AuSM and V3 Sports Center Partner for Swimposium

What began with a shared Minnesota Public Radio interview about water safety more than a year ago has grown into a meaningful partnership between AuSM and V3 Sports Center in North Minneapolis. V3 is a vibrant community hub with accessible swimming facilities and a mission rooted in whole-community wellness. Their work is not just about working out: it’s about building a space for community members to move, connect, and thrive together.

Following the passage of new legislation during the 2025 session that allows disability waivers to reimburse life-saving water safety instruction, AuSM was excited to reconnect with V3 to explore partnered programming. Through these conversations, we learned that V3 had already been investing in accessibility, including formal adaptive swim instruction training through Swim Angelfish—a nationally recognized organization specializing in water safety and swim lessons for people with developmental, intellectual, and physical disabilities.

On November 23, AuSM supported V3 in hosting their first-ever Swimposium, an open-house event that brought newly trained V3 instructors, families, and community partners together around water safety. Families enjoyed supported swim time while connecting with organizations offering resources and guidance. Partners including St. David’s Center and the Multicultural Autism Action Network joined AuSM, V3, and Swim Angelfish to serve nearly 50 registered families—predominantly from communities of color—and 68 youth swimmers. Even more exciting, every participating family received a free registration for an adaptive swim lesson in the new year, generously funded by V3 supporters. AuSM and V3 are also working together to align future lessons with new waiver reimbursement policies once they take effect in January.

Looking ahead to 2026, AuSM and V3 plan to host additional family-focused events, including expanded opportunities for safe youth and intergenerational swimming, as well as learning and connection spaces for parents and caregivers. These programs will center water safety, sensory processing, and conversations grounded in BIPOC community identity. Keep an eye on our Pathways for BIPOC Families page for upcoming announcements.