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Swim Strong Foundation at World Conference on Drowning Prevention 2025

Watch the Full Presentation Presenter: Shawn Slevin Affiliations: Swim Strong Foundation, New York, USA Global Water Safety and Drowning Prevention Rotary Club, Brisbane, Australia Water Safety Coalition, New York City, USA Multi Agency Taskforce on Life Guards and Water Safety, New York City, USA Presentation Title: Why Swimming Lessons Are Not Enough. Education is the Missing Link Swim Strong Foundation founder Shawn Slevin presented at the 2025 World Conference on Drowning Prevention (WCDP) held in Egypt, November 21-23, 2025. Conference Resources: WCDP 2025 Abstracts Book...

January 10, 2026Blog, VideosComments OffRead more...

Beach Safety: Life-Saving Wisdom From Our Rockaway Community

Beach Safety: Life-Saving Wisdom From Our Rockaway Community Summer drownings on New York's beaches continue to claim lives—but they don't have to. Those of us who live by the ocean understand its beauty and hidden dangers. We've created a 7-part video series featuring real Rockaway residents, lifeguards, and Swim Strong families sharing the water safety knowledge that keeps our community alive. The Hard Truth A beautiful day outside doesn't guarantee a beautiful day in the water. Storms 1,500 miles away in the Caribbean...

August 29, 2025Blog, PSAs, VideosComments OffRead more...
Merle Liivand demonstrating proper hand positioning for the breaststroke pull phase. Wearing a white swim cap and blue-tinted goggles, she shows the correct hand form while explaining technique to attentive young swimmers.

World Record Holder Merle Liivand Leads Spectacular Breaststroke Bootcamp

  A Day of EliteTraining with "The Eco-Mermaid" This past Monday, swimmers gathered at the Bushwick HS Campus Pool for an extraordinary opportunity - a specialized Breaststroke Bootcamp led by Lady Merle Liivand, Estonian Champion and five-time Guinness World Record holder for monofin swimming. The event, hosted by the Swim Strong Foundation, brought together competitive swimmers eager to learn from one of the world's most accomplished breaststroke and open water swimmers. Merle, who began swimming due to medical challenges with her lungs, has...

April 19, 2025Blog, Events, VideosComments OffRead more...
Promotional poster for 'Changing the Narrative' documentary series featuring a diverse group of people and release dates for episodes.

Changing the Narrative: A Must-See Film on Breaking Swimming Barriers

 "Changing the Narrative": A Must-See Film for Every Family A Powerful Message on Swimming and Water Safety Greetings, families! Today, I want to share something truly special with you. My friend Ed Accura has created a film that you absolutely must see: "Changing the Narrative". Universal Barriers to Swimming While Ed's film focuses on the UK perspective, the message resonates globally. As I've traveled the world, I've heard the same concerns echoed by people everywhere. The barriers to learning how to swim are truly universal. Reflecting...

September 26, 2024Articles, Blog, VideosComments OffRead more...
Image of Shawn Slevin nest to Radio Rotary Logo

Protecting Lives: Discover Swim Strong Foundation’s Mission on Radio Rotary

Listen to Full Show Discover the crucial importance of water safety and drowning prevention with Swim Strong Foundation's Shawn Slevin on Radio Rotary. This eye-opening interview covers essential topics from home safety to environmental awareness, making it a must-listen for parents, educators, and anyone who spends time near water. Are you concerned about water safety for yourself and your loved ones? Do you want to learn how to prevent tragic water-related accidents? Then you absolutely must tune in to the latest episode...

September 24, 2024Articles, Blog, VideosComments OffRead more...

Unveiling the Extraordinary Journey of Merle Liivand: A Story of Triumph and Environmental Advocacy

Full Video Introduction: In a world where challenges seem insurmountable and environmental issues loom large, there are individuals whose stories serve as beacons of hope and inspiration. One such individual is Merle Liivand, whose remarkable journey from adversity to triumph is nothing short of awe-inspiring. In this blog post, we delve into the captivating speech delivered by Merle Liivand, where she shares her extraordinary life story, her passion for swimming, and her unwavering commitment to environmental advocacy. The Journey Begins: Merle Liivand's journey is...

April 17, 2024Blog, Events, VideosComments OffRead more...

Creating a New York Aquatics Culture: Shawn Slevin to the NYC Council

Dive into Shawn Slevin's compelling testimony on the critical need for water safety advocacy in New York City. Watch the full video to learn how Swim Strong Foundation is making waves in creating a safer aquatic environment for all. In a recent gathering of city officials, council members, and advocates, Shawn Slevin, the Executive Director of Swim Strong Foundation, took center stage to address the critical issue of water safety in New York City. With over 17 years of dedicated advocacy,...

March 14, 2024Blog, PSAs, VideosComments OffRead more...

NY SWIMS Initiative | January 5th 2024 Recap

State of the State 2024 I was invited to attend the Governor’s announcement about the new NY SWIMS initiative on Friday. The 30 minute presentation is here: The next clip shows when Mayor Adams calls out Swim Strong! How cool is that?!?   This article will get you up to date on the Initiative: Queens Daily Eagle Article In terms of NY SWIMS initiative: Governor acknowledges historic lack of aquatic infrastructure across the state and is adding $60 Million to her budget to: build some pools; bring in pop up...

January 11, 2024Blog, Swim Strong in The News, VideosComments OffRead more...

Swim Strong Foundation 2023 Holiday Raffle

The Holiday Raffle is Here  Enter Holiday Raffle 2023 ($50) Drawing made December 26th.   Proceeds to benefit the scholarship fund. Swim Strong Foundation is a 501c3 in New York City that provides affordable swim lessons and water safety education to families.   Our programs teach basic swim lessons through stroke enhancement classes for competitive swimmers of all ages. Swim Strong has taught more than 10,700 people to respect the water and develop strong swimming skills for safety, health, competition, recreation and employment opportunities.   2731 children...

December 20, 2023Blog, Events, PSAs, Videos, Comments OffRead more...