Good morning,

The fourth update on the dyer need for FUSD to take this seriously is regarding low aquatic sports participation numbers. The low participation directly correlates to accessibility and the high percentages of people of color who can NOT swim. Kids of color are 88% more likely to drown to death, statistics from the Center for Disease Control. As Fresno’s population has diversified, so has the decline in aquatic sports participation.

Unfortunately the marginalization of people of color (primarily black people) in aquatics stem from our nation's controversial history regarding enslaved people. Enslaved people were forbidden to learn to swim in fear they would get away. This would start a generational tradition of people of color not learning to swim. This “tradition of not doing water sports” would further be cemented through the decades. If you are a parent that can’t swim, you are more likely to encourage your child to do a sport that doesn't have the chance of your child drowning to death. Then you add that aquatic sports are typically more expensive to participate in. In Fresno alone there are FIVE public pools that are either completely shut down or not in use, that were once thriving. The history is sad and too long to write out, but has very much affected us today. 

To make matters worse FUSD took the time and energy to fully endorse a new bill, the AB 1445 Announcement. To be clear, I am grateful this issue is having awareness brought to it and my heart aches for this young man's family. The FUSD endorsement and press conference held at Edison High school is what rubs salt in the wounds felt by this situation. Especially when you see the FHS board member proudly standing at Edison’s contribution to this. Where is his advocacy for the students he was elected to serve, FHS? Coach Lopez was not only working on this EXACT issue but was paying FUSD to use their facilities to do so. 

Coach Lopez was able to demonstrate proven results that there is a demand for aquatic sports with the current FUSD student population, even with little support from FHS administration. Imagine how different the program would be today if she had been able to continue her mission. Our kids deserve this opportunity that comes with HOLISTIC programs like hers.

Thank you to everyone who has read, signed, shared, and donated money to this petition. Grassroots efforts are difficult to get up and running but are proven to make the needed change the community wants.

Thank you,

Cresta

More resources on this issue - 

- March 2022 news story sharing some of Coach Lopez’s mission
- An interview Coach Lopez contributed too
- A segment from former board member Terry Slatic on the situation