By Forum Staff
Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday announced the newly named “Elyjha Chandler and Christian Perkins Swim for Life” class at Erasmus High School in Brooklyn in honor of two teenagers who drowned off the coast of Jacob Riis Beach in Queens in the summer of 2024.
With $5.5 million in new funding, the Adams administration will expand the free “Swim for Life” programs to serve an additional 4,800 youth annually, bringing the total number of youth participants in NYC Parks’ swim programs to over 18,000 young people. These free lessons will take place at New York City Public Schools’ pools and select third-party indoor pools across the five boroughs, including at Erasmus High School in Brooklyn.
NYC Parks’ free swimming classes taught more than 13,000 young people how to swim in 2024, saving families hundreds of dollars each on swimming classes and laying the foundation for a lifetime of water safety for their children. Additionally, about 20,000 New Yorkers take part in swim programming – including senior splash and swim team programs and swimming lessons for children – throughout the year. As part of Swim for Life, NYC Parks will host three sessions – in winter, spring, and fall – of free swim safety classes each school year.
“I’m incredibly grateful that this swim class is not only teaching life-saving skills, but also honoring my son, Elyjha Chandler, and his friend Christian Perkins in a meaningful way,” said Aminatu Noah, mother of Elyjha Chandler. “Knowing that their names will be associated with water safety and protecting other families from experiencing this kind of loss brings a sense of purpose to our pain. This program is a step toward change and a legacy of hope.”
“Thank you, Mayor Adams and Erasmus faculty for renaming the swimming program in honor of our sons, Christian and Elyjha,” said Kibret Perkins, mother of Christian Perkins. “We are profoundly touched that Christian and Elyjha’s legacy will live on through a program that brings life-saving swimming skills to children of all backgrounds. This beautiful tribute not only honors their memory but also offers hope, healing, and protection to our community. No parent should have to endure the loss we have faced, and we pray this program helps prevent such tragedies. We are truly grateful for this honor and find comfort in knowing that Christian and Elyjha’s names will continue to make a difference – saving lives and inspiring others.”
Adams added, “The most important job we have as a city is to take care of our kids and keep them safe, and that includes ensuring that our young swimmers are safe and protected this summer. We know that having access to free swim lessons can make a big difference in families’ lives, which is why we’re investing an additional $5.5 million in the ‘Swim for Life’ program to serve our youngest New Yorkers and provide free swim lessons to nearly 18,000 young people. And by naming the swim class here at Erasmus High School the ‘Elyjha Chandler and Christian Perkins Swim for Life’ class, we are turning unimaginable pain and sorrow into purpose.”
