Connect with us

#NNPA BlackPress

Olympians ‘Make a Splash’ to Curb Black, Latinx Drownings

By Aswad Walker | Houston Defender | Word In Black Cullen Jones (right) and student at a recent ‘Make a Splash’ swimming lesson in Houston, TX. Photograph courtesy of Mike Lewis/USA Swimming. This post was originally published on Defender Network (WIB) – With summer nearly upon us, pool season will soon kick off. Unfortunately, especially for Black and Latinx […]
The post Olympians ‘Make a Splash’ to Curb Black, Latinx Drownings first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

on

By Aswad Walker | Houston Defender | Word In Black

Cullen Jones (right) and student at a recent ‘Make a Splash’ swimming lesson in Houston, TX. Photograph courtesy of Mike Lewis/USA Swimming.
Cullen Jones (right) and student at a recent ‘Make a Splash’ swimming lesson in Houston, TX. Photograph courtesy of Mike Lewis/USA Swimming.

This post was originally published on Defender Network

(WIB) – With summer nearly upon us, pool season will soon kick off. Unfortunately, especially for Black and Latinx youth, that means increased danger due to stats that show them far more likely to drown than white children.

To help prevent such tragedies, the USA Swimming Foundation and Phillips 66 have been sponsoring an annual “Make a Splash Tour,” where former Olympic swimmers visit cities across the country providing swimming lessons for youth, especially Black and Latinx children.

Olympians Nathan Adrian (far left) and Cullen Jones (far right) stand with two people against a multi-color backgorund with the words Northside High School on it
Olympians Nathan Adrian (far left) and Cullen Jones (far right) during a recent ‘Make a Splash’ session in Houston. Credit: Mike Lewis/USA Swimming

Recently, Olympians Cullen Jones (2008 and 2012 Olympic Games) and Nathan Adrian (2008, 2012 and 2016) were in Houston sharing this life-saving skill with H-Town children. The Defender spoke with the two about this initiative.

DEFENDER: So, what brings two Olympians to Houston?

CULLEN JONES: We’re here for the “Make a Splash Tour.” After 2008, USA Swimming Foundation and Phillips 66 started a water education program that really focused on trying to get more kids to learn to swim. It was very focused on trying to break generational barriers, especially in Black Americans, Latino Americans, and honestly, the numbers for Caucasian Americans aren’t great either. So, at the time it was 70% of Blacks, 60% of Latinos and 40% of Caucasians (who didn’t know how to swim). It was a US problem. So, we’ve been doing it for 15 years. And the best part about this is we started in Houston and 15 years later, we’re back in Houston, just trying to push the importance of learning to swim. (May) is International Water Safety Month, and the pools are opening. Kids are trying to get near the water. We wanna make sure they’re safer around the water.

DEFENDER: Why is water safety something that all parents and really all people should have way higher on our radar?

NATHAN ADRIAN: It’s the only sport that is a lifesaving skill. And as Cullen mentioned, the statistics are just kind of eye-opening when you see them. (Today), 60% of African-American children don’t know how to swim, 45% of Hispanic/Latino children don’t know how to swim and 40% of Caucasian children don’t know how to swim. And the coolest part is that lessons have been shown to be 88% effective in preventing drowning; formalized swim lessons. That’s it. And in terms of public health initiatives, that’s one of the most successful ones. And the other thing that we really try to emphasize is that if a parent or guardian doesn’t know how to swim, they’re only 19% likely to put their own children into swim lessons. So, once we break that cycle… and let me give Cullen a lot of props, because he is actually the one who was doing it for so long. He was at the first stop in Houston [15 years ago], and it inspired me as a young athlete, that, hey, he’s doing something great with his career, and I would love to be able to do the same thing, when the time came for me. Just in 2022, USA Swimming Foundation gave just under $1 million to help provide grants for swim opportunities for those who can’t afford it.

CULLEN JONES: And if you listen to the numbers that Nathan said, they were lower than mine because 10 years ago, the 70% was where it is (for Black youth). Now we’re seeing that the work is actually (paying off). Not only people are paying attention to swimming, but they’re understanding the message we are sending is so vital and important.

Cullen Jones (left) and student at a recent ‘Make a Splash’ swimming lesson
Cullen Jones (left) and student at a recent ‘Make a Splash’ swimming lesson in Houston, Texas. Credit: Mike Lewis/USA Swimming

DEFENDER: With those crazy and scary numbers of the percentage of children that don’t know how to swim, what was the process for you two becoming comfortable with the water and learning how to swim?

