You can never cross the ocean until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.
We are self-limiting creatures, complete with past traumas and often illogical reasons. We dream and plot for something bigger, yet we stop ourselves for some unknown fear and mysterious future.
Sometimes those fears get in the way of our survival. While the ocean analogy has a larger point, it directly navigates to swimming. How can we cross the ocean if we do not know how to swim?
It’s necessary figuratively and literally. We must have the courage and skill to swim. That is one of the most basic skills we all should know. That brings me to share a program that is dedicated to the survival of the children in our community. The Survival Swimming Program is championed by Detective Africa Mingo and Sergeant Howard Jenkins with the DeKalb County Police Athletic League Plus. Two passionate and determined ambassadors tasked with engaging with the community in an impactful way.
I met Detective Mingo on a project and was impressed with her focus on presentation and her love of community. In a conversation, she asked if I wanted to enroll my kids in swimming classes at the YMCA. She added a second COMPLETE sentence. Free.
When I received the paperwork, Survival Swimming was printed across the top of the first page. It hit me a little differently with that messaging. Two weeks of swimming classes? “Sure! They will love being in the water.” Survival Swimming? “This is mandatory!”
Over a week away from the first class, I began receiving messages from Detective Mingo. She shared detailed information on the program including the time and location which was the East Lake YMCA. She shared that if we needed transportation, she would not only pick up the children from my house but drop them off.
I did not opt for the transportation because I have a pinky toe in the ‘helicopter parent’ pool and wanted to check out the scene first. And I wanted to understand the program and its benefits to the community. It brought joy to my heart to see a stair step of about 15 kids in the pool. They had varying levels of courage and skill and they were appropriately met by the incredibly patient YMCA instructors.
Adding to the lessons, the kids were treated to what can be considered a mini camp experience with a trip to the park and lunch. It was then, while sitting on a bench in East Lake Park, I recognized the entire scene as an example of community. What Detective Africa Mingo and Sergeant Howard Jenkins are doing, with the full support of Chief of Police Mirtha V. Ramos, is labor AND love. There is no agenda, just genuine care that I could genuinely feel.
I had my hesitation when I considered participating in a program given by the ‘police’ but understood that these concerned citizens and proactive neighbors have professions as police officers. It is in everyone’s best interest to live in a safe community and this group, that I have encountered, are making impactful efforts.
This story is not to promote the DeKalb County Police Department. It is to advocate for our community to use whatever resources necessary for our own survival. Even if those resources are in unfamiliar and uncomfortable spaces.
Crossing the ocean… or pool can get you to a village you didn’t know existed.
Valeasia