Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
USA Swimming is committed to increasing multicultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity at all levels of the sport to achieve and foster an inclusive swimming environment. In following with this commitment, Minnesota Swimming has established the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) Committee.
The Mission Statement of the DEI Committee is as follows:
MNSI Diversity and Disability Camp |
| Saturday, April 30, 2022 This camp will include classroom sessions with Safe Sport, Nutrition, Mindset for Success, Key Principles of Swimming Success and two pool sessions. Throughout these activities, we will ensure all required COVID safety procedures and protocols are in place, including masking and distancing. There will be a classroom session offered to parents/guardians shortly after the swimmers arrive to register. We will have two presentations: Safe Sport and How to Be a Supportive Sport Parent. The camp is recommended for athletes ages 11-16 of diverse ethnicity, athletes who identify with the LGBTQ+ community as well as athletes who are part of the disability community. Swimmers should have achieved a minimum of the MNSI Bronze standard time to qualify for this camp. There is NO cost for this camp. Application can be found HERE. |
USA Swimming Central Zone Diversity Select Camp |
| The purpose of the camp is to create an atmosphere of Motivation and Educational opportunities for athletes of underrepresented cultural, ethnic and socioeconomic groups to develop the necessary Leadership skills to achieve Excellence in their sport and their home communities.
Eligibility: Any USA Swimming registered athlete member who is eligible to represent the USA in international competition: a U.S. citizen who has NOT represented another country in international competition, in the case of dual citizens (your sport nation must be the United States), meets the qualification time standards, has not previously attended a USA Swimming Zone or National Diversity Select Camp. Athletes must represent an underrepresented community and/or an ethnically underrepresented population that is less than 10% of the current USA Swimming membership. These populations can include: African American, Hispanic, Asian or Pacific Islander, Native American, LGBTQ+ and others. Recent #MNswim athletes selected to participate in the Camp include: 2020: Gabriel Bangoura (EDI), Isabel Espinosa (SCSC), Leobardo Gullien Kenigsberg (FOXJ), Isaac Jeffrey (OMNI), Abba Mayanja (WOLF), Ashley Miranda Limon (NEP), Kamya Smith (WAVE), Ellie Watanabe (AQJT) |
| Each spring, USA Swimming invites 48 athletes from underrepresented populations to participate in a three-day camp program that includes pool training, motivational and education sessions, and team-building activities. Selection is based on times swum at USA Swimming sanctioned events. The purpose of this camp is to instill a vision of success and inspire athletes from ethnically under-represented populations to become leaders in the sport of swimming. The camp is geared towards 14-to-16-year-old athletes from underrepresented communities. All attendees will be provided lodging, meals, ground transportation to/from the designated airport, and full airfare cost. Alumni from the camp include 2020 Olympians Simone Manuel, Jay Litherland, Tori Huske, and Natalie Hinds. The deadline to submit the application is February 28, 2022. Application can be found HERE. More information on the 2022 National Diversity Select Camp can be found HERE. Recent #MNswim athletes selected to participate in the Camp include: 2020: Audrey Soetanto (AQJT), Evie Wood (MAKO), Yash Salunke (FOXJ) 2019: Claudia Chang (AQJT), Sydney Rogness (MAKO) An interview with 2019 Select Camp participant Claudia Chang can be found here. |
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Resources |
| Black Kids Swim is an organization with a mission to increase Black participation in the sport of competitive swimming. |