NATHAN ADRIAN: My town’s claim to fame is it has the most coastline in any county in Washington state. So, my parents saw that a lot of the parks and things might have had docks, they were near the water. They felt really strongly that I needed to be in swim lessons as early as I could be. So, my time was spent doing swim lessons over and over and over.

CULLEN JONES: I had humble beginnings of being just like Nathan, a water baby, loving the water, wanting to be near the water. So, my parents took me to an amusement park, but I had not had swim lessons. I think what’s important about my story was that there were lifeguards there. My parents were there. Normally, you hear the story and it’s like someone was doing something they weren’t supposed to be doing. And, I was still able to go underwater; had to be resuscitated. And then, my parents were like, “Never again. We’re getting you into swim lessons.” And then, 20 years later, swimming’s still a primary piece of my life and becoming an Olympian; but humble beginnings of almost drowning. I was almost the statistics that we are trying to fight.

DEFENDER: So, growing up in the Black community and being a swimmer, what was that like?

CULLEN JONES: Everyone’s playing basketball, football, and, “Oh, you’re doing that swimming thing?” And then, we win gold medals and then the conversation changes. “Oh, how’s swimming going?” It changes then. But, growing up, it was a little different, wearing Speedos for a living. But it was my life. I enjoyed it. My best friends were swimmers. So, it was a great upbringing. But I did notice that I was alone many of the times when it came to looking left and right and seeing if there were gonna be other Black swimmers. There just wasn’t. But now as, as we’ve talked about what “Make a Splash” stands for, and as swimming becomes more and more popular, we are seeing more people of color… in water right now. So, we’re moving in the right direction.

DEFENDER: Final question, what are the 1-3 biggest tips you can give to parents and to children about to get in the water?

CULLEN JONES: Water watchers. Never, ever swim alone. The second one that I can think of right now is “Reach; Don’t Go.” When someone is in danger, they will pull their closest loved one underwater just to get (above water). It’s a fight-or-flight situation at that point. So, one of the things that lifeguards always talk about is do not try to put your hand out to pull someone back. Find something to help them, to bring them to safety.

NATHAN ADRIAN: The last one could be swim lessons. It is that important.

The post Olympians ‘Make a Splash’ to Curb Black, Latinx Drownings appeared first on The Sacramento Observer.

This article originally appeared in the Sacramento Observer.

The post Olympians ‘Make a Splash’ to Curb Black, Latinx Drownings first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Sacramento Observer staff report

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#NNPA BlackPress

2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring Review — Is This $136K EV Sedan Worth It?

AUTONETWORK ON BLACKPRESSUSA — Finished in Stellar White Metallic with the Tahoe Grand Touring interior, this Lucid makes a strong first impression. The shape is sleek and low, but it still feels elegant instead of trying too hard. Features like soft-close doors, powered illuminated door handles, 20-inch Aero Lite wheels, and the Glass Canopy Roof help the car feel expensive before you even start it.

Published

on

The 2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring is the kind of luxury EV that makes people stop and ask a simple question: Is this really better than a Tesla Model S, Mercedes EQS, or BMW i7? At $136,150, it has to do more than look futuristic. It has to feel special every time you get in it.

Finished in Stellar White Metallic with the Tahoe Grand Touring interior, this Lucid makes a strong first impression. The shape is sleek and low, yet it still feels elegant rather than trying too hard. Features like soft-close doors, powered illuminated door handles, 20-inch Aero Lite wheels, and the Glass Canopy Roof help the car feel expensive before you even start it.

Inside is where the Air Grand Touring really makes its case. The 34-inch Glass Cockpit Display and retractable Pilot Panel screen give the cabin a clean, modern look that still feels different from other EVs. The Tahoe Extended Leather and Lucid Black Alcantara headliner lifts the sense of occasion, and the front seats are a highlight. They are 20-way power-adjustable, heated, ventilated, and include massage. That matters because luxury buyers at this price expect comfort first.

Rear passengers are not ignored either. You get 5-zone heated rear seating, a rear center console display, and power rear and rear side window sunshades. Add in the Surreal Sound Pro system with 21 speakers, and the Air feels like a true long-distance luxury sedan.

Lucid also gives this car serious EV hardware. The dual-motor all-wheel-drive system, 900V+ charging architecture, and Wunderbox onboard charger are big talking points. Buyers in this segment care about range, charging speed, and everyday ease, not just raw performance. That is where the Lucid continues to stand out.

