The Y’s First Water Works Cohort: Making Waves and Shaping Futures for Chicago’s Youth

The YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago proudly celebrates the successful completion of its first cohort of Water Works, an innovative career-exploration initiative empowering local youth to dive into water related careers. From August 26 to November 16, 2024, participants from three YMCA Community Hubs — the Irving Park, McCormick, and South Side YMCAs — gathered weekly to gain life changing skills, certifications, and career opportunities in fields from lifeguarding to oceanography. 

Through expert swimming instruction, professional certifications, and bi-weekly field trips, Water Works opened doors for youth ages 16-24 to access meaningful work and future careers. Designed for at-risk, transition-age youth, the program tackled barriers to water-related jobs and encouraged career paths that many participants had never considered. Thanks to funding from the Illinois Youth Investment Program, Water Works provided training, essential equipment, and a paid stipend, ensuring that participants could focus on their learning and development without financial concerns. 

“I was able to meet new people and make new friends. I loved the instructors. I loved how welcoming the community was at the Y. I was always looking forward to coming to the program and swimming with my peers. Waterworks helped me not only learn how to swim but to improve enough to get me certified as a swim instructor. I owe all my progress to them,” said Maria Garcia, South Side YMCA Water Works participant. 

Transformative Training and Certifications 

Our first Water Works cohort offered a pathway to employability through swim instruction tailored to individual skill levels, including support for students new to the water. Participants were able to earn lifeguard and swim instructor certifications, which position them for high demand roles in aquatics and recreation, particularly within the YMCA network. 

“Water Works was an amazing program that taught me so much. I learned how to swim, which is a life skill that will benefit me for a long time. I became a certified lifeguard and CPR certified. I will appreciate and remember this program for what it’s done for me and the opportunities it has opened for me” said Aiden Vargas, McCormick YMCA Water Works participant. 

Career Exploration Beyond the Pool 

Water Works enriched participants’ experiences through career coaching, soft-skills training, and resume development, equipping them for professional success. Field trips offered real life insights into water related careers, igniting new aspirations and showing youth the vast potential of careers that, while often overlooked, are both meaningful and lucrative. 

“Working with the Water Works team was an incredible opportunity which opened a career path which I never thought would be accessible to me. Through the program I learned so much – about the aquatics industry, about swimming and lifeguarding, and about myself. I'll always be thankful for the doors this program opened for me" said Aria Nunley, Irving Park YMCA Water Works participant. 

Earning While Learning 

With the program’s paid stipend of $16.20 per hour, aligning with Chicago’s minimum wage, participants earned nearly $3,000 over the course of 12 weeks. This pay allowed them to support themselves while gaining valuable skills, making it possible for them to fully engage in learning a life-saving skill without sacrificing financial stability. 

Water Works “taught me how to swim and gave me confidence in the water. The coaches were patient and supportive, guiding me through each step of learning how to swim. When I first started the swimming program, I was afraid of the water and didn't know how to swim. But with the help of the coaches, I was able to overcome my fear and start learning the basic swimming techniques. Swimming has become a passion of mine, and I am excited to see where it will take me in the future” said Suntia Williams, McCormick YMCA Water Works participant. 

Creating Ripples of Change  

As our first Water Works cohort wraps up, the program is already proving its potential to inspire, uplift, and transform lives. Congratulations to each participant for taking the plunge and completing this journey, and to the YMCA team, partners, and supporters for building a program that truly makes a difference. We look forward to the continued impact of Water Works and the promising futures of Chicago’s young people.  

The Y’s second Water Works cohort will take place from January 6, 2025, to March 28, 2025! 12-week sessions will be held at the McCormick Y (Humboldt Park) and South Side Y (Woodlawn). Learn more about our second cohort via our Water Works webpage!