Letter to the Parents

Dear Parent: 

On May 21st, the Eagle Swim Team’s Diversity and Inclusion program will feature Pan Am gold medalist  and local swim star Giles Smith, along with EST senior swim staff, who will invest quality time with our  youth at the Rollins-Luetkemeyer Athletic Center Pool on the campus of the McDonogh School. Giles  and staff will lead your children in a day of fun, games, prizes, swim lessons, and most importantly water  safety. All of the instructors will emphasize minority inclusion in the sport of swimming through  interactions with the swimmers, both in and out of the water. This program is hosted by the Eagle Swim  Team and promoted by the Towson-Catonsville Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi® Fraternity, Inc. (TCAC). 

This one-day program will be split into two sessions limited to 50 children each. Ages will range from 4- 16 years and the ability to swim is not a requirement to attend. The goals of our program are to increase  minority participation in swimming at all levels, to make parents and children aware of the physical  benefits of swimming, to teach water safety, and to reduce the overall fear of going into a body of water.

Remember, swimming can save your life and it can save the life of someone you know. Swimming  is the sport which is also a life skill.

It is our hope and expectation that the combined efforts of the participating organizations will have an  immediate and affirmative impact on children in minority communities by increasing accessibility to  swimming lessons, pool time, and swim teams in the Baltimore Metro area. We would love for the  children who participate in this program, and for other children, to enroll in lessons and register for  teams this very summer through the information we will provide to them and their parents. Enclosed  is the registration form for the National Learn to Swim Day of Diversity and Inclusion on May 21, 2022. 

On the following three pages, you will find additional information about the coaches; the link to the  registration form; and the permission, transportation, media release, and liability agreements, which  must be signed and returned no later than May 18th

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via the email address below. We  enthusiastically look forward to working with your child on May 21st, as well as the possibility of his/her  continuing participation in the wonderful world of aquatics. 

Best regards, 

Brian Pinkney 
Committee Chairman for Diversity and Inclusion in Swimming 
Towson-Catonsville (MD) Alumni Chapter 
Kappa Alpha Psi® Fraternity, Inc.

 
 

Coach Scott Ward of the Eagle Swim Team has reached out to one of his former swimmers, Giles Smith, to lead the Diversity and Inclusion program on May 21st. Giles is a highly decorated swimmer from right here in the Windsor Mill area of Baltimore County.

Giles is a council member of the Black Leadership in Aquatics Coalition, a former member of the DC Trident (the first professional swim league), a two-time Olympic Trials Finalist, a 2015 USA Pan Am Gold Medalist, an NCAA National Butterfly Champion from the University of Arizona, a former National and American record holder, and many more accolades.

 
 
 

Coach Ward has also reached out to two local swim enthusiasts to assist his club in selecting and  registering the swimmers for this program:

Both Coaches are members of the Towson-Catonsville (MD) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi® Fraternity, Inc., and fully support Coach Ward’s program.

Coach Brian Pinkney is a 23-year member, administrator, and volunteer swim coach at the Lochearn Community Club of Lochearn, MD, where he assists with the operations of the summer team, the Lochearn Monster, which is part of the Central Maryland Swim League. 

Coach Tyree Powell is a former competitive swimmer, and alumni of the nationally recognized PDR Swim Team, led by Hall of Fame Coach Jim Ellis. Coach Tyree received an NCAA D1 swimming scholarship to Towson University and upon the conclusion of his collegiate career, founded the nonprofit NotYetPro Swim School.

Photos from the 1st Annual

Diversity in Swimming Event

 

EST Day of Diversity and Inclusion Supporter Links

Swim Teams


The Eagle Swim Team
Head Coach - Scott Ward
8600 McDonogh Rd.
Owings Mills, MD. 21117
(410) 998-3581
daniel.russell0827@gmail.com
Mission: To provide quality professional coaching in a safe and supportive environment that is inspirational, innovative, and goal-oriented.
Team Website

Lochearn Community Club Pool
Summer Swim Club & Summer Swim Team
President - Tiffany Averill
Head Coach - John Clark
Volunteer Coach - Brian Pinkney
3600 Campfield Rd.
Lochearn, MD 21207
(443) 226-9621
lochearnpool@yahoo.com
http://www.lochearnpool.com/

