Water Safety Month: Teddy Peterson Shares His Story
At the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago, Water Works is more than just a program, it embodies a mission to break down historical and systemic barriers to swimming and water access for under-resourced communities, including Native American and Indigenous communities. Teddy Peterson, Director of the YMCA of Metro Chicago’s Water Works program, is leading the charge by sharing his personal experiences and working to ensure that everyone, no matter their background, has access to lifesaving skills. As we celebrate Water Safety Month this May, Teddy’s story serves as an inspiration for how we can create more equitable and inclusive spaces in and around the water.
Teddy’s Story
“My first swim lesson began with a memorable splash—being thrown into Lake Pokegama on my family’s reservation in Lac Du Flambeau, Wisconsin,” shared Teddy. “My mom still jokes that she has marks on the back of her neck from that day. Thankfully, that wasn’t the end of my swimming journey. When we returned to Chicago, my parents enrolled me in swim lessons at our local YMCA at Lincoln and Belmont, now known as the Lake View YMCA.”
Teddy explained that this wasn’t the typical experience for many people in the Native American community. According to the Centers for Disease Control, Native Americans aged 30 and under are twice as likely to die from drowning compared to their white counterparts. The highest disparities are among Native Americans aged 25–29, with drowning rates 3.5 times higher than white individuals of the same age.
Water Works, a new workforce development program run by the YMCA of Metro Chicago, is designed to develop employability skills through learning to swim and guiding participants towards jobs as lifeguards or swim instructors. It also introduces them to new careers in and around water. Teddy has made it his mission to engage underserved communities, including his own.
“With May being Water Safety Month, it’s the perfect time to start thinking about how we can engage communities that have been systematically excluded from learning to swim and accessing pools,” said Teddy.
Community-Driven Engagement
Teddy emphasized that the program’s success is rooted in a community engagement approach inspired by Native American and Indigenous values. “We went out and met the communities where they are, attending community events and visiting schools to make connections,” he said. “Once we got the program up and running, we were honest and transparent when we made mistakes. After our first session ended, the success of our ‘word of mouth’ recruitment campaign speaks to our commitment to building trust with communities that have historically been distrustful.”
Looking Ahead
Teddy encouraged others to start small: “Starting a new program might seem daunting, but simply highlighting Native American and Indigenous swimmers and engaging these communities with family events is also a wonderful way to begin. May is an ideal time to host such events, and participating in events like the World’s Largest Swim Lesson in June can be a fantastic next step.”
Teddy’s story is a powerful reminder of why water safety matters and how inclusive, community-based approaches can help break barriers to swimming for communities that have been excluded for far too long. The YMCA of Metro Chicago is committed to creating spaces where everyone—regardless of background—can learn the skills they need to stay safe in and around the water.
To learn more about the Water Works program or get involved, visit our Water Works webpage. Our YMCA Family Camp Nawakwa is also located on Teddy’s reservation in Lac Du Flambeau. Discover all that Camp Nawakwa has to offer!