On the technology side, the Air Grand Touring includes DreamDrive Premium, with 3D Surround View Monitoring, Blind Spot Warning, Automatic Park In and Out, Automatic Emergency Braking, and a Driver Monitoring System with distracted and drowsy driver alerts. This one also has DreamDrive Pro, which adds future-capable ADAS hardware.

There are still some real-world annoyances. Based on your notes, the windshield wiper control is hard to find and use, and that matters more than people think in a high-tech car. When controls become less intuitive, even a beautiful interior can feel frustrating.

Still, the 2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring succeeds where it matters most. It feels luxurious, advanced, comfortable, and thoughtfully engineered. For buyers who want an EV sedan that feels truly premium and less common than the usual choices, this Lucid makes a very strong case.


AutoNetwork helps serious car shoppers inspect any new vehicle online before walking into a dealership. I’m Roosevelt — I’ve been reviewing cars and shaping digital car buying and credit union auto leasing since before YouTube car reviews existed.
You’ll find detailed walkaround reviews, POV test drives, and buyer-focused breakdowns covering comfort, space, features, and real-world value.
How to use the channel:

Watch the walkaround of the car you’re considering
Visit AutoNetwork.com for the full review
Check CouponsOffersAndDeals.com for current dealer specials
Walk in already knowing what you want — and what it should cost

Live talk show “AutoNetwork Reports” — Thursdays 3:00 PM ET.
🌐 AutoNetwork.com
💰 CouponsOffersAndDeals.com
Affiliate disclosure: some links earn a small commission at no cost to you and help support the channel. Insta360 is one of those partners.

Continue Reading

#NNPA BlackPress

Snoop Dogg Celebrates 10 Til’ Midnight at the Compound

LOS ANGELES SENTINEL — The album is paired with a film that stars Snoop Dogg, Hitta J3, G Perico, and Ray Vaughn, and one of the strongest elements of the whole project is that the production stayed rooted right here in Los Angeles.

Published

on

By

Snoop Dogg celebrated the premiere of 10 Til’ Midnight at his Inglewood recording studio & multipurpose facility, The Compound, but the night felt like much more than an album release. It felt like Los Angeles. It felt like legacy. And it felt like another major move from one of the city’s greatest cultural architects as he continues to prove that he is not just dropping music — he is building moments, shaping narratives, and pushing the culture forward in real time.

What made the event so powerful was the clarity behind the vision. During a panel conversation with DJ Hed, Snoop opened up about the heart behind 10 Til’ Midnight, explaining that the project was created to help bridge older and younger generations while also speaking to the long-standing divisions between Bloods and Crips in a unique way through film. That alone gave the project a different kind of weight. This was not just about songs. This was about using creativity as a tool for connection. This was about taking a story rooted in Los Angeles and telling it in a way that could bring people together.

Snoop Congratulated By Rapper & Fellow 10 Til Midnight Cast Member G Perico (CreativeLB/KreativeKapturez)

Snoop Congratulated By Rapper & Fellow 10 Til Midnight Cast Member G Perico (CreativeLB/KreativeKapturez)

The album is paired with a film that stars Snoop Dogg, Hitta J3, G Perico, and Ray Vaughn, and one of the strongest elements of the whole project is that the production stayed rooted right here in Los Angeles. The film was shot in the city, including at WePlay Studios in Inglewood, which gave the entire project an even deeper hometown feel. It was not just a West Coast story in content — it was a Los Angeles-made production from the ground up.

That matters because, in a city like this, authenticity still carries weight. Snoop understands how to make sure that what he creates does not just represent Los Angeles on the surface, but actually comes from it.

What also makes 10 Til’ Midnight significant is that it represents another major step in Snoop’s evolution as both an artist and executive. Public reporting around the project identifies it as his 22nd studio album, but the bigger story is what it represents in this season of his life. This is one of several consecutive moves he has made in his 50s that show he is still building, still expanding, and still finding new ways to reinvent what the next chapter looks like.

Snoop Dogg at the Premiere of 10 Til Midnight (CreativeLB/KreativeKapturez)

Snoop Dogg at the Premiere of 10 Til Midnight (CreativeLB/KreativeKapturez)

Now, as the head of Death Row Records and the newly aligned leader of Death Row Pictures, he is taking the brand into a new dimension. That is what made this moment feel bigger than music. Snoop is not just protecting the legacy of Death Row — he is stretching it. He is expanding it beyond records and into film, visual storytelling, and larger creative worlds that can continue carrying the label’s impact forward. Public reporting has noted that this project arrives as part of that broader cinematic push.

That is a major Los Angeles move because the city has always been built on the intersection of music, film, neighborhood identity, and cultural storytelling. With 10 Til’ Midnight, Snoop is leaning all the way into that intersection.