Accokeek Stroke Technique Swim Team
Owner & Head Coach - Dominique Banks
Northpoint HS
2500 Davis Rd. Waldorf, MD 20603
(301) 300-9078
coachdbanks@gmail.com
Team Website

The Episcopal High School
Women's Swim Team
Coach - Brileigh Pinkney
12 N Quaker Ln.
Alexandria, VA.
(703) 933-4180
bpinkney@episcopalhighschool.org


The Jewish Community Center
Club Team & Summer Team
Owings Mills Barracudas
Baltimore Barracudas
Head Coach - Brendan McElroy
(410) 559-3542
coachmcelroy@gmail.com

4M Swim Club
Club Team & Swim Lessons
Owner & Head Coach - Marvin Thorpe Jr.
3127 Jeffland Rd.
Windsor Mill, MD. 21244
(410) 298-4481
4mscst@gmail.com

Aqua Eagle Swim Club
Head Coach - Rahim Booth
Coppin State College
2523 Gwynns Falls Pkwy
Baltimore, MD 21216
rbooth@coppin.edu

Baltimore City Swim Club
Dept of Recreation and Parks
Head Coach - Ben Griffin
2821 Oakley Ave
Baltimore, MD 21215
(410) 396-3838

 

Swim Lessons & Resources


NotYetPro Swim School
Head Coach Tyree Powell
202.460.8259
tyree@notyetpro.org
324 Main St #16
Laurel, MD 20725
https://www.notyetpro.org/swimschool/

Black Kids Swim
Website & FB Group
Owner - Ebony Rosemond
info@blackkidsswim.com
http://blackkidsswim.com/

The Catonsville YMCA
Swim Lessons
850 S. Rolling Rd, Catonsville, MD 21228
(410) 747-9622
Class Schedules & Swim Schedules

The Randallstown YMCA
Swim Lessons
3505 Resource Dr. Randallstown, MD 21133
(410) 496-4272
Website


Scuba Diving
Karen Robilard
info@charmcityscuba.org
Blackgirlsdivefoundation.org
Nabdsdivers.org

 

Local Businesses


Pass IT On
Community Technical Training and IT Solutions
Dr Willie Sanders Jr.
(443) 942- 7562
willie.sanders@passitonmd.org
http://www.passitonmd.org

MD Ski Productions
Entertainment Productions
CEO - Myk Jones
PO Box 316
Lanham, MD 20706
(301) 728-2001
mykskiman@hotmail.com

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.®
Towson - Catonsville Alumni Chapter
Polemarch - Keith Stith
Vice Polemarch - Karl Jones
https://tcanupes1911.org

Bohemian House Art Gallery
Owner - Tiffany Averill
8133 Main St. Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 680-8388
BohemianHouseArt@gmail.com


Tax Recovery Service, Inc.
Consultant - Larry Small
1055 Taylor Ave, Ste 303, Towson, MD 21286
(443) 826-0097
1040@taxrs.net

Midas of Baltimore
Muffler & Automotive Maintenance
Owner - Ray McCamie
Aberdeen (410) 297-7232
Pikesville (410) 670-5052
Towson (410) 442-6475

Strategic Government Solutions, LLC
Consulting
CEO - Lamont Norwood
443 213-5869
Info@sgsolutionsinc.com
http://www.sgsolutionsinc.com

T & C - Oh My, L.L.C.
Table & Chair Rental
CEO - Brian Pinkney
Gwynn Oak, MD 21207
(443) 226-9621
mdhookski@yahoo.com


Wedge Koncepts LLC
Business Consulting
James R. Collins, Managing Director
Washington, DC
877-288-5996
James.Collins@wedgekoncepts.com
http://wedgekoncepts.com

Cheryl Adams-Williams DDS
Dentistry
2 E Rolling Crossroads, #58, Catonsville, MD 21228
(410) 747-1830
Cheryladamsdds@gmail.com

DGG Enterprises, LLC
Delroy G. Grant, MSW
410-382-1644
dggenterprisesllc@yahoo.com

Cooper Professionals, LLC
Ronald A. Grayson
(444)-810-3461
rgrayson@cooperprofessionals.com
https://cooperprofessionals.com