Katie Couric 
These 2 Businesses Are Finding Success by Smashing Stereotypes

Lamonier founded her company, Black People Will Swim, to not only teach members of the community to feel comfortable in the water but also address the racism that’s preventing so many people from learning that skill.

Parents
For Black Communities, Learning To Swim Can Be Anything but Simple

Reversing the traumatic effects of discrimination that kept Black families out of pools for generations isn't easy, but Black People Will Swim is stepping up.

Kindred
This Family Is Teaching 2000+ Black People How to Swim 

Despite the many barriers that still persist, Paulana Lamonier founded Black People Will Swim (BPWS) to teach this life-saving skill in a safe, supportive environment.

PIX11
BPWS’s mission is simple: smashing the stereotype that Black people don’t swim

One Long Island woman is making it her mission to teach African American people how to swim in hopes of smashing the stereotype that Black people cannot swim.

Trip Advisor
Get outdoorsy:
Five camps for adventure lover

Black people have traditionally been overlooked. From fishing to skiing to swimming, these programs are all about having a good time while learning a new skill.

Travel Noire
5 Black-Owned Organizations Providing Swim Lessons Specifically For Black People

Travel Noire rounded up a list of Black-owned organizations that provide swim lessons for Black communities.

Cricket Wireless
Black People Will Swim Selected as Cricket Wireless' 2021 Jefes Del Futuro

BPWS was selected as one of the three winners for Cricket Wireless' 2021 Jefes Del Futuro! 

For(bes) The Culture 50 
Creating a movement that contextualizes Black stereotypes around swimming.

Paulana Lamonier has one goal: putting an end to the stereotype that Black people can’t swim.

Glamour 
It Took a Swim Coach to Dismantle One Very Dangerous Racial Stereotype

The grand-prize winner of Ally’s Daring to Disrupt contest invited Black people to overcome historical barriers and join her in the pool—and the response has been overwhelming.

COMPLEX 
Entrepreneur Is Helping Black People Conquer Their Fears About Swimming

For Paulana Lamonier, swimming is an act of liberation. However, she understands that for many Black people being in the water can be intimidating. 

PIX11
How three locals are making a difference in their neighborhoods

PIX11 spoke with the founders of Black People Will Swim, Bundles of Joy NY, and Dancing Dreams about the differences they’re making in their neighborhoods. 

Retro Report
Black Swimmers Overcome Racism and Fear, Reclaiming a Tradition

Black children today drown in swimming pools at a rate far higher than that of white children, studies have shown. Now new programs are working to overcome barriers...

Newsday
Long Island business owner hopes to save Black lives via swimming lessons

Young Black adults and children are on average nearly three times more likely than whites to drown, but a Uniondale swim instructor has spent August helping change that statistic.

NBC News
This company is trying to end a prevalent racial disparity

For the past year, Paulana Lamonier has built up a business to provide low-cost swimming education for Black children and adults.

Ally
10 Inspiring Women Daring to Disrupt the World of Entrepreneurship

Even though the pandemic slowed their progress, it’s still moving forward helping people F.A.C.E. their fears

All Of It
Confronting Stereotypes Through Swim Lessons

Paulana Lamonier, founder of Black People Will Swim, joins us to discuss confronting stereotypes about Black people and swimming. 

THE NEW YORK TIMES
Teaching My Black Son To Swim

A mother’s determination to end a legacy of racial trauma started with mother-son swim lessons

IN THE KNOW

Black People Will Swim is 'smashing' racist stereotypes with swim lessons

Lamonier had been working as a swimming instructor for nine years in New York before she decided to launch her own company, Black People Will Swim (BPWS).

ESSENCE

Where Are They Now?

​SPONSORED BY PINE-SOL

Last year, Pine-Sol and ESSENCE awarded $250,000 to 10 Black women entrepreneurs through the Build Your Legacy Contest! Now we’re back for year two, and had to check in with our 2020 grand prize winners.

COMPLEX

Complex’s B.O.S.S. Mentorship Program Lets Minority Entrepreneurs Shine

Being an entrepreneur is hard enough, but when you’re a member of a minority group, the challenges of launching and maintaining a successful business are even greater. 

SWIMSWAM

Black People Will Swim’s Paulana Lamonier Is Breaking Barriers

Swim teacher and multimedia journalist, Paulana Lamonier, set up Black People Will Swim with one purpose: to eradicate the stereotype that Black people don’t swim. 

WELL+GOOD

Black People Will Swim’s Founder Paulana Lamonier Is Making Waves

64 percent of African American children have low or no swimming ability.It’s a statistic that Paulana Lamonier, CEO and founder of Black People Will Swim, is striving to change.

PIX11

Long Island woman's mission to teach 2,020 people to swim in 2020

Marysol Castro spoke with swim coach and founder of Black People Will Swim, Paulana Lamonier, about her mission and why it means so much to her.

Tea With Abbie

Diving into Entrepreneurship with Paulana Lamonier, Founder of BPWS

Paulana is a multimedia journalist and founder of Black People Will Swim ~ a company on a mission to smash the stereotype that Black people don’t swim.

AFROTECH

This Founder is On a Mission to Teach 2,020 Black People How to Swim

We’ve all heard the saying “Black people don’t swim” before, but it’s worth noting that statement is far from the truth. For years, the well-known stereotype has perpetuated the racial...

By Her Own Rules

Founder Committed to Helping 2,020 People Learn to Swim by 2020

Paulana Lamonier was certainly on to something when she launched her company Black People Will Swim in 2019.

The Lifestyle NYC

Paulana Lamonier Discusses Swimming, Using Your Gifts

When it comes to Black women changing the game and making a difference, its Paulana Lamonier for me. For decades, the idea of Black people swimming has been quite taboo.

ELLE

'Black People Will Swim' Is Fighting A Racist Stereotype With Swim Lessons

Black People Will Swim aims to dismantle the long-standing myth that Black people can't swim using everything from private swim lessons to haircare classes for protecting Black hair in the water.

Black Enterprise 

This Program Is Encouraging Black People To Swim More This Summer

Black People Will Swim was started by journalist Paulana Lamonier with the mission to dismantle stereotypes around Black people swimming. 

Yahoo Life! 

Paulana Lamonier - Black People Will Swim

Check out the video of ESSENCE and Pine-Sol's Build Your Legacy Contest Semi-Finalist, Paulana Lamonier of Black People Will Swim. Vote today!