New York City Mayor Eric Adams said that Erasmus High School’s “Swim for Life” class will be renamed in honor of Christian Perkins and Elyjha Chandler, two Brooklyn teens who tragically drowned at Jacob Riis Beach in the summer of 2024.
Economic Boost to Help 18,000 Students with Free Lessons
Following a promise made by Mayor Adams to Elyjha’s mother, Aminatu Noah, during a community discussion in East Flatbush, the program will now be called The Elyjha Chandler and Christian Perkins Swim for Life Class.
In particular, the renaming is part of a broader citywide initiative to make water safety instruction more accessible to young children. Originally mentioned in his 2025 State of the City address, Mayor Adams is investing an additional $5.5 million in the city’s “Swim for Life” program.
More than 18,000 second-grade students would be able to receive free swim lessons annually thanks to this additional funding from NYC Parks. This will make it possible for 4,800 more people to take part.
“The most important job we have as a city is to take care of our kids and keep them safe,” said Mayor Adams. “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.”
After the announcement, the teens’ families expressed gratitude and emotion. Christian’s mother, Kibret Perkins, stated that the memorial “offers hope, healing, and protection to our community,” while Elyjha’s mother described the renaming as a “step toward change and a legacy of hope.”
Closing the Water Safety Education Gap
The city may now provide free swim lessons at public school pools and a few third-party indoor pools across the five boroughs thanks to the extra money. The program seeks to close the swim safety education gap and lower the risk of drowning, particularly in underprivileged areas.
More than 13,000 kids were taught how to swim by NYC Parks in 2024 alone, and the organization intends to keep teaching in the winter, spring, and fall sessions of the school year.
“Every child should have the chance to learn to swim – it’s not just a skill, it’s a life-saving necessity,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue.
Fixing Pools and Lifeguard Shortages
In order to promote water safety, Mayor Adams also outlined further significant investments. The city secured an arbitration agreement in May 2024 that modernizes certification criteria and increases recruiting flexibility for lifeguards, especially for shallow-water pools.
This expands on a 2023 deal that gave lifeguards a $1,000 retention bonus in addition to an hourly wage increase to $22.
The Adams administration allocated $1 billion for citywide pool improvements as part of a larger initiative to enhance public swimming facilities. The plan calls for the addition of new public pools in Brooklyn and Queens, the first since 2008, and the reopening of seven DOE pools.
New York State Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn praised the program expansion as “a vital investment in public safety and equity,” adding that she would continue pushing for increased swim access at the state level.
City beaches reopened for swimming this past weekend, and public pools are scheduled to open on June 27, 2025.
To learn more about water safety programs, you can visit NYC Parks’ website.
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