PHOENIX (AZFamily) — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says just 36% of African-American adults and less than half of Black children know how to swim, but a Valley nonprofit is working to change that by doing Something Good! 

SWIMBLK’s Summer Swim Program is partnering with the city of Chandler to offer affordable swim lessons for kids, teens and adults. 

“Our goal is to eliminate the barriers that have kept too many of us out of the water for too long,” said Bri Bucks, founder of SWIMBLK. “This partnership with the city of Chandler helps us provide high-quality lessons at a price our community can afford.”

Knowing how to swim is important, especially in Arizona, where many people want to cool off during the summer heat. SWIMBLK is offering kids lessons for first-time swimmers, as well as adult lessons. 

The program will be held July 5, 12, 19 and 26 at the Desert Oasis Aquatic Center in Chandler near Elliott and Alma School roads. See below for the following session times: 

Kids (age 3-13): 

• Session 1: 10 a.m. to 10:25 a.m.

• Session 2: 10:25 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. 

Teens & Adults (ages 14+): 

• Session from 10 a.m. to 10:50 a.m.

Certified instructors lead these beginner-friendly lessons where participants can build confidence as well as learn water safety skills. 

“We’re not just going to jump right into the swimming mechanics; we’re going to get into safety features and actually learning how to float and things of that nature... You never know what can happen, so you want to just make sure that you have those lifesaving skills,” said Darius Mylik, co-founder of SWIMBLK. 

Prices are at discounted and affordable rates. Pre-registration is required. Sign-ups are available on the SWIMBLK website.