America organizes annual program to expand water access and skills.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 6:52am

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An abstract, impressionistic scene of children playing in a swimming pool, with soft, blurred colors and light creating a dreamlike, atmospheric mood.A free community swim event in Minneapolis aims to make water safety education more accessible and welcoming for Black and Brown families.Minneapolis Today

More than 80 Black and Brown children in Minneapolis attended a free swim safety event hosted by the local chapter of Jack and Jill of America. The annual 'JJ Swim' program aims to build water confidence and teach essential swimming skills to underserved youth, addressing disparities in drowning rates and access to formal swim lessons.

Why it matters

The CDC reports that Black people of all ages have some of the highest drowning rates in the U.S., and Black and Brown children are less likely to receive formal swim lessons. Events like JJ Swim seek to challenge these longstanding inequities by making water safety education more accessible to Minneapolis' diverse youth population.

The details

The swim safety event featured several stations where instructors guided students through basic skills like breathing, floating, and forward movement in the water. Lifeguards also provided life jacket fittings and CPR training. Organizers say the program is designed to create a welcoming environment for families who have historically faced barriers to learning water safety.

  • The second annual JJ Swim event was held this past weekend in Minneapolis.
  • The program saw a 60% increase in attendance from last year, with over 80 kids participating.

The players

Jack and Jill of America

A national nonprofit organization of mothers with children ages 2-19, dedicated to nurturing future African American leaders.

V3 Sports Center

A community recreation facility in north Minneapolis that hosted the free swim safety event.

Jaden Walker

A young swimmer who shared his personal goal of completing a full lap in 27 seconds.

Taylor Williams

A 15-year-old lifeguard who noted that many kids her age still lack essential swim skills.

Dejah Teetzle

The Aquatics Program Assistant at V3 Sports Center who guided students through the event's various stations.

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What they’re saying

“I just got to go faster, faster, faster, faster”

— Jaden Walker, Swimmer

“I think a lot of kids my age or younger don't know how to swim, and it limits the exercise you can do and the fun you can have, especially over the summer”

— Taylor Williams, Lifeguard

“It's electrifying in here. The kids are having such a good time”

— Marisa Williams, Jack and Jill of America

“I feel like it's very important that we're breaking the stereotype and that we're also bettering our community by doing events like this”

— Aneya Bliss, Swimmer

“I would love to be a lifeguard, and maybe even go to the Olympics someday”

— Jaden Walker, Swimmer

What’s next

Organizers say they plan to continue hosting the annual JJ Swim event to provide more Minneapolis youth with access to vital water safety skills and resources.

The takeaway

Events like the JJ Swim program are crucial for addressing longstanding disparities in drowning rates and swim education, empowering Black and Brown children in Minneapolis to build confidence, skills, and a lifelong love of the water.