The room at The Compound reflected that. It felt like a private premiere, but it also felt like a statement — a reminder that Snoop Dogg’s staying power has never been based only on nostalgia. It comes from his ability to remain connected, remain visionary, and remain in tune with how to move the culture without losing the essence of who he is.

That is why this premiere mattered. It was not just about celebrating another album. It was about witnessing a Los Angeles legend continue to evolve, continue to unify, and continue to use art to tell stories that hit deeper than entertainment alone.

In that sense, 10 Til’ Midnight became more than a project launch. It became another example of how Snoop Dogg is still taking Los Angeles to the next level — using music, film, and legacy together to build something bigger than a moment.

Continue Reading

#NNPA BlackPress

OP-ED: Small Businesses Need Minnesota to Act on Pass-Through Tax Policy

MINNESOTA SPOKESMAN RECORDER — A Twin Cities immigrant entrepreneur who built several businesses including grocery stores in underserved neighborhoods is calling on Minnesota lawmakers to extend the Pass-Through Entity tax option before it expires, warning that its loss would hit small businesses already recovering from Operation Metro Surge with higher federal tax bills.

Published

on

By

A Twin Cities Small Business Owner Is Urging Minnesota to Extend a Tax Policy That Could Save Thousands of Businesses

By Daniel Hernandez | Minnesota Spokesman Recorder

I came to the United States as a teenager with a clear goal: to build something meaningful through hard work. I put in long days in construction, restaurants, and landscaping; doing whatever it took to learn, save, and eventually start my own business.

Over time, I built and ran several successful ventures, including an event photography company, a magazine, a tax and accounting firm, and now grocery stores serving neighborhoods across the Twin Cities where other retailers chose not to invest. I’ve created jobs, supported families, and committed to communities that deserve stability and opportunity.

That’s why I’m speaking out now.

Small business owners in Minneapolis and the communities we serve are recovering from serious disruptions, including the impacts of Operation Metro Surge. That event hit immigrant communities especially hard. In my own case, I lost nearly half of my 60 employees and saw revenue drop by about 85%. While I worked to provide competitive wages, health benefits, and paid time off, the real hardship fell on the people who lost their jobs and income.

Even as we rebuild, small businesses are facing another challenge. The Minnesota Legislature is considering letting an important tax policy expire: the Pass-Through Entity tax option.

Here’s what that means in plain terms.

Many small businesses, including mine, are pass-through businesses. That means the business itself doesn’t pay income tax. Instead, the owners report the income on their personal tax returns. But under current federal rules, there’s a limit on how much state tax we can deduct. That often leads to higher federal tax bills.

The Pass-Through Entity option fixes that. It allows the business to pay the state tax directly, which means the business can fully deduct those taxes on its federal return and lower the total amount of income taxed federally. The result is straightforward: small business owners pay less in federal taxes, without reducing what the state collects.

This policy is not new or controversial. Thirty-six states already offer it. It doesn’t cost Minnesota anything, it’s revenue neutral. And it benefits more than 66,000 businesses across the state.

In a state where the cost of doing business is already high, it’s hard to understand why we wouldn’t offer the same basic tax treatment as states like California and Illinois.

Small businesses have carried a heavy load in recent years, through a pandemic, rising costs and public safety disruptions. We’ve adapted, reinvested and stayed committed to our communities. What we need now are practical policies that support that work, not make it harder.

If the Minnesota House does not act soon, many businesses will face significantly higher federal tax bills. That’s money that could otherwise be used to hire workers, raise wages or reinvest in local neighborhoods.

I urge Gov. Tim Walz and members of the House Tax Committee to pass House File 3127 and extend the Pass-Through Entity election.

Small businesses are the backbone of our communities. We’ve proven our resilience. Now we need our state leaders to show the same commitment to us.

Daniel Hernandez is the owner of Colonial Market located at 2100 E. Lake St.

 

Excerpt:

Photo Captions:

 

Website Tags and SEO Keywords:

Twitter (X) Tags and Handles:

Continue Reading

Subscribe to receive news and updates from the Oakland Post

* indicates required

CHECK OUT THE LATEST ISSUE OF THE OAKLAND POST

ADVERTISEMENT

WORK FROM HOME

Home-based business with potential monthly income of $10K+ per month. A proven training system and website provided to maximize business effectiveness. Perfect job to earn side and primary income. Contact Lynne for more details: Lynne4npusa@gmail.com 800-334-0540

Facebook

Trending

Copyright ©2021 Post News Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.