Success Stories

My daughter Tori and I moved to Wilmington in July 2020 for a fresh start. Tori, like many kids in our community , has dealt with a lot of trauma.  While my daughter was in middle school her aunt committed suicide and her close friend fell victim to gun violence.  Although moving across the country during a pandemic is what our family needed, it did take its toll on Tori’s social life and her self esteem.  A co-worker of mine told me about NSEA Swim.  Although my daughter had knowledge of basic water safety, she definitely was not a swimmer by any means.  The coaches, fellow swimmers, and parents at NSEA took Tori under their wing, and she flourished. They were able to offer her the things she needed: a consistent schedule, a challenge, and a supportive community.  In a matter of a year, Tori went from a novice to a legal swimmer in every stroke with the exception of butterfly. She lost body fat and gained confidence in and out of the pool.  Tori went from being a child in crisis to being an honor roll student on a varsity team. As a single black mother, I cannot say enough about the power of the NSEA program and the need to make it available to more children of color.