Making a Splash in The Avenue: Relaunching the Avenue Swim Club at Florence Howard Elementary
This fall, Fuse Project proudly relaunched the Avenue Swim Club, a revitalized water safety and learn-to-swim initiative designed exclusively for students at Florence Howard Elementary School. Developed in partnership with the City of Mobile Swim Association (CMSA) and USA Swimming’s Community Impact Program, the Avenue Swim Club brings vital aquatic education to children who otherwise may not have access to consistent lessons, structured instruction, or safe places to practice essential water skills.
For many families, swim programs can be too costly, too far away, or simply not available in their community. In The Avenue, those barriers have historically prevented children from gaining life-saving water competency - something that should never be a privilege, but a basic skill. By relaunching this program, we are addressing an urgent community need: ensuring more children are confident, capable, and safe around the water.
Why Water Safety Matters More Than Ever
Drowning remains one of the leading causes of accidental death in children, particularly in communities with limited access to affordable swim lessons. Studies show that formal swim instruction can reduce the risk of drowning by up to 88%, making programs like the Avenue Swim Club not just recreational opportunities, but essential safety interventions.
Many students at Florence Howard have never participated in a swim lesson before stepping into the pool with us. By meeting three days a week over four-week sessions, the Avenue Swim Club provides enough repetition and guided time in the water to build comfort and mastery. Students learn:
Foundational swim strokes
How to float, kick, and breathe properly
Safe water entry and exit techniques
Lifesaving skills and emergency awareness
Confidence in and around aquatic environments
Three sessions were offered this semester at no cost to the students. Each session concluded with an awards celebration, where students received a certificate of completion, a goody bag, and a donut (symbolic of a life saving ring). These small but meaningful recognitions reinforce their hard work and encourage them to keep growing as swimmers.
The impact of the Avenue Swim Club has already reached beyond the pool deck. FOX10 News recently visited one of our sessions to spotlight the program, capturing students in action and sharing how this partnership is breaking down barriers to water safety for children in the Avenue community.
In Partnership With Experts Who Believe in Access for All
City of Mobile Swim Association (CMSA)
CMSA is a premier competitive swimming organization in our region with an outstanding reputation for developing strong swimmers and promoting excellence in aquatic education. Beyond training competitive athletes, CMSA is deeply committed to expanding water safety access to children across Mobile. Their leadership, certified instructors, and structured curriculum ensure every Avenue Swim Club participant receives high-quality instruction grounded in proven teaching methods.
USA Swimming’s Community Impact Program
USA Swimming (the national governing body for competitive swimming in the United States) created the Community Impact Program to eliminate barriers that prevent children from learning to swim. The program provides grants, technical support, and outreach assistance to organizations like Fuse Project so local communities can build sustainable, inclusive aquatic pathways for youth.
Through USA Swimming’s support, the Avenue Swim Club gains not only funding but also access to national-level educational tools, safety standards, and best practices. Their commitment reflects a wider understanding: water safety is public safety, and no child should be left out because of cost or circumstance.
A Program Interwoven With Our Educational Mission
The Avenue Swim Club is an extension of the holistic educational support Fuse Project provides through our ABC Academic Support Program. As Florence Howard Elementary’s partner in education, we support students academically and behaviorally through school stores, achievement celebrations, monthly extracurricular clubs, incentives, and quarterly teacher appreciation efforts. Our approach combines evidence-based instruction with real-life enrichment opportunities that strengthen the school community.
The swim club reinforces this approach by giving students something transformative, an experience that builds discipline, resilience, and pride. Learning to swim is more than a physical skill; it is an emotional and mental milestone. Students who participate often see improvements in school attendance, confidence, and overall engagement.
Building a Safer, Healthier Avenue Community One Stroke at a Time
Programs like the Avenue Swim Club expand opportunity in ways that matter both now and for years to come. Water safety is a life skill. Confidence in the pool translates to confidence in the classroom. And access - true access - to enriching activities helps unlock the full potential of children in our community.
We are grateful to CMSA, USA Swimming, and their Community Impact Program for helping us bring this experience to Florence Howard students. Their partnership ensures the program remains high-quality, sustainable, and rooted in best practices for safety and instruction.
As we look toward the future with continuing sessions in the spring, we are inspired by the progress made by our young swimmers, many of whom are conquering fears, achieving new milestones, and discovering strengths they didn’t yet know they had. Together, we’re not just teaching students how to swim. We’re helping them dive into new possibilities.