The NYCHA Journal

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Swim corps graduation
NYCHA Residents Program Partners Public Housing Community Fund Top Story 

NYCHA Swim Corps Offers Water Safety and Career Opportunities for Youth

Michael

Last month, NYCHA Swim Safety Corps launched its 6-week program for youth from NYCHA communities in all five boroughs, supporting residents aged 16 to 24 from underserved areas through a unique earn-while-you-learn experience. Recruitment for the program took place citywide, with a focus on neighborhoods experiencing higher rates of gun violence and those closest to the water or most likely to be impacted by a natural disaster. Each participant earned a paycheck from the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) and benefitted from 150 hours of combined classroom time, pool time, off-site trips, and career exploration opportunities, all while learning critical life-saving skills and certifications to propel them in the blue economy. Last week, 70 youth graduated from the program, now equipped with vital water safety skills.

This was the second cohort of the annual program, an innovative initiative from the Public Housing Community Fund and local non-profit Rising Tide Effect which promotes water safety, tackles the city’s lifeguard deficit, and offers career development opportunities to underserved youth.

Program activities included diverse water-based activities such as swimming, surfing, kayaking, and environmental stewardship, providing exposure to career pathways in water-based careers, aquatics, and the blue economy. Participants received mentorship and professional development, learned to swim, built confidence around and in the water, and gained preparedness to enter the NYC Parks’ Lifeguard Training Program in early 2025.

“We are excited that now, in its second year, NYCHA Swim Safety Corps made a splash across all five boroughs. It provided youth with essential swim skills and empowered them with career opportunities in the blue economy. The critical skills obtained over the last few weeks will save and transform lives and empower our youngest New Yorkers to use their knowledge and experience to explore careers and serve others as lifeguards,” said Public Housing Community Fund Executive Director Alex Zablocki.

“We are honored to once again partner with the Public Housing Community Fund to bring vital water safety skills and career opportunities to NYCHA youth. Working with these young individuals and helping guide them through this transformative journey has been a privilege. This program teaches life-saving techniques and opens doors to future careers in the blue economy. At Rising Tide Effect, our mission is to empower communities through water safety education and the aquatic experience, and we are excited to witness the profound impact this initiative will have on the lives of these young New Yorkers,” said Rising Tide Effect Founder and Executive Director Kaitlin Krause.

“With the heat rising, there’s no better way to have spent the summer than with the NYCHA Swim Safety Corps,” said NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “It’s a privilege to again work alongside our partners at the Public Housing Community Fund and the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development to facilitate positive outlets for NYCHA youth from across the five boroughs and to connect them with valuable learning experiences like this swim safety program.”

“There is no better time than now for the second annual NYCHA Swim Safety Corps to promote water safety, expand the pool of qualified lifeguards, and provide career exploration opportunities through DYCD’s Summer Youth Employment Program,” said DYCD Commissioner Keith Howard. “DYCD proudly joins the Public Housing Community Fund, Rising Tide Effect, NYCHA, and other partners in making sure the city’s ‘Summer of Possibility’ is also a safe one for all New Yorkers.”

Through a holistic approach to swimming, health, well-being, and career exploration, program participants enhanced their mental and physical health, gained nutrition knowledge, improved physical fitness, and earned CPR/AED and First Aid certification. The program also provided resume writing, interview training, job readiness skills, financial literacy courses, daily lunches, and free Chromebooks.

This year’s program was supported by partners such as Bloomberg Philanthropies, Hydro-Quebec, TDI, Wynn Resorts, Tusk Strategies, NYC Ferry, the Fund for the City of New York, and the May and Samuel Rudin Family Foundation.

“Drowning continues to be a leading cause of unintentional injury death in the U.S., claiming 4,500 lives each year,” said Kelly Larson of Bloomberg Philanthropies. “We’re proud to support this year’s NYCHA program, which is further enhancing access to swim instruction and essential water safety skills for residents 16 to 24 years old, while also enhancing career development opportunities, like lifeguarding.”

“We need innovative programs like NYCHA Swim Safety Corps that deliver direct positive impacts for underserved New York City youth, helping develop skills and expertise that will unlock versatile career opportunities,” said Pete Rose, Senior Director, Hydro-Québec Energy Services. “As a project that also knows the importance of the blue economy, CHPE is proud to support this important work, which will lead to increased employment opportunities and help develop life-saving skills that will make our communities safer.”

“Wynn Resorts is proud to support the Public Housing Community Fund and NYCHA Swim Safety Corps program,” Wynn Resorts Development President Chris Gordon said. “These types of programs align with Wynn New York City’s vision for ways bringing the resort to Hudson Yards can help NYCHA residents improve their social and economic stability.”

“The Fund for the City of New York is thrilled to support NYCHA Swim Safety Corps as it empowers young people with critical life-saving skills and career pathways. We are immensely proud of the 70 graduates of this program, who are now poised to make a lasting impact in their communities and beyond,” said Fund for the City of New York President Dr. Lisette Nieves.

NYCHA Swim Safety Corps utilized the pool and classroom space at Long Island University, Downtown Brooklyn, as their program work location. To learn more about the program, visit https://www.communityfund.nyc/swimcorps. To watch a video about the program, click here. To watch Pix11 coverage of the Swim Safety Corps graduation, click here.

Photo credit: Rising Tide