The former journalist and social media strategist, who is Haitian-American, started her Queens, N.Y.-based business Black People Will Swim in 2019 to make access to swimming lessons more equitable.

Hosnick Martinez learned to swim with the FAST Swim Program in St. Johns County (WJXT) Bolger’s focus during these lessons is making sure people learn how to breathe properly.

Rogers said since the opening of FAST, 14,000 people have received swimming lessons. Colen said training people to swim year round is vital to the community, and their mission is to prevent ...