Los Angeles, California Jul 8, 2025 (Issuewire.com) - Swim Up Hill Companies & Foundation has announced the appointment of three national leaders to its Board of Directors, marking a bold new chapter in its mission to end drowning disparities and elevate equity through swimming.
Founded by Paralympic medalist Jamal Hill, Swim Up Hill is a Black-led nonprofit and swim-tech enterprise redefining how under-resourced communities access swim education. Its rapid-instruction method—already active in YMCAs, schools, and public spaces—is on track to teach 1 million people to swim annually by 2028.
The newly appointed board members bring deep experience across law, public policy, and finance, giving Swim Up Hill the strategic leverage to scale nationally and globally.
MEET THE NEW BOARD MEMBERS
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Ambassador Michael Lawson — Former U.S. Ambassador and seasoned legal strategist. Lawson now serves as General Counsel to Jamal Hill and brings decades of governance and diplomatic insight.
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U.S. Representative Joseph Towns — A longtime champion for economic equity, education, and public health, Towns strengthens Swim Up Hill’s alignment with state and federal policy initiatives.
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Ralph Mendy Henderson Jr. — A nationally respected investment banker and institutional capital advisor, Henderson offers rare access to growth capital and financial infrastructure, helping anchor Swim Up Hill’s credibility on the national stage.
“This is not just a board—this is a generational shift,” said Jamal Hill, Founder and CEO. “With Ambassador Lawson, Representative Towns, and Ralph Henderson Jr. joining the table, Swim Up Hill isn’t just swimming toward impact—we’re engineering a tidal wave of opportunity for future generations. These are men who have moved millions, advised nations, and shaped systems. Now they’re building with us.”
WHY THIS MATTERS
Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1–4 and disproportionately affects communities of color. With over 50 million people of color in the U.S. alone who don’t know how to swim, Swim Up Hill exists to change that through culturally relevant, rapid-instruction swim programs that replace fear with confidence.
This board expansion gives the organization direct access to multibillion-dollar racial equity funding pipelines, top-tier philanthropic networks, and the political capital needed to move its scalable swim-tech model into cities, schools, and homes around the world.
WHAT SETS EACH LEADER APART
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Michael Lawson will oversee global governance as General Counsel, advising on expansion and legal frameworks.
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Rep. Towns brings public-sector influence and will help build Swim Up Hill’s presence in equity-focused legislative agendas.
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Ralph Henderson Jr. will guide capital strategy, helping structure financial models that support long-term scale and sustainability.
Together, they represent a fusion of influence across three levers of systemic change: law, policy, and capital.
WHAT’S NEXT
This is just the beginning. Swim Up Hill is actively expanding both its Board of Directors and Advisory Board, with a focus on cross-sector leaders who believe in equity, innovation, and the power of movement.
Planned invitations include:
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Renata Simril, President of the LA84 Foundation
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Jayathma Wickramanayake, United Nations Youth Envoy
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And changemakers across tech, sport, entertainment, health, and global development
As Swim Up Hill grows, it’s positioning itself not just as a swim nonprofit, but as a national model for minority-led, mission-first innovation.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT
To learn more or support Swim Up Hill’s board expansion and programming, visit
Discover how Swim Up Hill’s newest board appointments will shape the future of equity in aquatics.
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Media Contact
Swim Up Hill pr@swimuphill.com 3206 W 111TH PL https://www.swimuphill.org/
