Living in New York City can be a fantastic experience. That said, we all know that there are ways in which it can be difficult to meet basic needs. One example is lack of access to pools and swimming instruction.
That’s why the pool at the 14th Street Y is so special and important. Our aquatics program at 14Y empowers New Yorkers to learn to swim and to enjoy access to a pool throughout their lives.
Consider these facts: Drowning is the leading cause of death among children ages 1-4 and the second leading cause of preventable death among children under 14. It is estimated that under 25 percent of New York City high school students can swim. Tragically, six individuals have drowned at citywide beaches this summer. The lack of swimming classes is sadly skewed towards kids whose families don’t have the means to give them regular access to a pool. The fundamental reality is simply that New York City does not have enough pools or do enough to teach people to swim.
At 14Y, we are working to tackle this disparity by bringing the benefits of swimming to our whole community. All our aquatics classes teach essential water safety practices, and skills including treading water and responding to emergencies. 14Y also offers lifeguard training programs – a critical aspect of addressing New York City’s shortage of lifeguards.
At the same time, swimming provides an excellent full-body workout for people of all ages. At 14Y, we offer classes for babies, and toddlers, children, and adults, as well as time for swimming laps.
So, the 14Y pool is not ‘just’ another pool. It’s a pool for a city that doesn’t have nearly enough. It’s another way in which Educational Alliance fulfills its long-standing mission of helping New Yorkers to thrive.
Educational Alliance is a Jewish organization and 14Y is a Jewish Community Center; that initially may seem unconnected to a pool. But consider this: A passage in the Talmud includes a short list of parental obligations. Included on that list – along with teaching a trade, learning Torah, and finding a spouse – is teaching one’s children to swim. At first glance, swimming might appear to be out of place on that list. But it does make sense if seen as a path for developing important personal lifelong attributes that accompany learning to swim: being self-assured, learning independence, and challenging oneself. In short, learning to flourish.
In the video above, I interview Miguel Pagan, 14Y’s Director of Aquatics. Please watch the video to get a glimpse of our pool and to learn more about the aquatics program. And if you want to sign up for swimming classes, please take this opportunity to visit our website.
Best,
Rich Baum
President & CEO, Educational Alliance