In this episode, Nicole and Wesley sit down with Ryan Greenstein, Advocacy Program Manager for the YMCA of Metro Atlanta, to unpack how Georgia is reshaping water safety through policy, partnerships, and statewide collaboration.
Ryan shares his path from Capitol Hill policy work to becoming the YMCA’s first water-safety advocate—an initiative inspired by a family who lost their child to drowning and wanted to turn their grief into change. He explains the rollout of Georgia State Bill 50, which now allows high school students to earn PE credit through lifeguard certification, and highlights the early wins of the Atlanta Water Safety Coalition, including partnerships with 11Alive, DNR’s SPLASH program, and the Governor’s Mansion swim lesson.
Nicole and Wesley connect Ryan with national and local leaders who’ve already implemented lifeguarding-in-schools programs and discuss how communities can move from “awareness” to real, structural impact. If you care about prevention, advocacy, and building a stronger water safety pipeline for youth, this conversation gives you the roadmap.
Find Ryan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryangreenstein/
The Greater Atlanta Water Safety Alliance: https://gawatersafety.org/
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