Please join members of the Rockaway Water Safety Coalition as they discuss the ways in which they are currently working to improve water safety in New York City and New York State.

As a coastal state and frontline coastal city, it is critical that New Yorkers have access to the tools, skills, and resources they need to positively and safely benefit from their waterfronts. Likewise, as climate change drives increased extreme weather, making flooding a concern throughout the year and budget cuts limiting access to pools and beaches that enable us to safely interact with the water, how can we make water access and water safety more accessible and equitable?

Learn what members of the Coalition are doing to make water safety an essential right for all through programming, advocacy, coalition building, and government relations. You’ll also learn how you can get involved in us advocating for New York State’s first water safety education bill!

Panelists include:

• Shanna Blanchard, Principal, Sea Change Strategy
• Aydon Gabrouel, Executive Director, Laru Beya Collective
• Shawn Slevin, Executive Director, Swim Strong Foundation
• Clare Hilger, Secretary, Rockaway Beach Civic Association
• Kaitlin Krause, Executive Director, Rising Tide Effect

The Water Safety Coalition is a group of concerned residents, community groups, non-profit organizations, and local Rockaway businesses that are working to make water safety education an essential right for all, to save lives and create a more inclusive recreation community, with a focus on the Rockaway peninsula in Queens, NY.