Cleveland State University College of Health’s Swim the Gap Program has expanded its partnership with AquaMissions to include the Cuyahoga County Freshwater Institute, positioning themselves at the forefront of a learn-to-swim initiative. The collaboration also provides a state-of-the-art facility to young swimmers from the Cleveland Metropolitan School District while giving them a taste of life on a college campus. 

"Cleveland State is deeply committed to fostering both academic growth and community well-being. The Learn-to-Swim Program is an excellent example of how we can apply research and education to make a tangible difference in the lives of young people,” said CSU Provost Nigamanth Sridhar, Ph.D. during a recent news conference at Cleveland State’s Robert F. Busbey Natatorium.”

“By partnering with AquaMissions and the Cuyahoga County Fresh Water Institute, we are not only teaching essential life skills, but also contributing to the health and safety of our future generations.” 

The program commits to dismantling systemic swimming and water safety barriers with a focused investment in historically excluded communities. Through strategic partnerships, it works to eliminate drowning disparities and create pathways to aquatic leadership.  

College of Health Dean Stephanie Brooks, Ph.D. is the driving force behind this collaboration. 

“I think the partnership is fantastic. The collective reach of each organization will elevate the importance of swim-ready, aquatic workforce development, curating culturally responsive water safety programs and advancing the expertise of community-based and particularly Black and Brown community-based organizations,” she said. 

“The College of Health Swim the Gap program is actively working to support community agencies develop lifeguards and will be sponsoring water safety programming before the summer,” Dean Brooks added. “This is both life-changing and lifesaving work, and we are seeking gifts and grants to ensure these initiatives grow strong roots.” 

FRESH WATER INSTITUTE 

Cuyahoga County’s Fresh Water Institute builds upon a foundation of youth education and community science—defining, supporting and connecting stakeholders to current and future workforce opportunities in the blue economy and advocating for freshwater stewardship and access, according to their mission statement. 

The Learn-to-Swim program aims to close the gap when it comes to ensuring young children are aware of the dangers when they hit the water. The program is looking to reduce the number of drowning deaths while introducing 2,500 kids to swimming basics, safety practices and skill development and fostering a love for the water. Through CSU, it will also collect and analyze data to better understand the long-term benefits of the program. 

“For children this age, learning to swim promotes health and wellness,” said Dean Brooks. “Equally, important, it provides a holding environment that facilitates physical, cognitive, self-awareness and social emotional development. Being swim-ready is just one slice of the entire pie.” 

As part of the announcement on CSU’s campus, $500,000 in congressional funding was presented to the Freshwater Institute by Rep. Shontel Brown, which helped to get the initiative off the ground and running through the consolidated appropriations act. 

“It is very exciting to see The Freshwater Institute take shape, and it is another example of the commitment to sustainability, equity and access that we have here in Cuyahoga County,” said Brown. “We all know that, for a long time, a lot of Black and Brown kids growing up like I did in the city haven’t had access to swimming programs, [but] this program is helping to fill that gap, which is something I truly appreciate.” 

County Executive Chris Ronanye reiterated his desire for students to not only be swim-ready, but also to be safe and have the knowledge of the water so they can later become leaders of the freshwater future.  

“We are thrilled to announce the freshwater institute has partnered with AquaMissions and Cleveland State University to expand our learn to swim program,” said Ronanye. “Too many kids are not swim-ready and as a result, it can be dangerous.” 

Brown is hoping this initiative goes further than just the water.  

“Right now, in Northeast Ohio and across all of our government along with our private sector leaders and our non-profit leaders, there is a real effort to reconnect our region,” she said. 

“To reconnect us to the lake and river and reconnect neighborhoods and families who have been locked out in the past.”