Madison Mackey is a familiar face at this Vent Fitness studio. As she makes her way back to the classroom where she preps for her beginner swim students, they’re not the typical age most people think about when it comes to first time swimmers.

“I think overall swimming is such a vital life skill…and throughout the US and even across the world there is a lack of people knowing how to swim and even a lack of instructor,” Mackey said.

Mackey is helping students like Leesa Crawford dive in head first to get comfortable with the water.

“When I spoke to the instructor and she said it’s going to be a safe place that really prompted me to go out and take that extra step,” Crawford said.

The CDC reports an average of 4,000 deaths occur from accidental drownings each year. Mackey says there’s a large portion of that demographic that’s at an even higher risk.

“Especially with in the African American community and teach people within our community to be able to swim and understand the importance of swimming,” Mackey

Black drowning rates are 1.5 times more than that of their white counter parts.

“And that generational cycle of not learning how to swim often perpetuates… so it’s really important to me that I’m able to break those barriers,” Mackey said.

Which is one of the main reasons she’ll never give up her passion for teaching this life saving skill.

“It’s so rewarding for me just to be able to teach all people, from little kids to adults because at any point people can learn and growth is continual and I think when you are able to see that growth and desire in adults it’s such a great thing to see that people still want to learn,” Mackey said.