Making Waves is a partnership between the Intercultural Community Center (ICC) and Maine Community Swim (MCS) with a bold and urgent goal: to eliminate drowning disparities for immigrant, refugee, and low-income communities in Greater Portland by providing free, trauma-informed swim instruction to adults and youth.We formed this partnership because we witnessed a crisis. Based on recent data (2018–2022), Maine has one of the highest drowning rates in the United States, ranking 6th in the nation. Nationally, 79% of children in low-income households have few-to-no swimming skills, and for immigrant adults—particularly women from regions where swimming was culturally inaccessible—this lack of knowledge is a generational cycle of fear and risk. Our big picture goal is threefold:Save lives by equipping non-swimmers with essential water safety skills.Build confidence and belonging so that immigrant families can fully enjoy Maine's lakes, rivers, and coastline without fear.Break the cycle by creating a replicable, trauma-informed model that other organizations can adopt, spreading equitable water access across Maine.We do this work because we believe that every person—regardless of income, language, or where they were born—deserves to feel safe and welcome in Maine's waters. Making Waves is about more than swimming; it's about dignity, belonging, and the right to experience the natural beauty of our home without fear.