Karen Cohn on Atlanta Morning News

The ZAC Foundation’s Co-Founder Karen Cohn appeared on 11Alive Atlanta on Tuesday, June 11, 2025. Speaking with reporter Gilat Melamed about the City of Brookhaven’s new swim lesson initiative, Karen shared the personal story behind The ZAC Foundation’s mission and emphasized essential drowning prevention strategies as families prepare for summer water activities.

Brookhaven’s Swimming Initiative

The story highlighted Brookhaven’s decision to offer swim lessons at all city pools, spotlighting SwemSchool‘s partnership with the city, and addressing the alarming statistic that about 60% of Black youth lack swimming skills. SwemSchool CEO Trish Miller explained that access to lessons, cost barriers, and hair maintenance concerns are the three primary reasons for swimming disparities in communities of color. 

Karen explained that accessible swim programs are vital for drowning prevention. Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4, but these tragedies can be reduced through proper education, supervision, and safety measures.

Watch the full interview on 11Alive for more life-saving information about water safety and drowning prevention.